Berkeley Mills Ballpark in Henderson County among N.C. historic places added to national register

Press release from N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources:

The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is pleased to announce that three districts and thirteen individual properties across the state have been added to the National Register of Historic Places. The following properties were reviewed by the North Carolina National Register Advisory Committee and were subsequently approved by the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Officer and forwarded to the Keeper of the National Register.

“North Carolina is a leader in the nation’s historic preservation movement and the National Register is a vital tool in the preservation of our state’s historic resources” said Susan Kluttz, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. “These buildings and homes tell the North Carolina story and every effort should be made to preserve them.  If we count all of the buildings classified as contributing to the significance of historic districts listed in the Register, it is estimated that North Carolina has approximately 75,000 National Register Properties.”

The listing of a property in the National Register places no obligation or restriction on a private owner using private resources to maintain or alter the property. Over the years, various federal and state incentives have been introduced to assist private preservation initiatives, including tax credits for the rehabilitation of National Register properties. As of January 1, 2016, over 3,500 rehabilitation projects with an estimated private investment of over $2.18 billion have been completed.

Berkeley Mills Ballpark, Hendersonville, Henderson County, listed 9/19/2016
The Berkeley Mills Ballpark is locally significant for its contribution to the entertainment and recreation history of Hendersonville. Constructed in 1949 by mill employees on land set aside by mill executives, the ballpark was home to the Berkeley Spinners, who had organized in 1948 and played through the 1961 season, after which the Spinners dissolved. Since then, the ballpark has remained in use by school and community baseball teams from Hendersonville and Henderson County.