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The Board of Trustees of the Western North Carolina Historical Association (WNCHA) has decided to end its effort to save the former Biltmore High School (see photos on right) as the new Museum of Western North Carolina. Although WNCHA did secure gifts, conditional pledges, and challenge grants totaling more that $1.7 million, it was unable to raise the funds needed to discharge the mortgage and to trigger the release of needed challenge grants. The WNC Historical Association had hoped to purchase the 77-year-old Biltmore School building and convert it to a regional heritage center. If the campaign had been successful, the WNC Historical Association would have accomplished two goals; they would have saved the 77-year-old Biltmore School building, and they would have created a 55,000-square-foot museum to house Western North Carolina's historical treasures. The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce commissioned a study in 1997 that revealed a need for a regional heritage center. The center would get visitors to extend their stays, according to the Arthur Andersen Co., the consultant company that conducted the study. "A museum that requires several hours to tour could make Asheville a destination in itself," the report states. The funding shortfall became critical when the property�s $1,550,000 mortgage loan came due in late 2002. WNCHA President Stephen Jones says, "After all the passion and energy that has gone into this effort, our decision was a difficult one, but it was the only option given that the mortgage was due and that we have an ongoing responsibility for Smith-McDowell House Museum." However, WNCHA has not given up on its idea of creating the Museum of WNC. WNCHA Executive Director Rebecca Lamb notes, "As an organization, WNCHA accomplished more that we could have ever imagined and has developed a core of valuable friends and volunteers. WNCHA still has a viable business plan for a regional history museum and has increased community awareness about the need for this museum so that we can continue to pursue this goal in the future at another site."
Background: The WNC Historical Association began its effort to save Biltmore School in late 1999 when the building was vacated by the Buncombe County Sheriff�s Department. At one time, it appeared that the circa 1926 School was going to be demolished. Working with the Biltmore School Alumni Association and community volunteers, WNCHA initiated a grassroots effort to keep the School off the auction block through a private sale to WNCHA for the creation of a new regional history museum. Funding for the project looked favorable as individuals, foundations, corporations, and City, State, and Federal governments pledged their support for this effort. However, Hurricane Floyd diverted State funds and marked the beginning of the Association�s difficulties. As State and County budgets began to get tighter and tighter, it looked like the effort to save Biltmore School was over, but WNCHA was able to purchase Biltmore School from the County in June 2000 with Biltmore Farms, Inc. as the guarantor of a $1,550,000 loan. Despite this time extension and the continued verbal support of politicians and the community, actual cash gifts were still lacking. The last hope for the project was a fall 2002 application for funding from the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority. With formal notice that TDA funding was not forthcoming, WNCHA investigated all other possible actions before finally concluding that its time, money, and efforts should turn to other projects and objectives including the continuation of Smith-McDowell House Museum. Negotiations began with Biltmore Farms, Inc. for the transfer of the title. Biltmore Farms will develop the site in keeping with preservation covenants that protect the building�s facade. WNCHA: The WNC Historical Association is a nonprofit corporation organized in 1952 to promote and preserve regional history. The Association�s headquarters are located in the circa 1840 Smith-McDowell House on the campus of A-B Tech Community College in Asheville. WNCHA saved Smith-McDowell from destruction and oversaw its restoration into a museum. For more information about WNCHA or Smith-McDowell House Museum, call 828-253-9231 or visit www.wnchistory.org.
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In February, the Biltmore School property will be sold to Biltmore Farms, Inc. with preservation covenants to ensure that the building�s facade will be preserved for future generations. Biltmore Farms guaranteed WNCHA�s bank loan and donated mortgage payments for 18 months, allowing WNCHA to purchase the property and to continue its effort. When thanked by WNCHA for this generous financial support, John A.V. Cecil, President of Biltmore Farms responded, "We were happy to play some small part in giving WNCHA the opportunity to pursue this project." 