Spread the love

By BladenOnline Team

On March 11, Bladen County officials toured the historic Harmony Hall Plantation Village (HHPV, Inc.) established circa 1760 in White Oak, North Carolina, along the Cape Fear River. Sunday Allen, a long-time volunteer with the non-profit, HHPV, Inc., served as a tour guide for Bladen County Commissioners Ray Britt, Cameron McGill, Charles Ray Peterson, and County Manager Greg Martin. Allen showcased the value of the village to the mother county.

The plantation house on the 97-acre property was first owned and constructed by Colonel James Richardson.

Allen said, “It may be the oldest home in Bladen County that still sits on its original foundation.”

Colonel Richardson ran a West Indies shipping line and married Elizabeth O’Neal Purdy from Jamaica. The two liked this area so much they decided to build their home here. The house remained in the Richardson family until 1874.

“Our history is worth telling, regardless of age, race, or religious beliefs,” Allen said.

[slideshow_deploy id=’234584′]

In 1972, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. HHPV, Inc currently owns the property.

The Harmony Hall home is surrounded by other buildings, including an old one-room schoolhouse, the Tatum Store, a chapel, and the Shaw-McMillan Home. Allen took the officials walking around the building sites and the trail leading to the Cape Fear River as she explained the rich history of the location and the potential for the tourist destination.

The buildings on the property were severely damaged during hurricanes over the past several years. Although volunteers have held workdays to help with landscaping and building a staging area, there is a lack of funding for the needed repairs of the structures at the historical place.

As Allen pointed at the old home, she told the officials, “We have to come in, on the exterior, replace some of our rot. It needs a good scrapping, and it needs a good painting.”

The HHPV, Inc, applied for a grant in August of 2019 through the National Parks Service for $115,000 specifically for the hurricane damage. The grant will fund some of the desperately needed restoration projects.

While explaining the grant process to the county officials, Allen stated, “We are on the short rows of seeing that released, but it is only for this house and to button up the exterior.”

The grant funding will not cover all the restoration costs. Allen explained that restoring the property will take an additional $100,000 to $200,000 “to get us finished off” due to water damage, electrical work, and carpentry repairs needed inside the buildings. Another hurdle for the project is that all the house improvements must be approved by the National Register of Historic Places. According to Allen, the approval process has made it harder for contractors to agree to do the work.

Commissioner Peterson asked Allen if she could prioritize the needs and list them. “Yes,” Allen responded.

Commissioner McGill spoke up about the historical site’s potential to bring in tourists and more revenue.

Allen announced plans for events and tours to be hosted on the site. Currently scheduled by the HHPV, Inc., is a Spring Homecoming to be held on Saturday, May 12. Harmony Hall Plantation Village is located at 1615 River Road in White Oak, NC.

Harmony Hall Plantation Village Inc. holds a 501(c)3 tax exemption and accepts donations to continue preservation efforts and education. Donations are accepted on PayPal with the QR code listed below or by mail.
ATTN: HHPV, Inc
C/O Treasurer: S. Allen
1800 Winding Creek Rd
Elizabethtown, NC 28337