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Like Old Mother Hubbard, the state's cupboard is bare when it comes to finding money to preserve the CSS Neuse gunboat.
Boat proponents sent an e-mail Monday to members of the state House of Representatives urging them to move the boat into a climate-controlled building, and finish the CSS Neuse museum.
"Please support House Bill 1002 that will provide funding for the CSS Neuse," reads the message signed by Lyle Holland, a member of the Historical Preservation Group.
"As you know, one of North Carolina's oldest and largest historic artifacts, remains of the CSS Neuse in Kinston, lies in dire need of being moved to a climate controlled environment. Funding is desperately needed to save this large piece of history, so that future generations of this great nation can be reminded of the struggles and sacrifices of many," Holland's message continues.
State Rep. Stephen LaRoque (R, D-10) has attempted for at least two years to have the state move the boat from an exposed shelter at the CSS Neuse State Historic Site on U.S. 70 to a building on Queen Street that would become a regional museum. His effort was almost successful last year.
"I've been talking to William Wainwright and Alice Underhill and they're not interested," he said Monday night. "There's nowhere in the General Government budget that I can take money for funding the CSS Neuse."
Wainwright represents portions of Lenoir and Craven counties. Underhill represents Craven and Pamlico counties. The boat is in LaRoque's district, but would move into Wainwright's district if funding became available.
The House is proposing a $3 million appropriation to plan and design a history education center at Tryon Palace. Wainwright told LaRoque the appropriation is $800,000 less than needed, and neither he nor Underhill is amenable to using any of the $3 million for the CSS Neuse.
The budget for the state's Cultural Resources Department is small, and already committed to financing three projects submitted by the House's Black Caucus.
The CSS Neuse was retrieved 43 years ago from the Neuse River where it burned and sank during the Civil War. Relics associated with the boat also were found and gunboat supporters hope to include them in a museum designed to preserve the boat.
"There are 8,000 artifacts in existence, from the ship's stove to the bell, buttons, nails, spikes, to some things we can't figure out what they are," said gunboat association member Tommy Lee. "Someone tells visitors what this stuff is, and it becomes interesting. You tell when it was built, where, where it was commissioned, that it was actually a fighting vessel. It didn't see a lot of action, but it did see some. A lot of places in North Carolina didn't have anything to do with the Civil War."
Lee estimates moving the boat, building an enclosure for it and renovating the Queen Street building would cost about $3 million.
"Every year we can slow or stop the deteriorating adds more years to the boat's long term life," Lee said. "Getting the boat into a climate-controlled enclosure is the first step."
Wood deterioration is caused by changes in temperature and humidity, Lee said. Constant temperatures slow deterioration.
"I'm not a wood scientist," he said, "but it's the fluctuation that causes deterioration. It rots when moisture gets into it, it dries out, moisture gets in, it dries out - the continuous change causes wood to rot."
"The CSS Neuse was one of 22 commission Confederate ironclads," Holland's e-mail reminded legislators. (The) remains of the Neuse is all that is left of any of them. It is an important link
to past naval history. When recovered from the bottom of the Neuse River in 1963 there were 15,000 artifacts taken from her."
Residents who want to contact their representatives about the boat can reach Wainwright by calling 919-733-5995, or by e-mailing Williamw@ncleg.net. LaRoque can be reached at 919-715-3017 or by e-mailing Stephenl@ncleg.net. |
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