The historic Miss Belle’s Antiques, Collectibles and Tea Room in Cameron was demolished on June 19 after nearly $145,000 was raised to move the structure across the street.
Neighbors rushed to the historic property on Monday morning. Members of Cameron Historic Preservation, Inc. voiced concerns.
On May 31, town attorney Jim Van Camp called an urgent meeting for members and those who helped raise the funds to move Miss Belle’s.
Gary Oldham asked for Miss Belle’s to be moved to the empty lot next door to the home he is refurbishing. He and his wife, Lori Oldham, planned to refurbish the historic property and make it into a bed-and-breakfast, so the community could again enjoy the structure.
Walk by Faith Christian Center, Inc, Apostle James Prince and Beverly Prince purchased Miss Belle’s July 29, 2015.
In September 2022, Sandhills Sentinel reached out for an interview about their plans for the property and their demolition permit.
“We prefer not to do an interview. As we are not at a point of having firm plans for replacing the house with anything at this point. The land will be kept up and clear for the foreseeable future. This is a church property and usage will be determined in conjunction with ministry direction,” Apostle James Prince wrote in a text to Sandhills Sentinel.
Sandhills Sentinel reached out to the property owners on the day of the demolition and received no response.
Oldham and the property owners had a verbal agreement for Cameron to raise funds by May 1 and have it moved to Oldham’s property. They did not sign a contract.
The Town of Cameron passed a Historic Preservation Ordinance at its regular meeting Sept. 27.
Members of Cameron Historic Preservation, Inc. and community members held benefits, live music events, auctions, bake sales and raised the needed funds.
At the May 31 urgent meeting, Van Camp said the property owner’s attorney had written an impossible eight-page contract that guaranteed failure.
“The document sets up the Oldhams for failure, and the Oldhams would be totally liable for damages. We [attorneys] had a meeting in Raleigh, and they said, ‘No revisions. No negotiations,’” Van Camp said at the meeting.
Van Camp said he discussed the contract with the Princes’ attorney’s boss but said that the attorney would not compromise.
The contract included extra items not discussed, such as erecting the unpainted fence after moving the structure, painting it, and hauling in fill dirt to level the site.
“Septic systems, water lines, gas lines, four inches of topsoil, seeded,” Oldham said about the extra items not mentioned in their conversations at the meeting.
The contract required liability insurance, and because Oldham is not the property owner, he could not purchase the insurance, but he offered to pay for the insurance. But they refused his offer.
The contract left Oldham completely liable for any things that could go wrong.
Oldham hired an attorney of his own, but the property owners and their attorney refused to meet.
“They’ve signed a contract for demolition. Isabelle’s will be demolished,” Van Camp said.
At the May 31 meeting, ideas were shouted from one side of the room to the other, and Nick Levy, with Cameron Historic Preservation, Inc, said he’d draft a letter.
“Let’s see what the next good faith steps are,” Levy said at the May 31 meeting.
No written reply came, according to Levy.
Bulldozers cracked the heart pine into shreds. The backrooms were a pile of memories before 10 a.m., and the entire structure but the porch was gone by 12:33 p.m. on Monday.
The Princes had a lead and asbestos health inspection completed approximately a year prior and were granted a demolition permit the first week of May.
“It’s what they wanted all along,” Sylvia Caddell, a descendant of Miss Belle’s original owners, said through tears as the bulldozer splintered the heart pine pieces.
A statement from the Cameron Historic Preservation, Inc, Board of Directors was released on its Facebook page on Monday.
“Today our community lost a beloved landmark. #SaveMissBelles galvanized truly inspiring support, and we were overjoyed to announce that sufficient funds had been raised to secure the relocation of the historic McKeithen House. Unfortunately, we were unable to reach a mutual agreement transferring ownership of the structure, and demolition started this morning without any advance notice.
“To those who donated in support of this grassroots effort: first and foremost, thank you. We deeply regret that we were unable to execute the mission that you made possible. In the coming days, we will be returning donated funds by mail. All remaining funds – including anonymous donations and funds received in exchange for sale items – will be devoted to the broader cause of supporting historic preservation in Cameron.
“Heavy as today’s blow lands, our shared history has never been defined by a single structure. We remain staunchly committed to protecting what makes our community unique. We are certain that the treasures and stories of our past have a place in our present and future. As we move forward, we remain grateful for your support and continued engagement.”
Feature photo: Miss Belle’s Antiques, Collectibles & Tea Room under demolition on June 19, 2023.
~Article, photo, and video by Sandhills Sentinel journalist Stephanie M. Sellers; BS Mass Communications and Journalism, MFA Creative Writing.
