ELIZABETHTOWN — The Harmony Hall Plantation Village group came together Thursday for its first meeting of the new year, and the overriding message among the board members was, “we’re now in the business of restoration, not preservation.”

Harry La Rock, vice president of the organization, said in his report which reflected on 2016 that the group had “an up and down year.”

Among the challenges faced by the group, according to La Rock, was taking over from a previous administration that had fallen behind on paying bills, had let its 501(c) status lapse, the news from a Wilmington preservationist that the new roof on the Harmony Hall home was not properly installed by restorers and the fact that the group has had no president for nearly a year.

Also, La Rock pointed out that a number of the outbuildings on the plantation grounds were in need of varying degrees of repair — including to the roofs of the chapel, general store and Tatum Store. In addition, he said the porches and outside of Harmony Hall needed painting, the Campbell Cottage has rotting shingles and other damage, two pipes in the general store burst and the estimate for a six-year termite treatment on all of the plantation buildings would cost between $2,000 and $2,500.

“We also had quite a bit of damage to the river trail from Hurricane Matthew,” La Rock said. “Some of the downed trees and debris have been removed, so the trail is passable, but there is still a lot of work needed.”

If there was good news on Thursday, it came in the form of a rebounding bank account. According to the numbers, the organization’s coffers are in the black to the tune of $12,460 — which represents an increase of $1,673.

Moving forward, there were a number of future events at Harmony Hall announced, including: a Boy Scout project on Feb. 18; the annual homecoming weekend either April 29-30 or May 6-7; and a bushcraft survivalist event on Feb. 23-26.

The group is also hoping to reinstate it relationship with those at Moore’s Creek Battlefield, looking into selling Harmony Hall T-shirts at regional events and installing lights — perhaps a chandelier — at the chapel to enhance wedding events.

Finally, La Rock said the membership rolls “have suffered, with more losses than gains.” To combat that downward spiral, the board talked about coming up with a membership/volunteer recruitment plan that would include a training component. Board member Judy Elkins said it would be good to have available good information (about the plantation home and grounds) that will interest the younger visitors.

“We need to have historical tidbits that children will be interested in,” she said. “Nothing too complicated.”

La Rock agreed and asked that those kinds of tidbits be compiled and written down so everyone would have access.

The next meeting of the board and general membership will be April 20 at 7 p.m. at the Elizabethtown Municipal Building.

W. Curt Vincent can be reached by calling 910-862-4163.

W. Curt Vincent

cvincent@civitasmedia.com