Scott County landowner begins effort to preserve and restore historic Choctaw Academy dormitory

A Scott County landowner is undertaking preservation and restoration work on what he says is the remaining structure of a 200-year-old dormitory associated with the Choctaw Academy, a Native American educational effort established for members of the Choctaw Nation in Kentucky. Dr. William “Chip” Richardson, a Georgetown ophthalmologist, said he found the building after searching for a farm to buy, and that the age and significance of the structure drew him in.

Richardson described noticing an “really old building” on the property and said he learned it was the stone structure that remained from the Choctaw Academy dormitory. He said the broader history connected to the Choctaw Nation in Kentucky helped confirm what he was looking at and shaped his decision to pursue preservation rather than redevelopment.

The Kentucky Lantern report, published July 14, focuses on Richardson’s efforts to protect the building and restore it in a way that reflects its historical roots. Richardson’s account emphasizes the physical presence of the site as the key starting point, saying he recognized early on that the remaining structure was not just an old building but a remnant of an institutional past.

Richardson’s preservation work takes place against a wider backdrop of property owners across Kentucky weighing the costs, risks, and responsibilities that come with maintaining older structures, especially those tied to distinct historical communities. With a site described as roughly two centuries old, the project also raises practical questions about stabilization, appropriate restoration methods, and how to balance long-term upkeep with the realities of an active landholding.

In the report, Richardson’s stated motivation is rooted in discovery and stewardship, starting from the moment he found the stone building on the Scott County property during his farm search. The report does not specify the scope, timeline, or funding source for any restoration phase, but it characterizes the work as ongoing and directed toward preservation and restoration of the dormitory structure.

The next steps for such projects typically include confirming historical details, assessing structural conditions, and coordinating with relevant historical and preservation authorities, particularly when a building’s significance involves Native American history. Richardson’s account, as reported, centers on protecting what remains and restoring the structure in a manner consistent with its documented or understood origins tied to the Choctaw Academy in Kentucky.

For now, Richardson’s effort serves as an example of how private property owners can become custodians of local heritage sites, and how early recognition of historical value can change what happens to older buildings on farms. The report offers the public a window into how that recognition happened, but additional information about the restoration plan, permitting, and conservation approach would be needed to fully understand the project’s implementation and timeline.