Small Town Main Street/Historic Hayesville, Inc. works in partnership with other volunteer organizations to restore, revitalize and beautify our historic downtown.
Why is it important?
Hayesville is a small town and small towns are the heartbeat of America. In years past, downtown Hayesville was the soul of the community where stores and businesses offered everything you needed, the local Ladies Club hosted "Community Lawn Parties" on the square and lively face to face conversations, over a brown bag of shine, thrived in local stores, coffee shops, and on benches around the square that encouraged unfiltered dialogue. Today, the motto
"Good for the Soul" has been adopted, because it is.
Preserving Hayesville's historical architecture and revitalizing the downtown has brought economic benefits, fostered community involvement, and created unique attractions that set Hayesville apart from larger neighboring towns and cities and offers unique, intimate settings for special moments.
Hayesville has a rich history and its preservation maintains the cultural and historical fabric of the community, ensuring that future generations know and understand their heritage. It not only honors the past but also enriches the future by fostering a sense of identity and continuity.
Historic Hayesville Inc. together with other partner organizations established downtown revitalization objectives for economic growth, cultural enrichment and social vitality. using innovative strategies that drew in new businesses to fill the many vacancies in downtown. A major undertaking, the rehabilitation of the historic courthouse and others, has stimulated the local economy through heritage tourism, has created jobs and increased property values. Efforts continue by engaging residents, visitors, business owners, and local government.
Hayesville has become a welcoming, vibrant downtown that fosters cultural activities, arts, and community events, enhancing the quality of life for residents, strengthening community ties and creating spaces for social interaction and engagement.
What does Historic Hayesville Inc. do
to achieve its goals?
Achieving goals requires both financial resources and consistent, hands-on execution including sharing information about Hayesville and all the events and places of interest about town to locals and beyond which encourages tourism and stimulates economic stability and growth. Although money can provide HHI with "tools", it is our volunteers personal actions that transforms those resources into real results.
HHI happily provides a wealth of information to visitors and have played a very important part in the completion of the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office report titled CLAY COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY, a 174 page report forged in the crucible of information. HHI shared substantial material knowledge and information of the area for their survey of our historic buildings, farms and landscapes. The report provides historic information and background on local buildings, landscapes, and architectural heritage highlighting the places that best convey the area history. A valuable resource for all.
Historic Hayesville Inc. raises funds by organizing fundraisers, seeks out grants applicable to downtown businesses and projects and partners with other organizations as opportunities arise. The HHI Trash to Treasure annual event is anticipated and well patronized by locals and HHI maintains momentum and engagement throughout. It is run by volunteers and, by securing minimal overhead, it allows for maximization of the ROI. The Barn Quilt project has been and continues to be a major fundraiser and HHI's quilt blocks can be seen throughout Clay County and beyond. The annual Steins and Wine Around The Square is an area favorite raising funds from ticket sales and sponsorships. Partnering with other organizations provides HHI with opportunities to raise funds through simple ice cream, popcorn, food sales and more.
HHI, as administrator of the Small Town Main Street program, actively seeks out grants offered through Main Street America and other state level organizations and has been very successful in helping businesses downtown and continues to do so.
Restoration Project Examples
HHI was instrumental in the restoration of the Old Clay County Courthouse that is now a successful venue in the center of town. HHI held many fundraisers, as did other partner organizations, to restore this beautiful building.
An old rotting community message board on the square was about to fall down so HHI commissioned a brand new one, using the skills of local metal artist Joe Miller. This message board is here to stay, is aesthetically pleasing, and a wonderful resource of information for the community and visitors.
The old “Welcome to Hayesville” sign had been left to rot away in a field. HHI rescued the sign, restored it and it now welcomes people to town on Bus Hwy 64.
The largest project that HHI has undertaken is the restoration of the Old Town Hall. HHI saved a derelict building from demolition that represented the last wooden downtown structure, moved it and restored it to be a useful school trip classroom and event venue. It rests as the anchor building of Hayesville Heritage Park.
HHI made significant donations to the Peacock Performing Arts Center to refurbished their bathrooms and continues to support efforts for their roof repair needs. HHI is also planning technological systems support for the rebuilding of the boutique hotel on the square.
Revitalization Project Examples
Hayesville is a small town with many small businesses. Historic Hayesville Inc. is and has been a driving force behind the revitalization of downtown by actively helping fill any vacancies, encouraging new business categories to come to downtown and then support, directly and indirectly, thereafter.
Historic Hayesville Inc. is a 501C3 non profit corporation and administrator of the Hayesville Small Town Main Street program which offers grant opportunities and HHI has been successful in helping new businesses obtain grants that have made a big impact downtown. Main Street AmericaTM has been helping revitalize older and historic commercial districts, who share a commitment to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development, for more than 40 years.
HHI itself has also given grants to new businesses from fundraising proceeds to provide some support through the early days and encouraging engagement with the community through participating in downtown events.
HHI encourages the community to show as much support as possible for the small businesses by annually participating in and extending the AMEX Shop Small Shop Local concept to year round.
HHI actively promotes and participates in downtown events that draw individuals, families and visitors to downtown Hayesville, bringing more potential customers to shop and eat downtown boosting the Shop Small year round concept. The Town of Hayesville is a vibrant, happening community that serves as a hub of activity and engagement. Our local businesses are flourishing as downtown is enjoying a booming economy and is the place to be.
As a result of our efforts, Historic Hayesville Inc has been awarded the Neighborhood Champion recognition since 2017 by the nationwide AMEX Shop Small Shop Local program. There are real, visible and measurable transactions making the downtown a better place to live, work and play, as a result of the focused, revitalization efforts of HHI, local individuals, and other organizations tasked with development, redevelopment and economic vitality within the downtown area. Some of the rewards of this work can be seen simply by reviewing the Downtown Businesses.
Interested new businesses can contact Mayor Benita England at (828) 389-1862 for details of any downtown opportunities.
Beautification Examples
Historic Hayesville Inc. also participates in the beautification of downtown. Visitors see many quilt blocks around downtown and beyond that have been hand made and hand painted by volunteers in HHI’s Barn Quilt Studio. Long time original Quilt Block Studio volunteers, Beverly and John Adkins of HHI commissioned Joe Miller of Brasstown to create a sculpture as a tribute to the areas quilting heritage. The sculpture is situated outside the Town Hall and is spectacularly detailed.
As well as providing a colorful planted entrance to the Centennial Exhibit, HHI maintains the plantings in the square, gazebo and on the lampposts making the square an excellent venue for weddings, other celebrations and a great place to relax. Maintenance also includes watering throughout the growing season as well as spring and fall cleanup.
HHI was instrumental in procuring the trash and recycling receptacles that can be seen around the square. Each one has a beautiful aluminum representation of the courthouse. The recycling receptacles have a slightly different top design with smaller openings to discourage real trash disposal. All receptacles were made by Lidseen of North Carolina, Inc. of Hayesville.
HHI organizes sponsorships for all the colorful banners displayed about town that promote local businesses.
Hayesville offers respite or adventure for many, surrounded by peaceful, breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Lake Chatuge. Singer-songwriter Jordan Miller of Nashville, TN was moved to compose his song "Hayesville", the music use license for which, has been sponsored by Sonja Silvers Realty Group.
Historic Hayesville Inc. volunteers form committees to focus work towards our goals. Committee work plans include Pedestrian Connectivity and the Promotions Committee is working on new banners, and way finding signs. The very popular HHI downtown map featuring businesses, art, history and cultural locations accessible by walking or bicycle trails is available at various locations downtown. Frequently updated, it has become a "must have" for visitors. Economic Vitality group plans include promoting Small Business Saturday, recruiting new businesses and providing additional support to those already established in downtown. Economic Vitality group volunteers will join the Design Committee to continue working with the Mayor for safety and improved parking downtown.
Committees make plans!
Typical committee meeting consisting of volunteers making plans in Hayesville for various downtown projects that benefit everyone.
But Volunteers make them happen!
Two happy Historic Hayesville Inc. volunteers that have shucked what seems like bushels of local grown corn for sale at a fund raising event on the square.
References: Information on this page and throughout the site is drawn from sources in the public domain or covered by the fair use doctrine unless otherwise stated.
Photographs are courtesy of Ron Wallace, Stephan Banakas, bobbystuff.com, Clay County Progress, partnership organizations and others. Art work is courtesy of Signs Fast Inc..