By Debbie Adams
The Vinton Farmers’ Market and Stage usually draw a crowd for special events, like Mingle at
the Market concerts, Fall Festival, or Market Saturdays, but on November 19, the crowd at the
corner of Walnut and Lee Avenues was there to see a truly incredible sight—the structural
relocation of the former Cornerstone Antiques building to a new foundation, just feet away.
Frank and Janine Stone were the owners of the Cornerstone Antiques business for about 40
years, and known as beloved educators throughout the valley—who also loved antiques. They
purchased the building (originally a residence built in 1939) from the Claude St.Clair family.
Upon retirement, the Stones sold it to The Wilkinson Group, Inc., led by developer Dale
Wilkinson, who had a vision for downtown Vinton.
It took an enormous crane and some very knowledgeable, painstaking, unflappable workers, but
the building was moved with no damage and in a relatively short amount of time—after weeks of
preparation.
The process involved goes something like this–digging out the original foundation to get
underneath the building and support the bottom plate with steel beams, cutting holes in the steel
to place strapping on the beams, placing a spreader bar on the roof, lifting straight up, guiding
the structure onto the new foundation with a lead rope, and gently setting it down on the newly
built foundation.
Vinton Assistant Planning and Zoning Director Nathan McClung explained that “a zoning permit
was necessary to verify the new setbacks of the relocated structure and a commercial building
permit in order for the new foundation, structural plans, mechanicals, etc., to be inspected and
approved.”
On November 20, welders and crane operators arrived from Lynchburg Crane; the building was
jacked up about two inches off the foundation the day before, then utility workers from
Appalachian Power disconnected the structure from services; Vinton Public Works employees
coordinated street closures for the event.
Wilkinson says the building weighs about 60,000 pounds, but to be safe, they used a 260-ton
crane to lift the building.
When asked why he chose relocation over demolition, Wilkinson said that “we should maintain
and preserve historic places when we can. This is one of the gateways into Vinton and it’s
important for it to look right.”
The plans for the area include an open space, “Stone Plaza,” on the corner in honor of Frank and
Janine Stone. Stone served as principal at three Vinton elementary schools, for decades at Hardy
Road Elementary (now W.E. Cundiff); Janine taught math.
Wilkinson also owns the historic McCarty Paint & Supply building next door which years ago
was a hardware and “the place to go in Vinton—the ultimate man-cave.” He has a vision for that
building as well. (He is already well-known in Vinton for preservation projects including the
Roland E. Cook Lofts and Vinyard Station.)
In October 2024, Vinton Town Council adopted a resolution authorizing the town manager to
execute a Performance Agreement among the Town of Vinton, the Roanoke County Economic
Development Authority (EDA), and The Wilkinson Group, Inc. to redevelop the Stone and
McCarty buildings along West Lee Avenue, develop two public plazas, improve two alleys that
run among Lee Avenue, Walnut Avenue, and Pollard Street, and improve some public utilities in
the area. The agreement involves a grant to the Wilkinson Group.
downtown Vinton involves preserving the past. (rendering courtesy of Wilkinson Group, Inc.)
Wilkinson intends to renovate and lease the buildings, which will involve capital investment in
the town and the creation of new jobs.
He says that the aim of the project is to keep people in Vinton to shop and do business, just as the
goal of the Vinyard Station and Roland E. Cook projects he was involved with encouraged
people to live and dine in Vinton and contribute to the local economy.
Wilkinson says, “Vinton is a unique municipality,” always willing to work with developers.
The general contractor overseeing the project is Tommy Thompson.
