First pilings driven for N.C. History Education Center

October 14, 2008 - 8:34PM

Sue Book

Sun Journal

The first pilings for the $60.5 million North Carolina History Education Center were pounded into the site at the corner of Metcalf and South Front streets today. 

For those looking on, that piling is a weighty symbol that the project, under development since 2000, is really going to be built.

But Kay Williams, director Tryon Palace, said: "It has been real to me for a long time. Those of us associated with it have not doubted that it was going to happen. It has not been an ‘if,' it's been a ‘when.' " The History Center will be operated as part of the Tryon Palace Sites and Gardens.

"Now that it is happening it is confirmation and great that we are moving forward," Williams said. "It is very gratifying to see the work going on and to see the site change."

The center is being built on a cleaned-up Superfund site that was formerly Barbour Boat Works. The site was bought by the state.

More than 1,025 loads of fill dirt have already been hauled in to build up the low-lying area, said Philippe Lafarge, assistant Tryon Palace director. Another 2,000 loads are on the way to build up the lot and replace the contaminated soil.

"Aren't we lucky the contracts have been signed for this project?" said Williams. "All the significant contracts for the building and site were awarded before the end of September. Given the economic climate, if it had taken 30 days longer, this project may not have started.

"It has been a lucky project from the start. We started fund-raising right after 9-11 and the financial issues of late 2001 and 2002. Then we lost early state funding we had due to the money needed for the Hurricane Floyd flood."

"The first major gift for the project was from PepsiCo for a million dollars. That was like this project had been embraced by a major international corporation as a worthy project that was going to happen," she said. "That was a remarkable thing for an institution that had never fund-raised before.

"It has been quite an adventure. We took it step by step. And each step along the way we have had a lot of support and help to make it happen."

Fund-raising for the 60,000-square-foot center is about $5 million from the goal.

The History Education Center is scheduled to be completed by May 26, 2010, in time for New Bern's 300th anniversary. No opening date has been set but it is expected to be in June 2010.