Saturday, April 20, saw an assembly of folks of all ages working on the Green River Academy at 204 Goebel Avenue to add a picket fence on the east side of the building.
Another portion of fencing will be added along the east side of the front as well. To accomplish that feat, several members of the Green River Academy’s Board of Directors donned their work gloves to begin the fence installation. At the end of the day on Saturday, two sections of pickets were in place along with posts along the front side and most of the east side also being in place. Thankfully, to complete the task, senior members of the TCCHS Beta Club were on hand to provide the youth, muscles, and strong backs that were needed as post holes were dug; posts were placed in concrete; pickets were cut to specifications, and two sections of fencing were added on the east side and east front portion.
Those Senior Beta Club members who volunteered their time and talents included John Riley Service, Will Withers, Aaron Brown, Treyvon Osborne, Gracie Langley, Chloe Willis, and Aly Prather. GRA board members who added their skills included Matt Bailey, president; Tonja West, treasurer; Josh Mosby, vice-president; Alisa Walsh, director; Tommy Hines, director; and Carolyn Wells, director. Two other volunteers who loaned their carpentry skills were Brian Walsh, son of Alisa Walsh, and Glenn West, husband of Tonja West. Sharon Shanklin, an original member of the first GRA Board and the mother of Matt Bailey, picked up both breakfast and lunch for those working. Thanks is also extended to Whit and Julia Fox Widdowson, neighbors on the west side of the GRA who graciously allowed use of their water. Other members of the Board who were not able to assist Saturday include Camille Dillingham, secretary; Lisa Petrie, director; and Tiffany Groves, immediate past president.
Those who have driven past the Academy recently will also have noted the front façade has eight new custom windows that have been added in the past several months and years. What is important to note about the windows is that to satisfy the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic Preservation Recommendations, the windows have to be replicas of the original ones. Thanks to the generosity of donors, GRA memberships, other fundraisers, and the money generated through the sale of Notables of Todd County, the GRA is moving forward with the installation of windows as the woodworker completes them. Within the next few weeks, two more windows will be added to replace ones currently vacant. Because of wind damage last year, the building also has a new roof, one completed by Kirkman Roofing of Elkton.
Mrs. Walsh, an interior designer originally from the Atlanta area who relocated here with her family in recent years and is now the fourth generation of her family to live in the former Bryan and Marilyn Haley Blount home on East Main Street, messaged, “Today we saw the beauty of an invested group of people passionate about this gem in Elkton. It was also so rewarding the older ones in attendance shared with the younger generation the reminder that honoring our history and heritage are so important.” Matt Bailey also shared, “It’s really incredible when projects have a personal investment in them by everyone. Recent changes have definitely gained us positive attention for the good of the Academy. People are seeing this train moving a little faster all the time, and we know others are going to want to jump on board and ride with us.” Tommy Hines, the Executive Director at South Union Shaker Village, also added, “It was such a great day of true volunteer spirit! I am very excited about where we are headed.”
Plans are to complete additional fencing in the next few weeks. If you care to donate to assist the GRA with its fundraising efforts, checks to the GRA can be sent to the Green River Academy at P.O. Box 869, Elkton 42220. If you would like to assist with the fencing project, you can contact the GRA via email at info(at)greenriveracademy.com to let us know of your interest.
~ Article by Carolyn L. Wells
