Historic Salisbury Foundation is a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve, protect and revitalize the historic fabric of Salisbury and Rowan County. With 501-c3 status, all donations qualify for maximum tax deductions. Historic Salisbury Foundation receives no tax money from any sources for its operations and focuses on the areas of historic preservation education, neighborhood revitalization, advocacy, and the preservation of historic landmarks. As with many historic preservation organizations of this age, Historic Salisbury Foundation was formed in response to the threatened demolition of a landmark - actually, TWO landmarks. By the early 1970s designs had been made to convert the 1820 Dr. Josephus Hall House into a nursing home and construct a wing onto the house. Around this same time, there were discussions about demolishing the bell tower to the 1892 First Presbyterian Church, whose sanctuary had been razed several years before. Today, both of these buildings stand as iconic symbols of the rich history Salisbury has to offer.