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BCIF donates to Constitution Square endowment fund
June 25, 2014DANVILLE, Ky. - The Boyle County Industrial Foundation presented a $50,000 check to the Boyle County Fiscal Court Tuesday morning for the Constitution Square Historic Site endowment fund.
From left, Magistrate Jack Hendricks, Magistrate Patty Burke, Judge-Executive Harold McKinney, Industrial Foundation Chairman John Albright, Industrial Foundation Vice Chairman Greg Caudill, Magistrate Phil Sammons, Magistrate Dickie Mayes, Magistrate John Caywood, and Magistrate Donnie Coffman."The Boyle County Industrial Foundation appreciates the work the Boyle County Fiscal Court has done to renovate the park, and thanks the court for allowing the Danville-Boyle County Economic Development Partnership to house its offices there," said BCIF Chairman John C. Albright. "This donation is our way of showing appreciation for the hard work that has gone into preserving this important piece of our local and state history."
Constitution Square Historic Site is the birthplace of Kentucky's statehood. In 1785, Danville was chosen as Kentucky's first seat of government and a meetinghouse, courthouse and jail were built to administer the growing territory. Between 1784 and 1792, 10 constitutional conventions took place at the courthouse of Constitution Square. In 1790, Kentucky delegates accepted Virginia's terms for separation, and the state constitution was drafted at the final convention in April 1792. Shortly thereafter, on June 1, 1792, Kentucky became the 15th state in the union.
In recent decades the original buildings on the site have been renovated, and replica buildings of historic note have been added. The oldest among the originals is a log building dating from before statehood, which was the first post office west of the Allegheny Mountains.
In 2012, Boyle County Fiscal Court took ownership of the former state park, and today it houses the offices of the Danville-Boyle County Economic Development Partnership.
In 2013, the court established a $100,000 endowment to maintain the park.
"We appreciate the Industrial Foundation's generosity and willingness to lead our community by showing that preservation is a form of progress - a way of celebrating our past as we move forward into the future," said Boyle County Judge-Executive Harold McKinney. "It demonstrates, once again, what can happen when public and private entities work together for the good of the community."
Albright said the Industrial Foundation felt it was necessary to financially support the court in maintaining this property.
"We hope our contribution encourages others to invest in our community by pledging and donating to the park's endowment fund."
For more information on the Boyle County Industrial Foundation, visit bettersitesindanville.com.Contact:Jody Lassiter, President/CEOjody@developdanville.com, (859) 236-2361 x 130