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History Alive Drive Westville Village will be easier to visit, and its programs will be easier to use as a result of a major fund-raising drive now taking place. So says Matthew Moye, Westville’s Executive Director. “A visit to Westville is a wonderful learning experience,” Moye stated recently. “This campaign is designed to serve our visitors’ needs better–more comfort stations, more gift shop space, more and better orientation, attention to the needs of handicapped visitors, improved educational programs, better parking, improved conservation capacity, and additional displays, including our first slave house installation and a real millpond.” The campaign, called the “History Alive Drive,” began quietly in 1999 as funding sources for various early projects were sought and work began. To date, Westville has added the Kiser House, where visitors can get refreshments and use rest rooms. The Thornton House has been restored and put in service as the executive offices. Westville hired Michelle Alexander to be Interpretive Director. Electric “scooters” for handicapped people have been purchased and put into service. An engineering plan has been completed for the construction of a millpond behind the Farmhouse. Additional plans call for $4 million to endow salaries and services. Westville will also construct a new visitors’ center, allowing the current store to be moved into the Village. Now that Westville’s offices have been moved, the Rawson House (where the offices were before the campaign) can be restored for the Village. A law office already on site will be put into service. Collections security will be enhanced. And more. The total campaign will raise $8 million. Moye indicated that this particular moment is historical for the village, because this is Westville’s first major public campaign since its beginnings in 1966. “We’ve had in-house and member campaigns. We’ve made many proposals to foundations and corporations,” Moye explained. “However, we’ve never brought our long-range plans in any substantial way to the public before. And, we’ve been thoughtful and organized with our planning. These are the things we need to serve the public better It’s very exciting.” Fund counsel has been retained to assist in this campaign. Charles Bentz Associates is a company that is known for other successful campaigns they have structured in the area. Westville’s campaign manager is Tom McCarty. His office is located at 42 Clearview Circle, P0 Box 6463, Columbus, GA 31917-6463. For more information on the campaign, please contact Mr. McCarty at 706/562-0405, or e-mail wvillecpn@hotmail.com. As always, Westville can be contacted at Westville, PG Box 1850, Lumpkin, GA 3 1815; or e-mailed at director@westville.org; or called toll-free at 888/733-1850.
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