Renovation of the 80-year old 'House on the Hill' at the Cheraw State Park came a step closer to reality Tuesday with the Town of Cheraw's $15,000 donation to Lou Fontana of the SC Parks, Recreation & Tourism. With the town's donation, Mayor Andy Ingram commented that $130,000 of the $250,000 needed for the renovation had been collected, leaving $120,000 that must be raised locally. Earlier donations have been received from Duke Energy, SCPRT, and a number of area residents. In his acceptance of the check on behalf of SCPRT, Fontana stated that "Cheraw State Park was South Carolina's first state park, and it became a reality in the 1930's due to the generosity of Cheraw's citizens." "The 'House on the Hill' is a tremendous asset for our community," Ingram said. "Each year, the park draws thousands of visitors, with many of these visitors spending money in our local businesses. The Town of Cheraw is pleased we can make a difference in preserving an important part of this park." Mayor Ingram said he would like for area residents to make a donation to the 'House on the Hill' project, continuing the tradition of those citizens that first made Cheraw State Park a reality. Any tax-deductible donation is appreciated. Checks should be made payable to "The House on the Hill – BPA" and mailed to: Cheraw State Park, 100 State Park Road, Cheraw, SC 29520. Online payments may be made by visiting http://www.southcarolinaparks.com/cheraw/introduction.aspx and clicking on the links which read: "Click here to make a donation The House on the Hill".
