Members of the Cumberland County Commission toured the old Progressive Bank building on Highway 127 South near the health department late this afternoon. The purpose was to consider it as a future location for the county archives.

The building is 7,100 sq. ft. single story built back in 2006. It is presently not on the market, so the county would have first opportunity to purchase if the price is accepted. The cost was initially unreleased.

The vault size is 8’ by 21’, far short of what would be required as a fire room to contain key historical documents. Officials say such a room would have to be at least 3,000 sq. ft. to adequately contain the records. One idea considered was if the old bank building is bought to take out the drive thru in the back and add a large fireproof room onto the structure.

The current archives building located off of East First Street in downtown Crossville is nearly 80 years old. It currently houses crucial documents including:

• old court records before 1982
• old sheriff’s department records
• tax reports from the trustee’s office
• marriage licenses from 1905 until 2017
• school attendance records from 1920 until the late 1950’s to early 1960’s
• old divorce records.

It, in addition, has a research room principally used for genealogy purposes.

The Cumberland County Commission Building and Grounds Committee will meet Thursday, July 8, 2021, to discuss the matter further. The exact or close to price for the purchase will be revealed then. If accepted by the committee, it would then go to the full county commission for their consideration and possible vote.

Officials say this plan could save the county $600,000 from the previous idea to renovate and improve the archives at its present location.

Commissioners speak about the bank building inside the vault in the structure.