I’ve started this petition to show the Floyd County Council and County Commissioner that the building that once was The Floyd County Poor Asylum has support behind being saved and restored. The commissioner has referred to it as an eye sore and would desire to have it torn down. The building has been left to decompose while being owned by county. It being an eye sore falls on the county’s negligence towards this historic landmark. As of right now, it seems whether they sell the property or partner with an entity, their goal is financial return. My proposed plan for this building would be to restore it. Restoring it would present opportunities such as historical tours, renting out at night to people interested in paranormal activities, and/or possibly be a venue to rent for use. The people who lived and died here never had a voice in life or death. They were buried in unmarked graves in the Potters field. It’s past due that they receive recognition and be given that voice. The residents of the poor asylum created the lake that is behind the property the county built their park around. Lucy Higgs Nichols, who was the first black women to receive pension from the government after serving as a nurse on the union side, was eventually a resident and passed here. She escaped slavery with her 5 year old daughter who unfortunately did not make it. Being the great-granddaughter of someone who passed away at Waverly Hills Sanitarium, I’m very passionate about preserving history and giving people their voices and recognition. If enough funding and private investors are able to be secured for this project it has the potential to bring in revenue the county desires along with tourism related revenue. Please help me restore this piece of history that serves to still teach lessons relevant to today’s issues with poverty and mental health. If this system was still in place a lot of us may have ended up here ourselves. As the philosopher  George Santayana stated “ Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Thank you for taking the time to read this petition and I hope you find it compelling enough to sign and help myself and the preservation committee save this landmark.