The Sparta Teapot Museum of Craft and Design maintains ownership of just under an acre of land at the intersection of West Whitehead Street (N.C. 18 South) and Evergreen Street (partially in foreground). The remainder of the property that earlier was intended as a site for the museum was returned to its previous owner last week.

Teapot Museum returns land to former owners

The Sparta Teapot Museum of Craft and Design announced last week that it had returned the property that had earlier been slated as the future location for the museum.

Cynthia Grant, museum director, said the property at 128 West Whitehead St. was returned to the Dean and Rachel Millikan family, from whom the property was being purchased. The deed documents were filed last Wednesday to return the property to the Millikans.

The museum's organizers agreed in late 2004 to buy the land, measuring 4.624 acres, for $600,000, said Grant. In addition, another .798 acre of land and an older home that has since been torn down were purchased from Gill Thadani for $156,000.

The actual closing on the property took place in March 2005.

The board still owns the Thadani property, Grant said, noting that it is premature to speculate on what might be done with the remaining land.

"The organization still owns the property bordering Evergreen Street and N.C. 18 and there are no immediate plans for development," she added. "We have no idea what the economy is going to do and how much people will be able to give toward a project of this nature. A lot of museums and foundations have gone out of business in this economy."

The news release said the museum is suspending its capital campaign and postponing plans for construction. Grant said the museum's focus right now is on offering programs at its location at 18 S. Main St. rather than on construction of a new facility. "We're offering a full range of programs at the Main Street location," she said.

The current exhibition at the museum will continue through July 18. It is "The Penland School of Crafts: Helping People Live Creative Lives."