Partnership in Action
Volunteers at the HHI Centennial Exhibit which also serves as the Small Town Main Street headquarters represent partner organizations working together with common goals for downtown Hayesville. Support from Clay County clubs and organizations include Chamber of Commerce, Travel & Tourism, Lions, Rotary, Historical & Arts Council, CCCRA, American Legion Post 532 and others linked to this website.
Learn more about HHI projects HERE.
The Sculpture Garden
The Sculpture Garden project in front of Town Hall was completed in 2021 by participating partners Clay County Communities Revitalization Association, Clay County Master Gardeners, Historic Hayesville Inc and Hayesville Town Council.
Blue Ridge National Heritage Area - Craft Trails
“The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area is the regional steward of living Appalachian traditions in North Carolina.”
The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area recently launched its Blue Ridge Craft Trails. Downtown Hayesville is well represented. Historic Hayesville Inc. Centennial Exhibit, the Barn Quilt Studio and the Clay County Historic Courthouse/Beal Center are included on the Blue Ridge Craft Trail as participating partners.
Gazebo & Town Square Appearance
Small Town/HHI Design Committee and Friends of Historic Hayesville provide plants and maintain appearance on the Square in partnership with Town of Hayesville and Clay County Communities Revitalization Association. Generous support from Master Gardeners, Clay County Lions Club, Clay County Farm Bureau, Lewis Nursery, Woodhaven Construction, Lowe's and public donations combined with many volunteer hours provides a welcome venue.
HHI Board members gave part of a grant they received from Master Gardeners to CCCRA at their February 2018 Board meeting to help with replacing older trees inside the historic courthouse square. CCCRA and Master Gardeners are two of the partners working with HHI along with volunteers representing several other organizations and the Town of Hayesville for beautification of the historic courthouse grounds.
HHI contributed to the CCHAC Old Jail Restoration Project in 2018
STMS/HHI Board members presented a check for more than $6100 in November 2018 from Steins & Wine Around the Square event ticket sales to the Clay County Historical & Arts Council Board to be used for repairs to the Old Jail Museum.
CCHAC is an active partner in the STMS program and more details about the museum project can be found at clayhistoryarts.org
HHI contributed to the CCCRA Courthouse Restoration Project again in 2017
HHI board members present a check from the ticket sales of the 2017 Steins & Wine Around the Square event, to Clay County Communities Revitalization Association board members at the November 2017 Town Council meeting, designated to benefit the CCCRA's courthouse restoration fund.
HHI donated just under $10,000 from fundraisers during the past 12 months to the CCCRA courthouse restoration fund.
Clay County Communities Revitalization Association board members gather at the historic courthouse with Mayor Harry Baughn and members of Historic Hayesville, Inc. to celebrate a donation from 2016 Steins & Wine Around the Square ticket sales.
CCCRA will continue to pursue corporate and grant funding and host fundraising activities to benefit the courthouse preservation project.
The restoration complete, a quilt that was made as part of Clay County's Sesquicentennial Celebration, can now be on permanent display in the courthouse. Each block tells a story about Clay County and its history. The handcrafted quilt was completed in 2011 by local quilters and it won First Prize in the Quiltfest 2011. It was on display at HHI Centennial Exhibit until summer of 2018 when it was relocated to Historic Courthouse/Beal Center as a cooperative exhibit with CCCRA.Trash/Recycle Receptacles for the Square
Small Town Main Street Design Committee Chair Deborah Nichols is shown with volunteers, Town Council member Sarah Buckley and CCCRA Board member Paul Price as they view a trash/recycle bin prototype by Melvin Swanson as a proposal for use on historic courthouse grounds.
The receptacles were made by Lidseen of North Carolina, Inc. of Hayesville. The recycling receptacles have a slightly different top design with smaller openings to discourage real trash disposal. The recycling receptacles were purchased using a grant from the Division of Environmental Assistance & Customer Service. Trash receptacles were initially purchased by Historic Hayesville Inc., who then looked for donations from organizations or individuals to offset this expense. Recognition was given to those who made donations to Historic Hayesville Inc. for at least one trash receptacle with a small plaque placed on the trash receptacle. All available receptacles are placed inside the historic courthouse square and around downtown. Each one has a beautiful aluminium representation of the courthouse.
Clay County Chamber of Commerce
Small Town Main Street/Historic Hayesville Inc. welcomes the Clay County Chamber of Commerce to their new location on Sanderson Street and appreciates their ongoing partnership for downtown projects.
Friends of Historic Hayesville
Friends of Historic Hayesville is a committee under the Small Town Main Street program supporting the Economic Vitality committee efforts with gift baskets featuring certificates to shop downtown businesses. Drawings are held during events such as the annual Car-B-Que sponsored by Rotary Club of Clay County and the Festival on the Square sponsored by the Clay County Historical and Arts Council.
The Rotary Club of Clay County partners with Small Town Main Street/Historic Hayesville Inc. for downtown projects and events.Moss Memorial Library
Moss Memorial Library has served Clay County for decades as an educational, cultural and public internet center.
Located just across the street from the Historic Hayesville Inc. Centennial Exhibit, the Library is a valuable partner to HHI and the Small Town Main Street program with a genealogy room available to supplement family history research and online services to make additional connections to public resources.
Town of Hayesville
STMS/HHI Promotions volunteer Surbrinia Baumgartner as the "good witch" organized a judging committee for Best Costumes in partnership with Town of Hayesville for "Halloween Around the Square".Clay County Lions Club
Clay County Lions Club continues to show support and partner with Small Town Main Street/HHI for downtown projects. They saw the need for a bike rack on the square for those who choose a great ride through favorite county routes and return to downtown. The Lions donated and unveiled the new rack in April of 2017.
Clay County Travel & Tourism
Lee Holland, Chair of Clay County Travel & Tourism, presented a check to HHI Board Secretary, Deborah Nichols, to support the publicity campaign for the annual Steins & Wine Around the Square event which benefits downtown projects including CCCRA Historic Courthouse Restoration fund.
Clay County Masonic Lodge 301
Small Town Main Street/Historic Hayesville Inc. is honored to have Clay Lodge 301 A.F. & A.M. as a supporting partner and neighbor for the Centennial Exhibit on Sanderson Street. The Lodge was established in 1868 and is still active as the oldest organization and home for the earliest historical documents about Clay County.
New Facades for Downtown Hayesville
Facades featuring new awnings were one of the first projects on the Small Town Main Street plan launched in 2015 in partnership with Town of Hayesville, property owners and businesses. Designs are still available from UNCG as a benefit from the Small Town Main Street program. Interested business owners should contact HHI for details.
New awnings for Chinquapins and the shops at the corner of Church and Main Street in downtown Hayesville.