IN THIS ISSUE

YAI Visit, 2Bill Maffett donates York Mill Print, 2SYPF Donors, 3Sgt. York & Hwy. 127, 4Veteran’s Day 2009, 5Grant Improves Alvin C.York State Historic Park, 5Update on York GeneralStore, 6 Black Power Shoot, 6Christmas in the Valley, 7Membership 2009, 7

York Institute Stabilization and Remediation Completed

The remediation and stabilization phases of the historic York Agricultural Institute preservationinitiative is complete. Expenditures for these activities alone have totaled approximately $1 million.Having been slated for demolition by the State of Tennessee, which had owned the former schoolbuilding built through the efforts of World War I hero, Sgt. Alvin C. York, the deserted facility was acquired by the nonprofit Sgt. York Patriotic Foundation (SYPF) in 2008. Extensive brickwork and aprotective roof membrane covering the entire building are two of the measures that will keep thebuilding safe from the elements and animals. The SYPF voluntarily paid for repair of the pavementsurrounding the building, ensuring safety of school personnel, students and visitors.The SYPF, which owns the building, has also paid engineering, contracting, permitting and otherassociated fees and invoices. The State of Tennessee agreed to reimburse the Foundation up to$500,000, but there are numerous related expenditures that were necessary to complete the first twophases of saving the school that are not eligible for reimbursement.Further, the SYPF has become responsible for paying monthly telephone bills associated with thefire alarm system and monthly electric bills for powering an exhaust fan system that will prevent thebuild up of moisture while the building is empty awaiting further rehabilitation and final use.Though the Sgt. York Patriotic Foundation has been fortunate enough to attract money fromseveral large donors and some local contributors, much more is needed to return the centerpiece of Sgt. Alvin C. York’s legacy to the condition it deserves. Few Federal and State dollars are available, andthe project is expected to proceed primarily because private foundations and individuals commit toseeing the building saved.

Winter 2010 Issue

a publication of the Sgt. York Patriotic Foundation

BeforeDuringAfterBeforeAfterDuringCurrent Condition

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SYPF 2010 Goals

•restoring the York Institute building.•increasing SYPF membership.•enhancing visitor experience at York State Park through interpretativematerials and upgraded facilities.•attracting corporate sponsors forSYPF initiatives and capital projects.•expanding outreach through specialevents and tours.•continuing preservation of York-related artifacts and documents.•developing educational youthprograms.•growing York General Store business.•augmenting visitation to Park incooperation with Park personnel.

Those attending a walkthrough of the recently remediated and stabilized historic York Institute on Dec. 21, 2009, included George Halford,President, Cookeville-Putnam Chamber of Commerce; Bryan Foster, WASCO Inc.; Orbin Logan, Fentress resident; Walter Page, ExecutiveDirector, Fentress County Chamber of Commerce; Patrick McIntyre, Executive Director, Tennessee Historical Commission; Lincoln Davis,United States House of Representatives; ShawnGallant, WASCO Inc. (construction general contractor);CW3 Bruce Catlett, Senior Army Instructor, Alvin C. York Institute; Michael Birdwell, SYPF Board Member, York Archivist, TTU History Professor; John B. Mullinix, FentressCounty Executive, SYPF board member; Karen Brown, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Three-Star; CalvinDickinson, Tennessee Historical Commission Board Member, Retired TTU History Professor; Gaye Cooper, Representing Tennessee StateRepresentative John Mark Windle; Dan Brown, Executive Director, Tennessee Preservation Trust; Rod Foy, Foy Survey Co. (donated surveyfor project); Barbara Novovitch, a journalist whose father was superintendent at York in 1960s; Leta Wildasin, Office Manager, TennesseePreservation Trust; J.H. Graham, Mayor, City of Crossville; John Robbins, Field Representative for Congressman Lincoln Davis; Lou Lattanzi,SYPF Board Vice Chairman; Danny Nichols, York Store Manager; Claudia Johnson-Nichols, Executive Director, Sgt. York Patriotic Foundation.

A new print of the historic York Grist Mill was availablefor the ﬁrst time at Sgt. York Day 2009. The limited edition printis of a watercolor by Bill Maffett, a Cookeville businessman andartist. Maffett, who began painting in recent years, has depictedseveral of Tennessee’s historic places in his work, includingrecognizable Tennessee sites such as the Cookeville Depot andDowntown Gatlinburg.

His painting of Sgt. York’s mill was inspired by the plight of the Sgt. York Patriotic Foundation to save the original building of York Institute in Jamestown from demolition. Maffett donated 70unsigned 16x20 prints to the SYPF for sale in its York GeneralStore in Pall Mall and donated another 30 signed prints for theSYPF to give as appreciation gifts for other donors to therestoration fund.

The York Grist Mill is included on the free tours of theSgt. York State Historic Park, along with the York Home, Sgt. YorkBurial Place in the Wolf River Cemetery and a drive-by view of York Chapel, Wolf River Methodist Church and the York BibleSchool.

Cookeville Artist Uses Creativity for York Institute Fundraising Campaign

Members who join the SYPF at theGeneral George Edward Buxton ($250)level receive

a York Grist Millwatercolor print signed by artist BillMaffett, along with other gifts

First Look at YAI Preservation Initiative Attracts Project Supporters

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SYPF Su

ers

The

Willard M. and Ruth Mayer Johnson Charitable Foundation

has donated the second installment of a $250,000 pledge to be paid over five years for use in York Institute’s restoration and adaptive reuse initiative.

Congressman Lincoln Davis’

office assisted the SYPF in procuring a

Congressional Appropriation

of $95,000 for use in remediation of potential healthor environmental hazards at the YAI project site, such as asbestos or animal/birdfecal matter. Final testing determined that all such threats were eliminated.

Ward Correll

of CEO of

Cumberland Lake Shell

headquartered in Somerset,Ky., continues to support the restoration of the YAI building through his financialcontributions.

Rod Foy

, owner of

Foy Survey Co

., donated professional services valued atmore than $1,800 toward the YAI preservation project.

Progressive Savings Bank

, headquartered in Jamestown, Tenn., is donatingprofessional office space to the SYPF at the Progressive Financial Center onInterstate Drive in Cookeville, Tenn. In addition to a beautifully furnished office, theSYPF has use of conference and boardrooms for holding small meetings or larger gatherings. This donation is valued at more than $6,000 per year.Support from

Potter’s Ace Hardware

, with corporate offices in FentressCounty, Tenn., coupled with a financial gift from

SYPF

Board Chairman Gerald York

, helped York General Store to acquire anupright freezer necessary for efficient store operations.The

Ned Ray McWherter Foundation

, as well as numerous individuals and several businesses made financial contributionsduring 2009 that helped with the projects and events sponsored by the Foundation.Many Fentress County and Tennessee Upper Cumberland businesses and individuals supported the Sgt. York Day activities inOctober 2009 by donating money and supplies, sponsoring prizes for the student art contests and senior citizen writing competition.For a full list and more York Day 2009 information, visit www.sgtyork.org.

Support from Sgt. York Patriotic Foundation Board of Directors:

In a separate donation, a substantial contribution from

Gerald York

is guaranteeing SYPF’s operational budget for 2010,enabling the foundation to employ a professional executive director for the Foundation and a professional general manager York General Store and Visitor Center. This commitment offers the SYPF an opportunity to launch numerous initiatives in keeping withthe legacy of Sgt. York while growing membership and sustaining ongoing projects.SYPF executive and finance committee member

John Evans

, owner of

Next Generation Underwriters

in Hendersonville,Tenn., made significant donations of equipment, personnel time and financial support during 2009. Among these has been moneyfor operational needs, scanning equipment and labor for York documents and images, payment of insurance on YAI.

Janet Hopson

, owner of

The Graphic Station & Unstudio Photography

in Jamestown, Tenn., has donated several thousanddollars in professional services to the SYPF, including photography, Web design and maintenance and graphic design.

Andrea Burckhard

and husband Terry, owners of

Dale Hollow Marketing Group

in Byrdstown, Tenn., have saved the SYPF manythousand dollars by donating company resources for mailings, email blasts, press release distribution, free publicity in publications andmore.

Alan Whitehead

and wife Jill are coordinating national membership and corporate sponsorship campaigns and donating electronicmarketing services through their respective Detroit, Mich., area companies. These campaigns are valued at more than $100,000.

Noble Cody

has donated office and professional supplies for the executive director’s office.The SYPF welcomes

your

contribution of time, expertise, financial support and prayers.

Memorials

The SYPF continues to receivecontributions in memory of Sgt.York’s grandson Larry York,son of Andrew York, whopassed away on Nov. 24, 2009.The Foundation and the York family thank you. Be assuredthat these memorials will beused to further the legacy Sgt.York, whose surviving childrenare all members of the Board of Directors of the SYPF. Mail tax-deductible contributions to:

SYPF Donations 1010 Christmas Lane,Cookeville, Tenn., 38501

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