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IN THIS ISSUE
YAI Visit and History, 2SYPF Donors, 3Sgt. York & Hwy. 127, 4Veteran’s Day 2009, 5Grant Improves Alvin C.York State Historic Park, 5Update on York GeneralStore, 6 York State Park, 6Promoting Our Mission, 7Christmas in the Valley, 7Bill Maffett donates York Mill Print, 7Membership 2010, 8
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.
Spring 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
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First Look at YAI Preservation Initiative Attracts Supporters
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This is a 1927 pledgecard illustrating Sgt.York’s efforts to erect
the York Institutebuilding now beingsaved from demolitionby the State of Tennessee though thecommitment of SYPFand generosity of donors.
YORK'S SCHOOL IN DISPUTE: World War Hero HasDifficulty Founding Tennessee Institution.
NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 25 (AP). Though the State Departmentof Education has adopted an attitude of neutrality with reference torifts in Fentress County educational matters involving SergeantAlvin C. York, World War hero and prospective founder of anopportunity school, it was indicated today the whole matter would be threshed out at the next meeting of the Board of Education,Aug. 11.
– New York Times, July 26, 1927
These are pages from a brochure to solicit donations for YorkInstitute. Though not dated, it would have been used prior to1934, as Gov. Horton died that year.
Those attending a walkthrough ofthe 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, Executive Director, Fentress County Chamber of Commerce; Patrick McIntyre, Executive Director, Tennessee Historical Commission; Lincoln Davis, United States House of Representatives;Shawn Gallant,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, Fentress County Executive,SYPF board member; Karen Brown, Tennessee Department of Economic andCommunity Development Three-Star; Calvin Dickinson, Tennessee Historical Commission Board Member, Retired TTU History Professor; Gaye Cooper,Representing Tennessee State Representative John Mark Windle;Dan Brown, Executive Director, Tennessee Preservation Trust; Rod Foy,Foy Survey Co.(donated survey for project); Barbara Novovitch, a journalistwhose 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 ViceChairman; Danny Nichols, York Store Manager; Claudia Johnson-Nichols, Executive Director, Sgt. York Patriotic Foundation.
Honor Sgt. York’s Contribution to Education
Please help the SYPF save the YAI building Sgt.York fought so hard to build. Our immediate needis an additional $250,000, which will continue toprepare the structure for restoration and reuse.Government funds are practically nonexistent.Like Sgt. York, we are appealing to the public forhelp. Donations are tax deductible.
Call 931.347.2664 or emailsypfdirector@gmail.com
For a history of York
ʼ
s strugglesvisit:www.sgtyork.org/ legacyindistress.html
“T
is is some
t
ing near and dear
me. I
’
ve hear
d
r
epea
dly
f
om
t
e mou
t
s of people
t
at if Sgt. York
w
as here, he
’
d say away wi
t
t
e building.
ey
’
r
e
c
omple
ly wrong. He would never say
t
t
at building would have neve
been in
t
e condi
on it
’
s in.
”
– George Edward York, 86-year-old son of Sgt. York,speaking to the Tennessee Building Commission in2008
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SYPF Su
!
o
"
ers
The
Willard M. and Ruth Mayer Johnson Charitable Foundation
has donated the secondinstallment of a $250,000 pledge to be paid over five years for use in York Institute’s restorationand adaptive reuse initiative.
Congressman Lincoln Davis’
office assisted the SYPF in procuring a
CongressionalAppropriation
of $95,000 for use in remediation of potential health or environmental hazardsat the YAI project site, such as asbestos or animal/bird fecal matter. Final testing determinedthat all such threats were eliminated.
Ward Correll
, CEO of
Cumberland Lake Shell
headquartered in Somerset, Ky., continues tosupport the restoration of the YAI building through his financial contributions.
Rod Foy
, owner of
Foy Survey Co
., donated professional services valued at more than $1,800toward the YAI preservation project.
Progressive Savings Bank
, headquartered in Jamestown, Tenn., is donating professional officespace to the SYPF at the Progressive Financial Center on Interstate Drive in Cookeville, Tenn. In addition to a beautifullyfurnished office, the SYPF has use of conference and boardrooms for holding small meetings or larger gatherings. Thisdonation is valued at more than $6,000 per year.Support from
Potter’s Ace Hardware
, with corporate offices in Fentress County, Tenn., coupled with a financial gift from
SYPF
Board Chairman Gerald York
, helped York General Store to acquire an upright freezer necessary for efficient storeoperations.The
Ned Ray McWherter Foundation
, as well as numerous individuals and several businesses made financialcontributions during 2009 that helped with the projects and events sponsored by the Foundation.A substantial contribution from
an anonymous donor
is guaranteeing SYPF’s operational budget for 2010, enabling thefoundation to employ a professional executive director for the Foundation and a professional general manager at York GeneralStore and Visitor Center. This commitment offers the SYPF an opportunity to launch numerous initiatives in keeping with thelegacy of Sgt. York while growing membership and sustaining ongoing projects.
John A. Nolen III
donated $10,000 toward ensuring that the mission of the SYPF is successful.Many Fentress County and Tennessee Upper Cumberland businesses and individuals supported the Sgt. York Day activitiesin October 2009 by donating money and supplies, sponsoring prizes for the student art contests and senior citizen writingcompetition. For a full list of contributors and more York Day 2009 information, visitwww.sgtyork.org.
John Evans
, owner of
Next Generation Underwriters
in Hendersonville, Tenn., and wife
Barbara
made significantdonations of equipment, personnel time and financial support during 2009. Among these have been money for operationalneeds, scanning equipment and labor for York documents and images, payment of insurance on YAI and other donations.
Support from Sgt. York Patriotic Foundation Board of Directors:
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 SYPFmany thousand dollars by donating company resources for mailings, email blasts, press release distribution, free publicity inpublications and more.
Alan Whitehead
and wife Jill are coordinating national membership and corporate sponsorship campaigns and donatingelectronic marketing 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.
Memorials
The SYPF continues to receivecontributions in memory of Sgt. York’s grandson LarryYork, son of Andrew York,who passed away on Nov. 24,2009. The Foundation and theYork family thank you. Beassured that these memorialswill be used to further thelegacy of Sgt. York, whosesurviving children are allmembers of the Board of Directors of the SYPF. Mailtax-deductible contributions to:
SYPF Donations 1010 Christmas Lane,Cookeville, Tenn., 38501
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