As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, communities across the country are pausing to remember where they came from, and to honor the people who built the places they call home. On the evening of June 23, 2026, Hendersonville did exactly that.
In a single unanimous vote, the Hendersonville Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved a formal partnership between the City and the Bradford-Berry House Preservation Society. The agreement commits both to preserve, restore, and maintain the historic Bradford-Berry House and the grounds around it. Every alderman on the board signed on as a co-sponsor. For a home that has stood for more than two centuries, it was a watershed moment.
The story the board voted to protect begins long before Hendersonville had a name. Henry Bradford was born in 1757. He served in the Revolutionary War, and after being wounded he was discharged as a sergeant, his sacrifice repaid with a homestead grant of roughly 1,000 acres on what was then the western frontier. His settlement on the banks of Drake’s Creek was the beginning of what we now call Hendersonville.
That is the legacy the board chose to defend. The Preservation Society, now a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has taken on the work of restoration, and we are funding it ourselves. The City will continue to carry the insurance and basic maintenance, but we are not asking taxpayers for the cost of the rescue. Our first phase is already defined: bringing in an architect to confirm that the house is sound, stable, and safe.
We did not stand alone in that room. “We’re not asking for any money. We can do that ourselves,” former Alderman Lee Peterson told the board, reminding everyone that the Society is “already a 501(c)(3), and we are ready to move forward.” Renee Shepard, who chairs the Hendersonville Arts Council, named the urgency many of us feel: “The longer we wait, the more expensive it will be, and the more difficult it will be, if at all.”
This vote was not just a line on a council agenda. It was a promise that the Bradford-Berry House, the last of its kind on Hendersonville’s main corridor, will not be surrendered to neglect.
The restoration starts now, and it starts with us. Learn more and give at bradfordberry.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Hendersonville Board of Mayor and Aldermen approve?
On June 23, 2026, the board voted unanimously to establish a partnership between the City of Hendersonville and the Bradford-Berry House Preservation Society to preserve, restore, and maintain the historic Bradford-Berry House and its grounds (Resolution 2026-18). The board also approved historic and informational signage for the site (Resolution 2026-17).
Does the partnership use taxpayer money?
No. The Preservation Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is funding the restoration through private donations and community support. The City continues to cover insurance and basic maintenance.
What is the Bradford-Berry House?
A brick home built beginning in 1794 by Revolutionary War veteran Henry Bradford. It is considered the first brick structure in Hendersonville and one of the last historic landmarks remaining on the city’s main corridor.
How can I help preserve the Bradford-Berry House?
You can support the Bradford-Berry House Preservation Society with a donation or by following along for updates at bradfordberry.org.
