Renderings courtesy of Hill Studio

The monument's design has a compass rose at the center surrounded by a concrete walk and bronze plaques. COL. WILLIAM PRESTON represented Botetourt County in the House of Burgesses in the 1760s. He signed the Fincastle Resolutions, the first statement adopted by colonists in defense of liberty and a precursor to the Declaration of Independence. Preston, a Revolutionary War colonel, died in 1783 at age 53.

Plans to build a $250,000 monument in memory of Col. William Preston appear to be moving forward after more than a dozen years of sporadic discussions between Botetourt County officials and an area chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.

Preston, who died in 1783 at age 53, was one of historic Botetourt's first statesmen, representing the county in the House of Burgesses in the 1760s. He signed the Fincastle Resolutions, the first statement adopted by colonists in defense of liberty and a precursor to the Declaration of Independence.

Rupert Cutler, a member of the Fincastle Resolutions Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution and a Roanoke councilman, said the chapter plans to raise $40,000 over three years to construct a monument to the Revolutionary War colonel on the grounds of what was Preston's 18th century plantation at Greenfield in Daleville.

The Botetourt County Board of Supervisors agreed to reserve an area for the monument in 1996 when the Greenfield property was rezoned for office park and industrial uses. It is unclear exactly where within Greenfield the monument will be located or how much the county will contribute.

"Conceptually what we agreed to is they would raise money to build the memorial and the county would set aside a site and consider infrastructure around it, such as lighting and parking," said Jerry Burgess, the county administrator.

The SAR chapter estimates the total cost of the project will be about $250,000. An estimate prepared by Hill Studio, a Roanoke architectural firm, projects site work, planting and lighting will cost about $65,000.

Despite the economic crunch, Cutler said he hopes the county and the chapter will be on firmer financial footing in a few years when the funds for the monument are raised. He said the chapter will seek private donations and grants for the monument. The chapter's fundraising was jump-started by a $3,000 contribution from the Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution, Cutler said.

The monument's design features a compass rose, bronze plaques and concrete walks to memorialize the Irish-born frontiersman, who also was a protege of George Washington. Preston owned a second estate in Southwest Virginia, the Smithfield Plantation, now Historic Smithfield, near the Virginia Tech campus.

The monument "could work well into the county's long-range plans to preserve the historical buildings at Greenfield," Burgess said.

While budget conditions may not be ideal for undertaking a massive project, Burgess told the supervisors in February that waiting may jeopardize opportunities for preservation. The county has allocated $50,000 in the current year's budget for capital improvements and $150,000 in future years to develop a plan to preserve the archeological and cultural resources at Greenfield, which is located along U.S. 220, south of Fincastle.

Supervisor Terry Austin, who represents the Buchanan District, is serving on a committee organizing efforts to restore the plantation's three remaining log structures. One idea being floated is moving the two kitchen cabins and a rare slave cabin to a 20-acre site closer to the existing entrance of Greenfield. That plan also includes building an interpretive center.

"Given the current economic times, I would kind of like to be on a three-year plan," Austin said. "We may not have the money in three years, but within three years I would like us to have made a firm commitment as to what we are going to do."

Greenfield already is home to a county-owned business park and training center. There have been talks of building a visitors center and a government center there as well. Kevin Costello, the county's tourism coordinator, said an interpretive center would be more beneficial than a visitors center because of Greenfield's distance from Interstate 81. An interpretive center could offer information about the rest of the county and steer visitors to restaurants, hotels and other attractions, Costello said.