Robbinsville – Town aldermen have granted an easement on Snider Hill to the Graham County Historical Association, which has plans to renovate the old Snider Store – but needed access from Snider Hill to add handicap access to the building.
The Robbinsville Board of Aldermen granted the right-of-way easement following a public hearing Sept. 7.
The Graham County Historical Association intends to renovate the old department store – once Graham County’s largest retail store – and convert it into a museum and heritage center.
The building is part of the downtown historic district and is often recalled as a set used in the motion picture “Nell.” It has been closed for years and fallen into disrepair.
The Graham County Historical Association has big plans for the two-story building, which will be called the Graham County Museum and Heritage Center. One floor would feature the NASCAR race car driven by the late Rodney Orr, a Robbinsville native.
The top floor would feature artifacts from Graham County’s past, some of which are already on display in the building’s windows.
The handicap access would be required for the building to satisfy requirements of the American with Disabilities Act.
The easement grants the historical association 1,450 square feet of right-of-way from Snider Hill alongside the building.
Under the terms, the easement will be in force as long as the building is occupied by the Graham County Historical Association for the purpose of the Graham County Museum and Heritage Center.
The measure passed unanimously.
Other news and notes
* A resident on Morphew Street is concerned about traffic on the steep residential street and suggested that town aldermen designate it as a one-way street. The board declined to implement that suggestion, but will put up a warning sign.
Motorcyclists, presumably from out-of-town, have been using the street to reach downtown after missing the turn from Snowbird Road onto Junaluska Drive. Aside from the loud noise of the motorcycles, other vehicles with long wheelbases – such as recreational vehicles – run the risk of bottoming out on Morphew Street and are forced to back down the hill.
Aldermen hope that a warning sign will help solve some of the problems without resorting to converting the street to one-way.
One-way restrictions on Dula Street, Millsaps Street, Snider Hill and Hosanna Street are routinely ignored.
* The Board of Aldermen plans to renew an interlock agreement with Nantahala Regional Library, to which the town has been paying $8,000 a year – but wants a seat on the board.
The regional library includes the Graham County Public Library in Robbinsville as well a bookmobile and libraries in Murphy, Andrews and Hayesville. The library system is also part of NC Cardinal, an online service that gives cardholders access to library collections throughout the state.
The interlock agreement expires on Sept. 30 unless renewed. The Town of Lake Santeetlah renewed its part of the agreement last week.