Around Botetourt: Greenfield slave cabins await help

Around Botetourt: Greenfield slave cabin preservation update by Anita J. Firebaugh

A committee of 15 people, including a descendant of the Preston family, a direct descendant of slaves who were forced to work there, local preservationists and historians, and others interested in the bygone era of the Botetourt Center at Greenfield, will determine the fate of the historic preservation area.

The historic preservation area has been a source of concern and contention for the county supervisors and interested parties since 2015, when the Board of Supervisors moved several ancient cabins to a new location. The action spurred local activists to bring in archaeological experts, who even now are working on a second archaeological survey of a set of garden terraces thought to be part of the Greenfield Plantation.

The Supervisors appointed and will oversee the Committee, but representatives of groups ranging from Botetourt County Public Schools to The Countywide League and the Mountain Valley Preservation Alliance chose the Committee members. This resulted from a discussion group led by Amsterdam District Supervisor Steve Clinton that acted as an intermediary committee. That group created a set of guidelines for the resulting Greenfield Historic Preservation Commission.

Those guidelines include supporting and advising the county about preservation, restoration, and interpretation of the buildings and grounds of the Greenfield Historic Preservation Park. The Commission is charged with showcasing the contributions of the William Preston family, the African American people and Native Americans who lived there, and other historic significant events.

Additionally, the Commission will have a fundraising component.

Clinton said he hoped the Commission would meet before the holidays. The group will need to elect a president and other officers.

Money remains an issue, Clinton said. “I think it’s a county program, but the county is only funding on a match basis at $50,000 a year maximum,” he said. “Going into the future that’s not going to get us very far. I am hopeful in future budget years we can have a better allocation from the county.”

Until then, though, the Greenfield Historic Preservation Commission will focus not only on purpose but also on fundraising. Clinton said members are motivated to raise the funds to bring the historic preservation park to life.

Many people have expressed concerns about the county’s lack of attention to the slave cabin and kitchen facility, which were moved in early 2016. However, Clinton said the structures were stable and protected from the elements. “It isn’t a major issue at this time,” he said. “Nothing is going to happen to those buildings.”

However, better stabilization and access to those the structures, as well as making necessary improvements to things like the chimney in the summer kitchen structure will be priorities, Clinton said. It will also be expensive. For example, estimates on shoring up the chimney in the kitchen structure have been as high as $30,000, which did not include interior improvements.

“You can’t restore until you have an overall plan,” Clinton said. The Preservation Commission is charged with coming up with that plan.

Danny Kyle, a member of the Greenfield Historic Preservation Commission and a leader with the Friends of Greenfield Preston Plantation, said securing the buildings was high on his priority list.

“We want to get them back into good condition where people can visit and look inside. We want to have some outside living history displays and people coming in and talking about what went on at Greenfield,” Kyle said.

Kyle noted that the slave cabin is very unusual and that the saved buildings are, “very unique. We want to build around that and make it exciting and use it to enhance the preservation site.”

He also said that the previous archaeological survey from the first dig in 2016 is nearly complete, and there will be 16 boxes of items requiring storage and eventually display at the historic preservation site.

Additionally, Friends of Greenfield Preston Plantation are working toward getting a state historical sign put up near the site so they can add a Lewis and Clark marker. Kyle said a historical marker, “would get a little history there” and would allow the county to dovetail off the Lewis and Clark networks already in place. The historic sign is going to cost about $1,800, Kyle said. “It will be good for Greenfield and give people something to see.”

Kyle said the Preservation Commission would have a big job trying to make the area interesting not only for adults but also educational for children. He hopes to bring in speakers to talk about what Greenfield was and how people lived in the 1700s.

“The Indian sites go back from 1000 years to 6000 to 7000 years ago,” Kyle said. “Just talking about that is a big education to people.”

The property is not zoned as a historic preservation area even though it has been set aside on Botetourt Center at Greenfield as such for many years. Rezoning the property is underway as part of the overall master plan, Clinton said. It has been surveyed and the county zoning office is working on regulations to govern the preservation area.

“The site itself is a treasure trove of history,” Clinton said. “Preston and Greenfield is just absolutely fascinating and addictive.” He noted that Preston influenced the Roanoke valley area as a whole and his reach stretched all the way into Kentucky. Additionally, he had connections with Lewis and Clark, Daniel Boone, and Thomas Jefferson. “He’s a fascinating character that’s been forgotten,” Clinton said.

Kyle said he hopes the Commission can find a way to bring Greenfield alive, “to the point that people will understand how diverse Greenfield has been since the Indians camped there, to the early settlers. Greenfield has always been highly desired. People have always been wanting that land for some purpose.”

“I really do think it is a cross section of interests, but I think everybody does have one common interest and that is the preservation of that sight,” Clinton said.

Members of the Greenfield Historic Preservation Commission and the community organization they are representing are as follows:

Lynn Bolton, Botetourt County Public Schools

Judy Morris, Friends of Greenfield Preston Plantation

Wendy Warren, Col. William Preston Chap. Daughters of the American Revolution

Robyn Brand, Botetourt County Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution

John Rader, Botetourt Historical Society

Edward Preston, Historic Fincastle, Inc.

Curtis Brown, The Countywide League

John Bradshaw, Fincastle Resol. Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution

Jim Johnston, Mountain Valley Preservation Alliance

Eugene Journiette, supervisor appointee

Danny Kyle, supervisor appointee

David Marcum, supervisor appointee

Rupert Cutler, supervisor appointee

Warner Barnett, supervisor appointee

Steve Clinton, ex-officio member for the Board of Supervisors

Editor’s Note: Executive Director Weldon Martin of the Botetourt Historical Society announced at the Founder’s Day Dinner on Nov. 9, 2018, that there is over $20,000 of donated and matched funds set aside for  the preservation work on the site and cabins. The historical society is currently soliciting more funds.

Photo: Recent archaeological dig at Greenfield thought to be the site of garden terraces at the old plantation home site.  photo by Anita J. Firebaugh