Historic Preservation group hits the road to share goals
FAYETTEVILLE — The North Little Rock-based Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas picked up a few new friends and members during an awareness event Aug. 1 at Apple Blossom Brewing Co. in Fayetteville. Guests raised their glasses — and donated $1 per craft beer — in the name of the alliance, a statewide voice for preservation in Arkansas for more than a quarter-century.
The event, dubbed Preservation Libations, also feted Historic Cane Hill, where the alliance board met earlier in the day. Located in rural west Washington County, Cane Hill College was one of Arkansas’ first institutions of higher learning, after having begun as Cane Hill School in 1835. Cane Hill Collegiate Institute, as it was also known, was chartered in 1850, while the University of Arkansas was founded in 1871. The building is undergoing restoration under the direction of Historic Cane Hill executive director Bobby R. Braly of Cane Hill. Braly showed the board around the place during its meeting.
One dollar from each beer sold at the awareness event went to the alliance and was matched by WER Architects/ Planners of Little Rock.
The Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas’ mission is “to build stronger communities by reconnecting Arkansans to our heritage and empowering people to save and rehabilitate historic places.” Many at the “friend-raiser” have been involved in or continue to work on the preservation of historically significant projects around Northwest Arkansas. About 45 attended, which was the group’s goal, said Vanessa McKuin, the alliance’s executive director.
McKuin touted the organization’s renewed focus on outreach, particularly in Northwest Arkansas. — Story and photos by Cyd King