Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 1 · column 1 of 6 · from the scan, no model involved
By Matt Pelkey
Rappahannock News Staff Writer
A long shot grant application has paid off nicely for the initiative to restore the Scrabble School building; a historic African-American schoolhouse in Scrabble that has lain neglected for decades.
This past Monday County Administrator John McCarthy received a letter indicating that the state will provide $200,000 for the project. The Virginia Department of Housing and Community approved the county's application submitted this past September; awarding the manmnm amount of money available per project under the grant program.
McCarthy said that the $200,000 will be paid to the county as reimbursements as expenses are incurred
The project, which calls for refurbishing and converting the school building into a functioning senior center and historical AfricanAmerican landmark, carries an estimated price tag of $450,000. Even with die influx of cash, the initiative is still $100,000 short.
The Scrabble School Preservation Foundation, which is spearheading the restoration of the schoolhouse, will be working to raise funds in the next few months. McCarthy said he expects to bring the project before the Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors in January once resources are better nailed down. The beard will then have the opportunity to approve plans for the site, which the county owns.
“Frankly, Fd be a lot more comfortable if that gap were narrowed to $25 or $50,000 ,” McCarthy said
But he and others involved with the restoration are confident the money will be there.
“Yes, Fm optimistic that we will because it’s a community project and we’ve had a lot of interest in that project,” said Bob Lander; president of the Scrabble School Preservation Foundation.
Lander believes that being so dose to their goal of $450,000 will encourage others to help see it met.
“It’s one of the most exciting things that’s happened in a long tune,” he said
54.9%