NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1979 SESSION

CHAPTER 938

SENATE BILL 346

AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO ASSIST IN THE COMPLETION OF THE RESTORATION OF THE OLD WILKES JAIL IN WILKESBORO.

Whereas, the Old Wilkes County Jail is one of the best remaining examples of nineteenth century penal architecture in North Carolina, retaining its primitive security and sanitary devices; and

Whereas, the building, completed in 1859, was used by the Confederacy during a portion of the Civil War and later by the State as the place of incarceration of the famous Tom Dula; and

Whereas, with the assistance of the State, federal, and local governments, private foundations, businesses, and citizens of the area, Old Wilkes, Incorporated, has undertaken the restoration of the historic building for the use, education, and enjoyment of the citizens of North Carolina as a reception center, museum, and library; and

Whereas, the Old Wilkes Jail restoration is not complete, although Old Wilkes, Incorporated, has operated the jail since 1973 in cooperation with the Appalachian Regional Library as a Branch Library and a historic jail-museum; and

Whereas, funds are needed to complete the restoration of the Old Wilkes Jail and to provide a handicap ramp for better access to the library and the historic jail-museum; and

Whereas, Old Wilkes, Incorporated, has pledged to raise additional funds to match State funds for the completion of the restoration and handicap ramp and agrees to continue to maintain and operate the restored building without the requests for State funds for those purposes; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  There is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the Division of Archives and History, Department of Cultural Resources, for the 1979-80 fiscal year the sum of seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) for the purpose of completing the restoration of the Old Wilkes Jail and providing a handicap ramp for better access to the library and the historic jail-museum, provided an amount of seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) is raised by Old Wilkes, Incorporated.

Sec. 2.  Funds appropriated in this act shall be expended only in accordance with G.S. 121-11 and G.S. 143-31.2.

Sec. 3.  This act shall become effective on July 1, 1979.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 8th day of June, 1979.