Two projects at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park will be completed thanks to $172,000 in federal stimulus money.
The money will pay for restoration of the slave quarters log cabin at the historic McLean House as well as improving energy efficiency of a building used to house temporary workers and volunteers, said Reed Johnson, the park’s superintendent.
Restoration of the historic structure involves replacing and repairing chinking between logs, Reed said. “There was some structural damage done by the way it was done earlier,” he said. The work will be done through a contractor, which Reed said meant money will be going to the local economy.
Improving energy efficiency of the temporary worker quarters involves replacing siding and adding insulation, he said. The building is used to house volunteers, interns and other temporary employees who come to the park to work in exchange for housing. The work will be done by a temporary carpenter.
Statewide, more than $27 million will be invested in 37 National Park Service projects, a news release from Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., said. Nationwide, the park service is investing $750 million in almost 800 projects, the news release said.
Also, the news release said, Virginia will receive a portion of money dedicated to multi-state projects, including $13,265 for the Blue Ridge Parkway and $613,000 for the Appalachian Trail.
Reed said he wasn’t sure when the park would receive the money, but “they want these projects completed as soon as possible, so the account numbers will be sent to us shortly.”
Both projects were on a master improvement list and “would have had to been done through other sources and wouldn’t have been done as quickly had it not been for this,” Reed said. “(The money is) doing what it is designed to do, which is stimulate the local economy.”
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