CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON REAVES CHAPEL RESTORATION PROJECT
The North Carolina Coastal Land Trust is pleased to announce that initial work on the Reaves Chapel project began last week with the shoring up and stabilization of the structure by Balding Brothers LLC.
Reaves Chapel, located in the town of Navassa, is one of the Cape Fear region’s most culturally and historically significant African American structures. The Reaves Chapel Restoration Project is the result of a partnership initiated by the Cedar Hill/West Bank Heritage Foundation with the Coastal Land Trust. In March, thanks to a generous grant from The Orton Foundation, the Coastal Land Trust was able to purchase the Chapel, which was formerly an African Methodist Episcopal church.
The stabilization is the first phase of construction that is planned for the site. Stabilization began with the removal of the contents of the building, which were then inventoried and stored. Then, the corner beneath the steeple and bell, which had suffered the most deterioration, was shored up. The bell, steeple and chimney were removed to prevent their weight from further damaging the structure. Tarps or rubber coverings will be placed over the existing roof. The bell and the steeple will be restored and returned to their rightful place on the chapel once the interior and exterior are repaired and restoration is completed.
“We are relieved that, thanks to the work of our excellent contractors, Reaves Chapel has been stabilized,“ said Jesica Blake, Director of Stewardship and Community Conservation at the Coastal Land Trust. “We are very grateful for the support and interest of many individuals in the Navassa community in this effort. We also appreciate continued support for this first phase of the Restoration Project from The Orton Foundation, and from a new corporate donor, Paynter Law, which made possible the stabilization work just completed.”
Now that stabilization is completed, the Reaves Chapel Restoration Project will focus on the remaining work: the second phase will consist of repairing the structure to usable condition; the third phase will consist of more complete historic restoration.
The timeline for these next two phases of the Reaves Chapel project is dependent on receiving additional funding.
Contributions to the Reaves Chapel Restoration Fund can be made online: https://CoastalLandTrust.org/reaves
About North Carolina Coastal Land Trust
Founded in 1992, the mission of the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust is to enrich the coastal communities of North Carolina through conservation of natural areas and working lands, education, and the promotion of good land stewardship. The Coastal Land Trust has saved more than 72,000 acres of special places, and has offices in Wilmington, New Bern and Elizabeth City. www.CoastalLandTrust.org. The Coastal Land Trust previously protected more than 17,000 acres of land along the western banks of the lower Cape Fear River and its tributaries, including a 900-acre tract that it purchased and donated to Brunswick County, now managed by the County as Brunswick Nature Park.
About Cedar Hill West Bank Community Foundation
Founded in 2013, Cedar Hill/West Bank Heritage Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to enhance, develop and improve the cultural heritage of the Cedar Hill/West Bank Corridor through active community involvement. The Foundation has a volunteer Board of Directors.
About The Orton Foundation
The Orton Foundation, an affiliate of The Moore Charitable Foundation founded by Louis Bacon in 1992, focuses on protecting the Cape Fear River Basin’s unique wetlands, lands, forests and wildlife habitats. The Orton Foundation also supports educational, health care and community programs in the region.
About Paynter Law
Paynter Law was founded more than ten years ago by Wilmington, N.C. native Stuart M. Paynter and now operates offices in Washington, D.C., Raleigh, N.C., and Hillsborough, N.C. Paynter Law serves clients locally and nationally in practice areas such as personal injury, lithium-ion battery injuries, consumer protection, and business litigation.
