Heritage Center expansion breaks ground

This rendering of the remodeled and expanded Hiwassee River Heritage Center was contributed by architect Tom Crye, of Associated Architectural Services in Cleveland, Tenn.
This rendering of the remodeled and expanded Hiwassee River Heritage Center was contributed by architect Tom Crye, of Associated Architectural Services in Cleveland, Tenn.
photo More than 50 people attended groundbreaking ceremonies for an expansion project at the Hiwassee River Heritage Center on Friday in Charleston, Tenn. Here, attendees gather in the existing exhibit area.

CHARLESTON, Tenn. - History and education will have more room than ever at the Hiwassee River Heritage Center near the namesake river in North Bradley County.

The Hiwassee River Heritage Center is an educational tool for residents and visitors, housed in a former bank branch building and opened in 2013 by the Charleston-Calhoun-Hiwassee Historical Society.

Charleston in 1838 was known as Fort Cass, the federal headquarters for the Cherokee Trail of Tears operation, officials said. The heritage center tells the story of the area as a major gateway to the Cherokee Nation and its eventual removal from its homeland.

"The vision was always to expand the center to include an exhibit space and an education room," society President Joe Bryan said.

On Friday, officials broke ground on an expansion that includes a new exhibit space, a new classroom and a major exterior update that gets the building away from the look it has retained from its days as a bank.

The overall heritage plan includes a river park at the river and an interpretive greenway with outdoor exhibits connecting the river to the heritage center, officials said. The first section of the greenway is at the design stage now.

Fundraising for the expansion and classroom started as soon as the center opened in 2013, said Melissa Woody, Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce vice president of tourism development. Woody also is the development chairwoman for the historical society.

Fundraising generated the majority of the $323,000 available for the project, Woody said. Donors are "mostly people from the Charleston and Calhoun area and local foundations," she said.

The center also was awarded $105,000 in grants.

The center's facilities manager, Darlene Goins, said that when plan drawings are complete, the project will be advertised for bids as soon as this fall, with construction starting soon afterward.

"This is huge for our little community," Goins said. The changing economy has taken a toll on Charleston and Calhoun, she said, and the center will increase interest and activity to draw visitors who will spend money there.

Goins and Woody said officials are working on new arrangements with the McClung Museum in Knoxville, the Museum Center at Five Points in Cleveland and other sources to keep a rotating display of exhibits in the existing and new spaces.

Etowah, Tenn., resident Karen Grabin and her daughter, Emma, drove Friday to Charleston for the groundbreaking ceremonies and to get a little homework done. Emma was collecting information for a project in her American history class at Cleveland State Community College.

"I think it's a wonderful thing to bring in community interest and awareness," Karen Grabin said of the expansion and existing center.

"The expansion will greatly enhance community events at the historical society and stimulate the economy of the Charleston area," USDA Rural Development state director Bobby Goode said. He officially presented the grants on Friday.

Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569.

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