The former VFW building in Henderson County will reopen with a flag raising ceremony and new name July 3.
Previously known as Hedrick Rhodes VFW Post 5206, the building will now be known as the Hedrick Rhodes Veterans Center and is now owned by Henderson County.
In April 2021, the county purchased the building for $36,000 following a decline in membership and struggles to fundraise by the VFW post. Over the next few years, Henderson County used $4.7 million of its American Rescue Plan Act funding to renovate the building.
Christopher Todd, Henderson County’s new assistant manager and former director of business and community development, told the Times-News June 28 that preserving the building was one of the goals of the project.
“In conversations with the county, the commissioners agreed this building should be preserved as a symbol for our long history of what the building has done in support of the veterans community,” Todd said. “In doing so, they agreed to buy the building and renovate the space to preserve it and to continue on that legacy.”
The Veterans Center will continue to house the VFW in one of the newly built office spaces. Henderson County Veteran Services will also move in to the building, and the county’s two full-time veterans service officers will have an office in the building as well.
Todd said the county wants the building to be “a hub of veteran activity.”
In addition to veteran services, the upstairs of the building can be rented out for community events. Todd said the county does not quite know what that will look like yet, but he sees it as a place for civic groups to gather. He said requests for family reunions and Boy Scout troops to use the space have already been coming in.
Though the building was renovated, the county was able to preserve some things. Todd said the exterior of the building was completely preserved, as was some exposed brick inside the building “where it made sense.” Also preserved was the dance floor upstairs, which Todd said was the county's intention from the beginning of the project.
New to the building is a different floor plan that includes new offices and meeting rooms, as well as an exposed ceiling.
“We were actually able to expose the bowstring trusses on the second floor of the building and the barrel style roof that you couldn’t see before the renovation,” Todd said. “We preserved those and cleaned them up so that folks are going to be able to see that unique architecture and construction.”
In a news release announcing the completion of the building, Board of Commissioners Chair Rebecca McCall spoke of the importance of preserving the building.
“The Hedrick Rhodes Post 5206 VFW building was constructed as a respite of the heroes that returned from fighting to protect our freedoms,” McCall said. “Preserving this building is one of the most significant contributions we can make to commemorate their sacrifices.”
Following the flag raising ceremony that will open the building, tours will be made available for those in attendance. Henderson County spokesperson Mike Morgan said the county is not providing photos of the inside to keep it a “surprise.”
“We’re excited,” Todd said. “Henderson County is working to turn this building into a hub for veteran services, for everyone.”
The flag raising ceremony will be held July 3 at 10 a.m. at 900 North Main St.
Karrigan Monk is the reporter for Black Mountain News and Hendersonville Times-News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her atkmonk@blackmountainnews.com.
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