Today the bones of Tusculum, an
outstanding example of mid-18th century domestic architecture originally built
in Amherst County, lie in storage at Sweet Briar College. Tomorrow, it could
begin a new life as someone's home.
In 2006, the college purchased
the deconstructed house from our Revolving Fund with the intention of
reconstructing the building on the campus of Sweet Briar. The structure, with
some additional retrofitting, would have housed the Tusculum Institute, an
historic preservation resource center providing education and outreach to the
campus and the wider region. Plans were developed, a site selected and
fundraising began shortly after the purchase. The parts of the house which had
been carefully dismantled and preserved were moved into safe storage on campus.
However, despite ambitious fundraising efforts, it became clear to Sweet Briar
that the necessary funds could not be raised within the time frame agreed upon
when the project was first planned.
Sweet Briar is now seeking an
alternate steward to take on the reconstruction of Tusculum. They are
soliciting proposals through March 1, 2014. Full details of the RFP are
available on the Tusculum
Institute Website, or RFP
for Rebuilding Tusculum Website.
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