The Rockford Preservation Society, Inc., was organized in 1972 as a private, non-profit corporation. It was founded to fulfill three primary purposes: (1) to preserve the Town of Rockford, NC, as a historic site, (2) to acquire, restore, reconstruct and maintain sites, places and buildings of significant historical, architectural, scenic and aesthetic value and (3) to investigate, preserve and make available knowledge of the history of the town of Rockford and of its inhabitants.
The organization is managed by a five-member Board of Directors. These directors include:
Hannah Holyfield, president, is a compliance auditor for a national insurance company. She and her husband, Doug, restored their ancestral home place, the former home of RPS Founder Evelyn Holyfield. The Holyfields operate the circa 1848 house as the Rockford Inn Bed and Breakfast. They also own and operate the Rockford Vineyards and Bent Creek Farm, a Century Family Farm. Doug’s family, both Holyfield and Burrus, donated both the Masonic Lodge and the Grant-Burrus Hotel site to the Rockford Preservation Society.
Marion Venable, director and immediate past president of the RPS, is executive director of the Surry Community College Foundation in Dobson, NC. Known throughout the region as the “Surry County historian,” she has worked with cultural and natural resource organizations since 1975. She frequently lectures on local history and leads tours for the public schools and historical and civic organizations.
Van Coe, director, is the owner and operator of Homeland Mortgage, LLC in Dobson, NC 27017, and has an extensive background in commercial banking. Mr. Coe and his wife Kathy own and operate Stony Knoll Vineyards and Winery.
Steve Cox, director, works for Aon Consulting in Winston-Salem as Client Delivery Officer handling the benefits administration for several Fortune 500 companies. He owns and operates William Cornelius Vineyard located in the historic Rockford community.
Paula Key Stanley, director, has had a career in marketing research. She and her husband, Randel, are partners in Garanco, a construction company in Pilot Mountain. She is chairman of the Armfield Civic and Recreation Center’s foundation board.
Rockford Preservation Society, Inc.
4844 Rockford Road, Dobson, N.C. 27017.
(336) 374-3825. |
