Mr. Reid Thomas

Reid Thomas, the restoration specialist from the NC Historic Preservation office, is also assisting in this process. Mr. Thomas is advising Eye Integrated and WAJ Construction on architectural research, planning, and advice on application procedures and requirements for securing tax credits. Mr. Thomas will also monitor all rehabilitation work that is done at the Cobb house.

C. Architecture and History of Colonial Chowan County presented by North Carolina architectural historian, Reid Thomas.Emphasis on evolution of architecture in the region, featuring unique elements of the Cupola House construction and the idiosyncrasies of British and Coastal influences.

Reid Thomas is a restoration specialist with the state Division of Archives and History.He said his routine hasn't changed too much, but he is cutting back in small ways.

"We're trying to cut back on driving when we don't have to," he said.

Thomas lives in the Martin County community of Hassell, 25 miles from Greenville.Because of the time it takes to drive to Greenville and other larger communities,

Thomas said he was already in the habit of running errands and completing shopping after work.

When gas prices started fluctuating last year he decided he needed a more fuel-efficient vehicle.

"We were looking at getting a larger vehicle but I feared gas prices going up," he said.

Instead of the Land Rover he dreamed of, Thomas got a smaller Freelander which gets 200 more miles per tank.

Thomas estimates he is spending an extra $10 a week on gas and he finds himself hunting for the cheapest gas prices.

"I didn't do that that much before but I am conscious of who has the best prices," he said.

The symposium was closed appropriately by Reid Thomas, Restoration Specialist for the Eastern Office of State Historic Preservation, who talked about the preservation of coastal North Carolina's great architectural heritage. We had become well acquainted with Thomas: he had accompanied or joined us over the days of the symposium and tours, introducing us to owners of private homes, providing informal commentary about the buildings we were visiting. He ended optimistically by showing us successful domestic restoration efforts, most of them small and private. The state has perhaps America's best tax credit program, and "Preservation North Carolina" focuses on the acquisition of endangered properties, their sale to individuals, and assistance in their restoration. The program has inspired hundreds of successes. Showing us buildings that seemed ruins, he documented their gradual return to life, leaving us astonished and enthusiastic.

Reid Thomas, restoration specialist with the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, said there is a good chance the school could be included on the national register, but it may take another year before the historic building is ready for a new review.

"They have a very good (restoration) team," Thomas said."They have been very successful in saving the original fabric of the building."

Thomas met with the Jarvisburg Colored School Board of Trustees, an architect and a construction contractor to review the site.After the meeting he recommended that exterior construction must be complete, and the interior near completion, before the building is presented to the state for consideration on the national register.

"To determine eligibility, we look for how much of the original (construction material) is there," Thomas said.

Reid Thomas, architectural historian for the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources in Greenville, will serve as a guide for association members, guests and all other participants.

Hope Plantation is the restored home of Gov.

Reid Thomas, a restoration specialist for the Historic Preservation Office in North Carolina's Department of Cultural Resources, will be the guest speaker for the 6:30 p.m. Tuesday meeting of the society at Westminster United Methodist Church.His topic is "The Reconstruction and Furnishings of Early North Carolina Kitchens: A Museum Perspective."

"In May 2002, a major dedication took place for the reconstructed kitchen at Hope Plantation in Bertie County," Thomas said."This successful project followed years of architectural, archaeological and historical research.

"Just a few years earlier, the John Wheeler House Kitchen in Murfreesboro was reconstructed following the same intriguing process.Both projects have drawn tremendous interest and support from visitors and numerous professionals across the nation."

Thomas' interest in the early kitchens of America have taken him up and down the East Coast - and even to Scotland.
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Other projects Thomas has been involved with include restoration work at Poplar Forest, Thomas Jefferson's retreat home located outside Lynchburg, Va.He also participated in a week-long fireplace and oven building workshop at Eastfield Village in East Nassau, N. Y.

Thomas works out of the eastern office, where he has offered technical restoration assistance to hundreds of private and public projects in the 16 counties he serves.He has also coordinated a number of workshops, including The Institute for Historic Paints, the Historical Development of Builders' Hardware, and two Masonry Restoration Workshops.

The dinner meeting menu includes: Turkey breast with dressing and gravy, corny potatoes, green beans, cranberry salad, lemon velvet cake and tea and / or coffee.

Upcoming meetings include Nov. 19 and the Christmas open house, Dec. 8.Docent training for Harmony Hall volunteers will begin in January.

Scotland County native, Reid Thomas, will be the guest speaker for the annual meeting of the Scotland County Historical Association on Tuesday, Nov. 12.The event will take place at the Laurinburg Presbyterian Church fellowship hall at 7:30 p.m.

Thomas was born and raised in Laurinburg.He now lives in Hassell where he is restoration specialist for the Historic Preservation office, Department of Cultural Resources, Office of Archives and History.Since 1990, he has been serving out of the Eastern office in Greenville, working in 16 counties in private and public projects.

Thomas, son of Jennie Thomas Simmons of Laurinburg and Wilmington, has been active in the coordination of several restoration workshops, including: The Institute for Historic Paints, the Historical Development of Builders' Hardware and two Masonry Restoration Workshops.
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In 1993, Thomas participated in the Poplar Forest Restoration Field Schools, Thomas Jefferson's retreat home located near Lynchburg, Va.That same year he began an intensive restoration of an early 19th-century plantation home in Martin County.In June of 2000, he participated in a week-long workshop on fireplace and oven-building at Eastfield Village, East Nassau, New York.

He received the prestigious Quinque Fellowship in building conservation this year.The three-month fellowship involved an intense study of building conservation efforts and techniques used throughout Scotland.

Thomas earned a bachelor of science degree from Campbell University, and from 1987 to 1990 he served as education coordinator for the North Carolina Museum of History, Museum of the Cape Fear at Fayetteville.In 1989, he was acting curator of the Museum of the Cape Fear.

The highlight of the evening was a presentation by Scotland County native Reid Thomas, who is a restoration specialist for the state Historic Preservation Office.He has been working out of the eastern office in Greenville since 1990.

Thomas's slide show, which focused on the restoration of old houses and buildings, was of particular interest to the Historical Association, which declared the restoration of the Stewart Malloy house as one of its two major projects for the upcoming year.

Thomas visited the house before Tuesday's meeting and told association members that it is one of the most intact houses in the area from the Georgia-Federal period (late 18th century).

"Cosmetically it's a wreck," Thomas said."Structurally it appears to be very sound."

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Thomas added that the restoration of historic buildings is a viable way to help rebuild communities that may be struggling to retain old industries and attract new ones.

"It's important, especially for rural communities," Thomas said."The restoration of old buildings and houses is certainly a way to help bring businesses into a community."

There are incentives for individuals or businesses that undertake restoration projects.According to Thomas, state laws provide for up to a 30-percent income tax credit for certified rehabilitations of non-income producing, historic structures -- including private residences.Businesses involved in historic restorations are also eligible for federal and state tax credits.

"North Carolina leads the nation in incentives for restoring historic buildings," Thomas said.

In addition to the Stewart Malloy house, the association will also be focusing on the publication of The Heritage of Scotland County, a hardbound book featuring a unique collection of local subjects and family sketches.

The Scotland County Heritage Book Committee is inviting all residents, former residents and those with roots in Scotland County to submit a family household history and one photograph -- to be printed for free.

The deadline for submissions is Friday.

Restoration Specialists Reid Thomas and Peter Sandbeck of the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office will present a program focusing on 18th and early 19th century NC timber frame buildings and building technology.