Gordon Secures $98,440 To Restore Historic Lewisburg Building

December 18, 2007, LEWISBURG – U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon has secured $98,440 to help Lewisburg officials restore a historic city building that has fallen into disrepair in recent years.

The unique facility is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Ladies Rest Room. It will receive the federal funding from the National Park Service’s Save America’s Treasures program.

“This building has received national recognition because of its historic value,” said Gordon. “By restoring and preserving our nation’s historic sites, we ensure they will be around for future generations to see firsthand what their communities were like generations ago.”

When a neighboring building to the lounge was demolished, the integrity of the facility’s north wall was disturbed because the buildings shared a common wall. Lewisburg Mayor Bob Phillips said the city has stabilized the wall and will use the federal funds to restore the facility for use as a city office building to boost efforts to revitalize the county square.

“We are delighted to get this money to restore one of our historic buildings on the square,” said Phillips. “This provides the city with additional office space and ties the community back to our heritage.”

The 83-year-old facility was built to give rural women a place to rest and relax while their husbands were in town on farm business, allowing the county to improve hospitality and boost the local economy.

“County officials thought the women would be more likely to accompany their husbands to town and shop if they had a space of their own to rest while their husbands conducted farm business,” said Gordon.

The historical value of the building was recognized by the National Park Service in its publication, “Exploring a Common Past: Researching and Interpreting Women’s History for Historic Sites.” It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1995.

The federal funding for the restoration was included in annual funding legislation for the National Park Service. The U.S. House of Representatives approved the bill today (Dec. 19). The Senate already has approved the bill, and it now goes to the president for signature.