Friends of the Smokies Receives $750,000 from Colquitt Foundation to Restore Historic Structures in Haywood County
By Marge | Published 2025-08-28T13:38:05.58+00:00
Lifestyle
Haywood County -- August 27, 2025: The Colquitt Foundation, a private nonprofit with deep ties to Western North Carolina, has announced a significant $2 million commitment to aid the region's recovery from the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. The first part of this pledge is a $750,000 gift to Friends of the Smokies, a nonprofit partner of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The generous donation is specifically earmarked for the restoration of historic structures in the park’s Cataloochee Valley, one of the areas most severely damaged by the storm. Record rainfall and high winds from Hurricane Helene last September caused extensive flooding and landslides, which ravaged historic landmarks. The Colquitts' funding will be used to repair iconic sites, including the Caldwell Barn, the Hiram Caldwell House, and the Beech Grove School, which suffered significant structur