CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – In an unanimous decision July 15, the members of the Montgomery County Historical Society (MCHS) voted to push back against the destruction of a Clarksville historic site.
The group will advocate denial of the application to demolish the old Methodist Church at Fourth and Main Streets in order to allow for an independent assessment of the structure.
Why Save the Building
The building in question is the first permanent church building in Clarksville. The pre-1850 building is one of the earliest brick structures in town with only a few remaining.
Established in 1830, it has been home to the Madison Street Methodist Church and Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
POLL: Should the historic church be saved from demolition? (Please be patient as the poll may take a moment to load.)
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Plans for Destruction
The current homeowner feels the structure is too damaged to restore, according to his application requesting demolition.
According to the MCHS, the application to demolish the building will be presented to the Historic Zoning Board Monday, July 22 at 3:00 p.m. The Regional Planning Commission and the Board can deny or delay his application to allow time for additional evaluation.
The Society encourages the community to actively support for the preservation of the old Methodist Church by attending the meeting or contacting Regional Planning at rpc@cityofclarksville.com or 931-645-7453.
The primary mission of the Montgomery County Historical Society is to identify and preserve local historic sites, structures, artifacts and other materials and promote their preservation. To that end, the Society supports preservation of our historic buildings to every extent feasible. Meetings are held the third Monday of the month at 7:00 pm.m in the Civic Hall of Veterans Plaza.