On December 11, 2008, the Fauquier County Board of Supervisors met and approved the Committee’s request for waiving the remaining $1,301.00 in Building and Zoning Permit fees, allowing us to remain on our building schedule projection. The Permits were posted on December 11, and work is expected to begin in January 2009.
In late November 2008, the Fauquier County Building Permit section notified the Committee that the classification of the archaeological shelter as a mini-museum/commercial structure required a State Licensed contractor with a Fauquier County Business License to finish putting the roof, etc. on the building.
In early December, another St. Stephen’s parishioner, Jeff Woodward, who meets these qualifications agreed to help, and signed for the Zoning and Building Permits on 9 December.
On October 22, 2008, a Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) representative, a County Zoning Staff representative, Lory Payne of the Southern Fauquier Historical Society met with Ed Dandar of the Elk Run Church Site Preservation Committee to discuss what would be needed for the entrance and parking lot of the Elk Run Historic Church Park.
On October 23, surveyors, Ray and Mary Root, contributed their services in providing a survey of the Historic Church Park entrance and parking lot and provided it to Lory Payne who got it completed in final form for submission to VDOT on 29 October.
On November 12, the Site Plan for the Church Park was approved by the County Zoning Administrator after receiving VDOT’s approval of our changes for the Parking Lot entrance and parking area. VDOT went one step further by waiving the $3,000 requirement for a Tar & Chip entrance.
In October 2008, while Zoning and Building Permit work was being done, Dr. John Eddins started drafting the words for an Archaeological Interpretive Sign for the new Elk Run Historic Church Park and Sarah Gulick began planning for what would be placed on the interior walls of the mini-Museum when it was completed.
On September 27, 2008 the Elk Run Church Site Preservation Committee provided a display for Warrenton’s Heritage Day Event.
During late August and early September 2008, Carol Miller of St. Stephen’s Church finished the necessary architect plans for the mini-Museum structure.
On May 29, 2008, the Preservation Committee received and approved a request from Barbara Price, Secretary/Trustee of the Memorial Foundation of the Germanna Colonies for a visit and presentation on the Elk Run Church Site preservation efforts on Friday, July 18, 2008, for about 50 people.
On July 18, 2008, we were permitted to conduct our Elk Run Church Site presentation for the Germanna Tour of about 30 persons.
On Saturday, June 21, 2008, Archaeological Protective Shelter foundation work resumed by putting up the walls on the Elk Run Church Site Protective Shelter led by Greg Miller and assisted by several St. Stephen’s Church members. Completion of wall work continued on June 22 but was stopped by a member of the Fauquier County’s Building Inspection Department who was passing by and wanted to see the permits for building the Archaeological Protective Shelter.
During a visit and discussion on June 23, with Fauquier County’s Zoning Office, it was determined that our Protective Shelter would probably be reclassified as a Mini-Museum/Commercial activity and all of the various permissions and approvals would have to be obtained before construction could be resumed.
On May 5, 2008, the Elk Run Church Site Preservation Committee set up a display for over 650 attendees of the “Battle of Buckland Mills History Program” held at the Battlefield Baptist Church in Buckland Mills, Virginia.
In early May 2008, Fauquier County notified the Preservation Committee that it had listed the Elk Run Church Site in its forthcoming Heritage Brochure as a place to visit during its 250th Anniversary in 2009.
