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Residents and historical society urge board to preserve Jonesville Institute as county plans to dispose of parcels
Summary
At a Lee County Board meeting, residents and the Lee County Historical & Genealogical Society urged the board to preserve the Jonesville Institute (1911) and adjacent agricultural shop, citing community value and grant opportunities; county staff warned restoration will be costly and the board voted to proceed with a disposition process while taking public comment.
Residents and preservation advocates urged the Lee County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 20 to preserve the century-old Jonesville Institute and the adjacent Agricultural Shop Building rather than sell or demolish them.
Ken Roddenberry of the Lee County Historical and Genealogical Society told the board the Jonesville Institute, built in 1911, and the agricultural shop (c. 1940) are "vital links to our past" that could be restored and used as a community center, museum or artisan space. "Their preservation is essential to maintaining our community's connection to its history," Roddenberry said.
Other speakers, including Diane Morris and Annie Clark, urged the board to consider requests for qualifications, tax-credit financing and grant partnerships that have been used in nearby localities to restore historic structures. "It can be done if you contract with the right people and find the right grants," Clark said, describing nearby examples where restoration spurred economic activity.
Clint Carter, the county building official, told the board the structures are in poor condition, citing termite damage, collapsing floors and code-compliance issues. He said partial renovation could cost in the low seven figures just to make limited parts of the building usable and that bringing the structure up to modern occupancy code would require additional substantial work. "There's a lot to it, a lot of layers to trying to restore it," Carter said.
Board members acknowledged the buildings' historic value but said county finances and the structures' condition complicate immediate preservation. The board announced a public hearing on the proposed disposition of several county-owned parcels (including tax parcel 35-A-138 and portions of 53A-20) that contain the school buildings, invited further community input and noted the county lacks funds for major renovation.
Chair said the board's goal is to solicit interest and options: if a community group can demonstrate a plan and funding, the county would consider preservation options before disposing of property. The board carried out procedural votes to move forward with disposition steps while leaving open the possibility of partnerships, and asked staff to compile grant and feasibility information and report back.
The board did not commit county funds for restoration during the meeting; it recorded public support for preservation and requested additional information on condition, costs and grant opportunities as a next step.
