FRIENDS OF MOOREFIELDS

IN ADDITION TO ROUTINE REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE OF THE HOUSE AND GROUNDS, ONGOING EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN AND PRESERVE THE HISTORIC HOUSE AT MOOREFIELDS INCLUDED INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR PAINTING, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE LONG GRAVEL DRIVEWAY ENTRANCE TO THE SITE, REPLACEMENT OF THE 50-YEAR-OLD WATER TANK, AND PLANTING OF 20 WHITE OAK TREES AS PART OF A PLAN TO REPLACE THE 50 OAK TREES PLANTED AROUND THE HOUSE WHEN IT WAS BUILT IN 1785, ALL OF WHICH ARE NOW GONE. VOLUNTEERS WERE ENGAGED TO PLANT THE TREES. NEW SIGNAGE WAS INSTALLED IN PREPARATION FOR INCREASED SITE VISITS. THE 6,745 COST OF THE WORK WAS SUPPORTED BY A 10,000 GRANT FROM THE OCHILTREE FOUNDATION. THE OLCHILTREE GRANT ALSO SUPPORTED 3,698 TO EQUIP AN OFFICE TO ACCOMMODATE THE HIRING OF THE ORGANIZATION'S FIRST PART-TIME STAFF AND UPGRADE OF THE ORGANIZATION'S COMMUNICATIONS CAPACITY. WORK ON THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROJECT, BEGUN IN 2023 CONTINUED IN 2025 UTILIZING A 91,928 GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE THROUGH THE NC STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE. THE PROJECT INCLUDES AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY UNDERTAKEN TO PROVIDE INITIAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO LIVED AND WORKED ON THE SITE AS WELL AS EXTENSIVE HISTORICAL RESEARCH TO SUPPORT AN EXPANSION OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER NOMINATION TO INCLUDE THE ENTIRE PROPERTY RATHER THAN THE HOUSE ONLY. 8,680 IN GRANT FUNDS WERE EXPENDED IN 2025 TO SUPPORT RESEARCH AND SUBMISSION OF THE REVISED NOMINATION, AS WELL AS CREATION OF POWER POINT PRESENTATION PROJECT DETAILING THE HISTORY OF THE SITE AND THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL WORK TO DATE. THIS PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN 2026. FOUR FREE SUMMER TOUR DAYS OF THE HOUSE AND GROUNDS WERE STAFFED BY VOLUNTEER BOARD MEMBERS, HOSTING APPROXIMATELY 175 PEOPLE, AND WITH THE ADDITION OF STAFF, THE ORGANIZATION BEGAN OPENING THE SITE TO THE PUBLIC ON A REGULAR WEEKLY BASIS IN SEPTEMBER. FREE WILDFLOWER, BIRDING, AND HISTORICAL LANDSCAPE HIKES WERE HELD IN THE SPRING AND FALL LED BY VOLUNTEER KNOWLEDGEABLE PROFESSIONALS. AN ADDITIONAL 150 PEOPLE VISITED MOOREFIELDS TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE PROGRAMS. THE ANNUAL BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL WAS HELD ON THE LAWN IN OCTOBER 2025, ATTENDED BY APPROXIMATELY 500 PEOPLE. THE FESTIVAL GROSSED 15,384. EXPENSES TOTALED 6,948.