Halifax County has so much history that it's hard to record it all,
Alison Blanton, a consulting architectural historian with Hill Studio,
PC, told members of the local governing bodies on Monday evening.
Blanton said historic records are important — to be used as tourism
tools, as well as giving the County an identity. She urged local
officials to create a preservation plan which wiil save the County's
agricultural heritage and encourage growth in a smart way.
During her report Blanton gave a power point presentation showing some
of the 200 properties scattered around the County which have been
identified for their historic significance. Those included two
structures from the 1750-1799, the period of Colony to Nation and
another 19 during the Early National Period of 1799-1830. Thirty-two of
the structures, including the Courthouse, Springfield and Berry Hill
mansion, dated to the Antebellum Period from 1830 to 1860 with another
dating back to the Civil War Period of 1861-1865. The Reconstruction
and Growth period after the Civil War until the 1900's included 128
properties. Among these properties were some of the law offices that
line the boundaries of the Courthouse Square.
Another 64 of the properties were built after World  War I and up to
World War II  with several others built later during the period of the
New Dominion.
Many of the properties lie within the Halifax Courthouse Historic
District which is seeking nomination to the Virginia Landmarks Register
and the National Register of Historic Places. Blanton stressed that at
least two other local communities may want to apply for listing on the
Virginia and National Registers.
She noted that the Town of Scottsburg has begun work on its application
and she suggested that the Riverdale community around Memorial Baptist
Church should also consider applying for the historic designation.
On Tuesday Blanton worked in the Town of Halifax office receiving more
information about properties that need to be preserved. Historic
photographs, maps and any memorabila that pertains to the courthouse
district were scanned and recorded as local residents shared
information about them.
In other business on Monday evening local governing officials held a
cook-out honoring the 13 year old Dixie Youth boys baseball team which
won the state championship and the girls Belles team which also
captured a state championship.
The governing bodies also approved a list of incentives, including tax
rebates, fee reductions and grants that may be offered to new
businesses or companies that locate in the County's Enterprise Zone if
Halifax is successful in gaining recognition of its proposed joint zone
with South Boston. Zone designations will be announced near the end of
the year.
The governing bodies also heard a report from Roger Thaxton about his
proposal to start up a public transportation system which would offer
bus service from Halifax to South Boston and back, as well as to the
County's Industrial Park and possibly to some of the apartment
complexes. Describing his hopes to begin the "Miracle One Charter Tour"
service Thaxton said he wanted to provide low cost commuter services to
the public. He sought financial support, although not specifying a
certain amount, from the governing bodies of the county and the towns.
Thaxton estimated his annual operating expenses at some $68,000 and
said the cost of purchasing the buses would run around $145,000.
Pointing to the fact that an earlier businessman had tried to carry out
a similar project which was not successful, most members indicated they
felt they needed more specific information from Thaxton before making
any financial commitment.
Supervisors and South Boston Town Council also approved a resolution
honoring Kurz-Kasch on its 40th anniversary in the Town of South
Boston.  The company came to South Boston in 1967 when the parent
company, DeLuxe Coils, exanded from its Wabash, Indiana headquarters
and opened a coil winding facility here.  In 1983 the company, which
was known as the Kerney/Wabash Electrical Components Group, received
the prestigious Ford Motor Company's Q1 Preferred Quality Award for
production. In 2007 Wabash Magnetics was bought by Kurz-Kasch, Inc of
Dayton, Ohio  and its bname was officially changed to Kurz-Kasch.