Fundraising campaign launched to make the arch a reality

Aug. 4—When community leaders erected the Gateway to the Smokies arch over Waynesville's Main Street in 1933, it cost a whopping $250. Today, a reincarnation of the iconic arch will clock in around $200,000.

Aside from a a $50 allocation from the Waynesville Board of Aldermen, every penny for the original arch was raised from donations, a testament to the townspeople's dedication that modern arch supporters hope to replicate.

"We want it to be fully funded by the community," said Alex McKay, an arch-supporter.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the arch will be held on Saturday, Aug. 26, serving as the public kick-off for the fundraising campaign, but donations are already coming in.

An initial challenge grant of $25,000 has been pledged by the family of Melissa McDevitt, a young woman from Waynesville who disappeared while hiking in the Pacific Northwest. The challenge grant means the first $25,000 in donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar.

Meanwhile, Teresa Pennington, a famous artist with a gallery on Main Street, has lent her talents to the fundraising goal. She created an artist rendition of the iconic arch over Main Street in her signature T. Pennington style.

The prints have been selling like hotcakes from her downtown gallery, with 100% of the proceeds being donated to the arch fund.

As a bonus, Pennington is selling $20 raffle tickets for a beautifully framed print of her arch rendition, valued at $495. The piece is displayed on an easel at the front of her gallery. The support has been overwhelming from both locals and tourists, she said.

"They love the idea of the arch and can afford to give $20," Pennington said.

Pennington is best known for her mountain landscape scenes. She embraced the challenge of depicting the human environment of Main Street with gusto, however.

"I wanted to get as many little businesses and their awnings in the drawing as possible," she said. "I tried my best to do it as literally as possible."

That meant taking more than 100 pictures to get each one right.

"I would walk down the street and take a picture of each awning to study what it looked like," Pennington said.

Cost breakdown

The projected cost of the arch is $200,000: $10,000 for the design and engineering, $175,000 to fabricate it and $15,000 for site work and installation.

Of that, the Downtown Waynesville Association is contributing $75,000. The arch is the final project of the DWA, which led the downtown revitalization for 35 years. Last year, it turned over the reins to the newly-minted Downtown Waynesville Commission.

The DWA earmarked the remaining funds in its bank account for the arch as a parting gift.

Between the $75,000 from DWA and the $25,000 challenge grant, there's around $100,000 left to raise. And the clock is ticking.

The company fabricating the arch requires a 50% downpayment. The remaining half must be paid within four months.

While site work will be performed by town crews, the fundraising goal includes reimbursement to the town.

"The committee feels very strongly we don't want to use any taxpayer funds to pay for the project," said Waynesville Town Council Member Jon Feichter.

Any donor over $1,000 will get their name inscribed on one of the eight plaques ringing the stone foundations for the arch supports. Plaques will honor three donor levels: the $5,000 "Crown" level, the $2,500 "Keystone" level and the $1,000 "Rise" level.

Donations can be made by visiting waynesvillearch.org, or by stopping into T Pennington Gallery on Main Street.