Challenge grant infuses new life into project; North Alexander School Assn. seeking niche

A significant local gift has brought to life an organization which has been mostly dormant in Washington-Wilkes for about 10 years, and the prospect of the revi- talization of a historic structure is exciting to the directors who are spearheading the effort.

The North Alexander School Association (NASA) has reorganized and, beginning immediately, will seek new members, new fund-raising opportunities, and wide public input in the form of suggestions for the building's future use. NASA was formed in 1990 with the state purpose of restoring and renovating the central 1897 structure on the North Alexander Avenue school property. A roof was put on the building thereby halting further deterioration but a lack of funds has left the project unattended in recent years.

Now, however, the receipt of a significant "challenge grant" in the amount of $200,000 has inspired the board of directors to begin again. The "challenge" is that NASA must match the grant within about 2½ years or it will be lost. Success, on the other hand, would mean a total of at least $400,000 available for renovation purposes.

But fund-raising is not the top priority for NASA at this point, according to its chairman.

"There is a movement afoot to get something going and attract interest from as many people as possible," NASA head Bill Bennett said. "The first step is to get input from the community, if we can restore the building, as to what it can be designed for." He said that something with very broad appeal would be best and that because of the land use agreement with the Alexander family, the building must have an educational purpose of some kind.

While development of a meeting and convention center at the site had been considered in the past, Bennett said that did not necessarily hold up since the Edward B. Pope Community Center evolved.

"We're not trying to compete with the vision of the Pope Center," he said. "We're just trying to find our own niche."

The first event to be sponsored by the newly reactivated NASA will be a membership drive wine and cheese party to be held next Thursday, February 22, in the Fitzpatrick Hotel ballroom beginning at 5:30 p.m. At that meeting, anyone interested in joining NASA or offering a suggestion for the old school's future use may do so.

Representatives from local and area historical organizations have been invited and are encouraged to attend as are interested individuals.

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