Rehabilitation · Adaptive Reuse · Education
An endangered historic structure. A team of expert preservationists. A window into the past—where intervention becomes understanding.
Purpose
To rehabilitate and adaptively reuse Reynolds Tavern, establishing a vibrant hub for hands-on preservation training, public history research, and meaningful community engagement. This historic property will serve as a bridge between past and future — connecting those who wish to learn with the tangible lessons embedded in our built heritage.
Mission
To rescue, rehabilitate, and restore historic properties and use them as in-situ learning laboratories for undergraduate and graduate students studying historic preservation, historic preservation professionals, and the general public.
Phase One
Reynolds Tavern stands at a critical moment. As a historic structure showing signs of deterioration, without swift stabilization, we risk losing an irreplaceable piece of our heritage — and with it, a powerful opportunity for hands-on learning. The first step of our project focuses on securing the building's future through careful intervention: strengthening its foundation, improving water resistance, remediating environmental hazards, and preparing for the detailed study that will transform this tavern into a living laboratory for preservation education.
Meet the Team
The dedicated individuals working to preserve Reynolds Tavern and advance historic preservation education.
Founder and CEO
Chris holds a doctorate in Public History, and has spent nearly two decades as an educator, teaching courses in Early & Modern American, and North Carolina History at NC State. He also has extensive nonprofit and historic preservation experience, including having served as Executive Director of Preservation Durham.
Founder & CFO
Paul Noe has extensive experience in archaeology, cultural resource management, historic preservation, and university research administration. He has led fieldwork and archaeological projects, and has also held administrative roles at NC State and Duke University, supporting graduate education and interdisciplinary research. He currently serves as vice-chair of the Orange County Historic Preservation Commission.
Founder & COO
Michael is a historic preservation contractor and public historian. He has worked in building trades for nearly thirty years and holds a master's degree in U.S. History with a concentration in historic preservation. Since 2019, he has been a preservation-focused contractor who specializes in cemetery monument restoration. Michael has taught U.S. History at NC State University and is a PhD candidate in Public History.
Support the Work
Every contribution directly funds the rehabilitation of Reynolds Tavern and supports our mission of preservation, education, and history as we understand it. Donations are processed securely by credit card.
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Get in Contact
Whether you're a student, a fellow preservationist, a neighbor, or a potential collaborator — we'd like to hear from you.