Ussery Archives Project Spring 2008 update
In the spring of 2006 the idea of turning the existing conference room in the lower level of Fletcher Chapel into an archives library/formal meeting room was launched. This new room would house all of the Oak Hill Academy memorabilia and artifacts collected throughout the 129- year history of the school and enable them to be preserved and displayed for all to see and enjoy for many years to come. In July of that same year at the annual “Alumni Weekend Celebration” it was decided by a large group of alumni in attendance, that this would be a great project for all alumni to become involved in by helping to raise the needed monies and see this idea become a reality. It was also decided to name this room in honor of Mr. and Mrs. L.D. Ussery who were both wonderful influences and intricate parts of this great school for many years.
The total projected cost of the Ussery Archives room is approximately $100,000.00. This cost includes proper climate and light control, the framing and acid free matting of a very large number of the historic photographs and documents, custom built cabinetry and display cases, lighting, wall, ceiling and floor coverings, furniture and a revised entrance into the room. This room will be full of nostalgia yet will also serve as a great location for meetings and gatherings.
The Development Office of Oak Hill Academy would like to report that good progress is being made and confidently in the near future this project will become a reality. To date $21,500.00 has been raised by alumni through memorials, gifts in kind and through a $10,000 matching gift challenge that came from an attendee of the 2007 Alumni Weekend Celebration. The challenge went out to graduates and attendees from the 50’s and 60’s to match this amount. Through contributions and pledges this challenge has been met.
Dr. Michael Groves has announced that Oak Hill Academy will cover $50,000 of the total project cost, leaving us with just $28,500 to raise! Our goal is to be able dedicate the Ussery Archives room during the 2008 Alumni Weekend Celebration. So please, we still need your help to make this wonderful project happen! If you would like to make a contribution or help out with this project in any way please contact Cathy Ford Davis ’61 at 434-973-4157 or Tim Henry in the Development Office here at Oak Hill Academy 276-579-2619.