In the southern portion of the county, work has begun on the construction of a visitors’ center as part of the John Ford Home and the Fordsville site. While the home is still closed to the public, the goal is to have the visitors’ center completed and open when the John Ford Home resumes operation to the public in March, 2022.
The center is being funded by a legislative appropriation through the Department of Finance, which provided $350,000 to the Marion County Historical Society and partially used for costs to help stabilize the more than 200-year-old structure. The home shifted on its foundation from the April 19, 2020 tornado that damaged portions of Sandy Hook.
Jay Ginn with the historical society said the plans include adding restrooms, a changing area, a meeting room and a commercial kitchen. The meeting room is designed to hold up to 120 people.
“The visitors’ center will allow us to really promote the site so much better than we have been able to,” Ginn said.
By having the center, Ginn said, it will allow for more activities to take place at the location, such as weddings, reunions and other activities. It will be another way to generate revenue to pour back into the site.
Activities such as tours and encampments have been going on for years, however, there really weren’t any modern conveniences available. Now, with the visitors’ center, it will make it easier on the volunteers and everyone attending the events.
The plans are to turn the Fordsville site into a fully self-supported area. Ginn said they are hoping to eventually have a kitchen and blacksmith shop added and completely build the area up to create an age-appropriate site to match the home.
Ginn said there will be better parking when everything opens up again.
The goal is to have the site open each year from March until the end of November, and use the months of December, January and February as a time to take care of maintenance and issues that need to be addressed, he said.
While the annual candlelight tour will not happen this year, it will start back again next year, Ginn said.
The next encampment is tentatively scheduled for April 2022.
Helping with the current project are Darryl Ryals, Pepper Richardson and Larry White, each of whom Ginn said brings their own invaluable expertise.
