CHATHAM (WSLS10) - Since 1955, the building at 326 S. Main St. in Chatham has served as a staging and training area for National Guard soldiers, but by early next month that will no longer be the case.
"This was not an easy decision," said Cotton Puryear, the Virginia National Guard's State Public Affairs Officer. "The National Guard is a community based forced and Chatham and Pittsylvania County communities have been so incredibly supportive."
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The 40 members of Detachment 2 Company A 429th Support Battalion that have been operating in Chatham will now operate out of the 429th Brigade Battalion headquarters building in Danville.
"The fiscal realities we face now are making us look at opportunities to consolidate our forces into regional facilities when possible," explained Puryear.
He said because the building in Danville is a battalion headquarters, it should have no trouble accommodating the extra soldiers and their equipment. Some of the equipment has already been moved there.
Chatham's town clerk and treasurer, Tim Hammell, says it's sad to see the building close, but it could also have a positive impact on the city.
"There's all kinds of interests that we have, from using it as a town hall, to parks. There's all kinds of things that we could do there," Hammell pointed out.
Another resident WSLS 10 spoke to said they would like to see the building become a clinic.
Pittsylvania County's administrator said he will likely go before the board of supervisors in March and propose that the county consider purchasing the building and using it for county offices.