The 1852 Denmark Church Building's Restoration
2008
Just so you will know, as the Bible says, "I would not have you to be ignorant brethren." The first work done on the DenmarkChurch was paid for by Big Black Creek, we put almost $10,000 in the stabilization of the building. When we got the grant, TDOT stopped the work and told us we could not do anything else or we would lose the grant. The problem, we had not finished and the West Wall continued to separate from the building. The Mayor, Southwest Development and I began talking to TDOT, telling them that we had to do more or we would lose the building. The County, through the road department had put up the $32,000 match and finally TDOT said we could resume work and spend $15,000 on the building to stabilize the West wall. The State had also charged us $2,500 just to submit the grant application.
Out of the $15,000 from the county we paid $11,500 for work and $3,333 to Home Depot for materials. The Engineering Firm TLM has charged us $25,570 for two sets of plans. We had some vandalism at the building and Southwest District, the administrator for the Grant wanted us to board the building up to stop vandalism. Which we have done at a cost of $2,559. The building is now secure. These figures make up the $42,963 we have spent so far, not counting the money from Big Black. Big Black has been paying all the cost associated with the building and for the storage unit at the building.. The good news is we are almost through. Some of the money we may recover from the grant from TDOT.
The Mayor has asked Bart Walls, engineer for the County Road Department to work with Jason Pirtle, TLM to come up with a plan to match the money we have left, about $121,000. TDOT's Neil Hanson, coordinator for TDOT meet with a group and told them that TDOT would approve this. Then we could write maybe two more grants to complete the church.
We cannot lose the grand old building, it is one of the oldest left in MadisonCountyand is a major tourist attraction. We had over 3,000 people visit it last year and it appears on almost every brochure advertising our area, such as The National Trust, The Civil War Trails, and many other state and local brochures. Last year we had visitors from Germany, the country of Denmark, and Francecome see the building, and many Civil War Enthusiast. Working with the State Tourism Department and the local CVB, we had about 30 writers from all over the USvisit the building and as a result there have been many articles appearing in papers and magazines about the church and its history. Be patient, we will work it out. Bill .
July 6, 2011
I just had a meeting with Madison County Mayor Jimmy Harris, we have been awarded a second grant of $307,380 for the Denmark Church...that brings the matches and grants to $500,808 for this great project.
Thanks Be to God. Bill
August 15, 2011
The County Commissioners voted tonight on the motion to fund the match for the Denmark Church $62,000 bringing the money now to over $500,000 for the restoration of the church. The vote was 21 to 2 in favor.
September 16, 2011
We are doing the second printing for 200 more Big Black Creek Vol. 1 books. Jackson Prep is going to use it as a supplement for the history class. Also the cabin with the Tennessee flag flying is a attention getter. Russ Hunter has made a front door for it, maybe we could rent it out for a bed and breakfast, will need to put up a outhouse though.
We could start promoting the cemetery walk, it will be Saturday October 22....3 to 7 p.m.
We will not have any more movies until January, the cemetery walk will take October and Thanksgiving November and then Christmas at Ebenezer December. As soon as the churches start picking the dates I will let everyone know. It looks like we will have many more choirs this year.
September 19, 2011
Just a note.....we will open the bids for the Denmark Church Tuesday, 20th. We have $500,000 to spend on the restoration of the building. We are applying for another $50,000 for the inside work. The log house is coming right along, Mark, Russ and several others are working on it every week. Mark put up a new flag pole with a Tennessee flag, which looks great, it is at the corner of Hwy. 138 and Ebenezer Road, stop by and see it. We are getting ready for our Cemetery walk, we will use two of the oldest cemeteries in Denmark this year, old Big Black Creek Baptist and old Methodist, most people have never seen this ancient cemeteries. We will start at the post office in Denmark and move visitors by wagon to the cemeteries. It will be October 22, 3 to 7 P.M. Then, Christmas at Ebenezer with the community choirs singing. Our book is out and is going into it second printing already all proceeds are going to our projects and projects of other not-for-profits. We are giving the profits to any organization that sells them, it will help them with their fund raising. Check out the web site....www.bigblackcreekhistorical.com Thanks Tim for the great work on the site.
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October 21, 2011
Sent: Fri Oct 21 16:15:31 2011
Subject: Fwd: Denmark - Pre-Construction Meeting Agenda/Denmark Church Project
It looks like the contract has been awarded and we are ready to start November 1...THANK GOD. Bill
January 2012
The BBCHA is sending the Chorale of Denmark West Middle School to The Jackson Symphony Concert on March 10, 2012. The bus and misc. cost is $20 per child. If you would like to donate mail check made out to Big Black Creek Historical, P.O. Box 50, Denmark, TN. 38391. Or call Billy King, 731-427-7897. This is a tax deductible gift.
dN English and her husband Dr. Winbush have bought 55 tickets to the Jackson Symphony Concert on March 10th, 2012 and given them to Big Black Creek. We are raising the money for the transportation and food for the Chorale of Denmark West Middle School. We will bus the children, 7th and 8th grade to Carl Perkins Civic Center for the concert. The cost is $20 per child. If you would like to donate mail check made out to Big Black Creek Historical, P.O. Box 50, Denmark, TN. 38391. Or call Billy King, 731-427-7897. This is a tax deductible gift.
