NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1977 SESSION

CHAPTER 1056

HOUSE BILL 756

AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE WILLIAM KING HOUSE IN BERTIE COUNTY.

Whereas, the William King House is among the very few pre-Revolutionary dwellings in the State that has survived essentially unchanged since construction to provide present-day citizens with knowledge of the craftsmanship, conditions of life, and living habits in North Carolina before the Revolution; and

Whereas, the date of construction (1763) and first owners (William and Elizabeth King) of the house are definitely known, making the house uniquely valuable in dating and interpreting other eighteenth century buildings in the State; and

Whereas, the house is of great architectural significance because of the exceptionally complete survival of rare and early features such as its gambrel roof, brick ends, T-stack chimneys, and fine Georgian woodwork including mantels, wainscoting, cupboards, and stairs; and

Whereas, the Historic Hope Foundation, Inc., wishes to restore this important structure and open it to the citizens of North Carolina for their enlightenment and enjoyment; and

Whereas, the Historic Hope Foundation, Inc., has already raised approximately fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) of private, local, and State funds for historical and archaeological research, architectural planning, and moving the King House to land contiguous to Hope Plantation; and

Whereas, the Historic Hope Foundation, Inc., seeks a State appropriation to assist with the exterior restoration of the King House; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  There is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the Division of Archives and History, Department of Cultural Resources, for the 1977-78 fiscal year the sum of sixteen thousand two hundred dollars ($16,200), fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) of which will be available to the Historic Hope Foundation, Inc., for the purpose of exterior restoration of the William King House, the remainder of which will be used by the Department of Cultural Resources, Division of Archives and History, to provide technical services to the Historic Hope Foundation, Inc., for the project provided an amount of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) is raised by the Historic Hope Foundation, Inc.; and for the 1978-79 fiscal year the sum of sixteen thousand two hundred dollars ($16,200), fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) of which will be available to the Historic Hope Foundation, Inc., for continuing the restoration of the William King House, the remainder of which will be used by the Department of Cultural Resources, Division of Archives and History, to provide technical services to the Historic Hope Foundation, Inc., for the project provided an amount of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) is raised by the Historic Hope Foundation, Inc. Funds appropriated in this act shall be expended only in accordance with G.S. 121-11 and G.S. 143-31.2.

Sec. 2.  This act shall become effective on July 1, 1977.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 1st day of July, 1977.