HISTORIC VERMONT
An On-line News Journal about the Preservation of Vermont’s Historic Architecture and Landscape
July 2006
Published by the Preservation Trust of Vermont, 104 Church Street, Burlington, VT 05401
http://www.ptvermont.org
(802) 658-6647

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In This Issue....

News from the Preservation Trust

• Conference Thank You
• We Have a Winner! Raffle Results
• 2006 Preservation Retreats at the Grand Isle Lake House
• Preservation Grants Awarded
• The Dixie Six at the Grand Isle Lake House, August 16, 2006
• Make a Contribution Today

Vermont News

• 2006 Legislative Successes
• National Honor for Eric Gilbertson
• VDHP Preservation Grants
• Downtown Board Awards Bradford $75,000
• Shelburne Farms Receives Cynthia Woods Mitchell Grant
• VHC Conference: Setting as Character, November 3 & 4
• National Register News

National News

• National Trust Annual Conference, Pittsburgh
• 11 Most Endangered Places

Commentary

• Economics, Sustainability, and Historic Preservation by Donovan D. Rypkema
• What Makes a Great Village by Paul Bruhn

Publications & Resources

• Vermont Gathering Places
• Vermont Directory of Foundations, 2006 Edition, Now Available
• NEH Interpreting Public Places Grants
• VCA's Cultural Facilities Grants
• PreservationOnline.org E-Newsletter

Education, Training & Employment Opportunities

• Paint: Historic and Contemporary Materials and Practices, August 22 & 23
• Researching and Restoring New England Farm Landscapes, August 9 & 10
• Seeking Vice President for Land Conservation, VLT

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Historic Vermont is available free to subscribers. To subscribe or unsubscribe, please visit our website http://www.ptvermont.org/ptv_news.htm. To submit something for publication, please contact Meg Campbell at ptv@sover.net

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NEWS FROM THE PRESERVATION TRUST

Conference Thank You
This year's annual historic preservation conference in St. Albans in early June was a grand success! Many thanks to all the staff and volunteers who made it happen. Special thanks to this year's sponsors: Windows and Doors by Brownell, St. Albans for the Future, Arnold & Scangas Architects, VTrans, New England Central Railroad, Peoples Trust Co., Union Bank, Trust Company of Vermont, Franklin County Industrial Development Corporation, Housing Vermont, and Howard’s Flower Shop.

We Have a Winner!
A huge thanks to all of you who purchased raffle tickets for the Preservation Trust's annual Great Travel Raffle. The grand prize winner is Gerianne Smart of Vergennes. Gerianne led the charge to renovate the Vergennes Opera House and is also the Director of Smart Communications. Her winnings will help pay down some dept that she's accumulated while restoring and keeping up with the maintenance of her 1825 home... because, as preservationists know, "preservation work is never done, it just accumulates." We'll be doing the raffle again next year, so if you missed your opportunity to participate, let us know and we'll be in touch next spring! meg@ptvermont.org

2006 Preservation Retreats at the Grand Isle Lake House
Each year the Preservation Trust hosts retreats at the Grand Isle Lake House for groups working on historic preservation and community revitalization projects. Each group is asked to present a brief case study about their project that frames a problem. The goal is to boost projects along their timeline by strategically identifying resources, solving problems, garnering peer support, and building momentum. The whole idea is to bring people together who are working on similar kinds of initiatives so that they can mentor one another and share experiences. In addition, we invite resource people to each retreat based on the specific projects and case studies that will be presented. We typically have 6-7 groups of 2-4 people representing each project.

The 2006 Retreat Dates are:

• August 14-15 Community Preservation Projects
• September 11-12 Arts and Performance Venues (Poetry Jazz Performance Monday night-$10 donation is appreciated for Island Arts)
• October 23-24 Churches with Partners for Sacred Places All inclusive cost for the retreat is $85/ per person for a shared room. $115 for a single (first come basis).

Reservations should be made as early as possible to give us time to invite specific resource people. Deadline is two weeks before each retreat date.

Check-in at the Lake House is 2:30 and we begin at 3:00 and finish by 2:00 the following afternoon. For reservations, please contact one of Preservation Trust's Field Representatives: Ann Cousins 802-434-5014, ann@ptvermont.org; Doug Porter 802-644-2815, doug@ptvermont.org; Meg Cambell 802-442-8951, meg@ptvermont.org.  For a preview of the Lake House, please see our web site: www.ptvermont.org

Preservation Grants Awarded
Since 1994 the Freeman Foundation and the Preservation Trust of Vermont have had a partnership to support preservation projects. Over $8.5 million in grants have been awarded to help more than 325 projects in communities throughout the state. These grants have played a key role in over $95 million in total rehabilitation work. The last rounds of grants includes:

Norwich Congregational Church: $30,000
Constructed in 1817, this classic example of New England church architecture occupies a site at the center of the village, directly opposite the green. The building retains many wonderful early features, including the neoclassical portico, the open belfry (with Revere bell), and windows, doors, and other architectural millwork. The magnificent Colonial Revival sanctuary interior was installed in 1908. The building continues to be a primary gathering place for the Upper Valley region, and hosts lectures, community meetings, and musical events in addition to church services. The congregation is currently fundraising for a project that will address the structural integrity of the building, fire safety issues, and access. Total project costs are expected to be approximately $1.4 million of which approximately $400,000 will be devoted to floor repair, roof and tower framing, drainage improvements to lower humidity in the building, repair of the stone foundation, exterior woodwork repairs, and exterior paint. This grant will help them complete the preservation portion of the project.

Bread and Puppet Museum, Glover; $30,000
The large barn that houses the very extensive Bread and Puppet Theater collection was constructed in the mid-19th century and retains a high level of integrity. The collection includes thousands of puppets, masks, paintings, and other graphics associated with the hundreds of performances since the founding of the group in 1963. It is a truly amazing collection! As a result of inadequate site drainage, several posts in the barn are extensively decayed. Settlement of the barn around the decayed posts in placing substantial strain on other portions of the frame, and the building requires emergency stabilization and repair. To date, the organization has spent $30,000 on stabilization work, and has raised an additional $15,000 toward the remaining repair costs which are estimated to be $45,000. This grant will complete the structural portion of the project.

Alburgh Historical Society: $10,000
Alburgh is restoring its 1940 village-center firehouse as a museum and archive dedicated to all aspects of the Town's heritage. The inspiration for converting the firehouse came from Richford Historical Society, a group that successfully restored a similar firehouse for a museum. The Alburgh Historical Society, Village Trustees, community volunteers, and the Revitalization Committee are all participating actively. Frankly, this is a project that is attainable, and everyone is working hard to see that it succeeds. The total project cost is $32,000. The Historical Society has raised $8,500 and continues to actively fundraise. This grant will enable them to replace the roof, restore the industrial steel windows, restore the original firehouse doors, repair exterior masonry, and paint the building.

The Brookline Schoolhouse: $25,000
Built in 1822 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the schoolhouse is Vermont's only round schoolhouse. It was designed by Dr. John Wilson, a Scottish highwayman who immigrated to the United States in 1820 to escape punishment. Wilson settled in Newfane and became Brookline's first school teacher and building the schoolhouse. Wilson reportedly based the round design and unusual timber frame roof structure on Scottish architecture, in particular the Old Tollbooth in Edinburgh, which had been razed in 1817. The building served as the town school until 1929 when the town built a new school. It continued to be used for town meetings until 1989, when the town outgrew the facility. It is now used as a schoolhouse museum. Total costs for repairs to replace the wood shingle roof, foundation, floor joists, brick wall, window sash and paint the wood trim is $50,000. Voters allocated $12,000 toward the project and the Historical Society is fundraising and seeking donations of materials. This grant will allow them to complete repairs.

Pierce Hall Community Center, Rochester: $50,000
The volunteer organization has taken on the challenge of rehabilitating Pierce Hall to its original grandeur of 1916 and to re-establish its original purpose as a community center and performance venue for the five-town region of the Upper White River Valley (Granville, Hancock, Pittsfield, Rochester, and Stockbridge.) The total budget for all phases is $1.35 million. Funds raised to date are $350,000, not including the Mason's gift of the building, valued at $350,000. As part of the restoration, the Masons will relocate from the auditorium to the upstairs lodge room. The auditorium, stage and glass proscenium will also be restored and a tower will be added to provide handicap access and stairs. This grant will help both reclaim the auditorium space so the building can be opened to the public as well as help reconstruct the original central tower.

 

Come Dance to “Jazz—Red Hot and Blue” starring THE DIXIE SIX
Wednesday August 16, 2006 , Dessert and Cash Bar 6:30 pm , Dancing 7pm - 10pm

Please join us for a special evening at the Grand Isle Lake House! Dessert on the porch and dancing to the Dixieland sounds of THE DIXIE SIX.

Suggested contribution for Dessert and Dancing:

• Contributor: $25 per person

• Friend:  $50 per person

• Sponsor:  $100 per person

• Patron: $250 per person

• Founders’ Circle:  $1,000

Tickets available through the Preservation Trust of Vermont, 802-658-6647, elise@ptvermont.org  or from A&B Beverage, Route 2, Grand Isle and the Champlain Islands Chamber of Commerce, Route 2, North Hero. Proceeds from this special event will help support the programs of the Preservation Trust of Vermont.

Make a Contribution Today
The Preservation Trust was founded to assist the on-going effort to help save and use Vermont's rich collection of historic architectural, cultural, and community resources.

To accomplish this critical goal, the Preservation Trust provides technical assistance to communities and groups, provides financial support to local preservation projects in partnership with a variety of funders, undertakes local and statewide education and recognition programs, and works with partners to pass legislation and galvanize local advocacy to strengthen Vermont's downtowns and village centers.

You can now make a contribution to the Preservation Trust through our secure website. Please visit our website and make your contribution today: http://www.ptvermont.org/how_i_can_help.htm

Your contribution will be used to support our work throughout Vermont.

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VERMONT NEWS

2006 Legislative Success
This year's Legislative Session produced some major successes including new and expanded tax credits for designated downtowns and village centers, new growth center legislation, and expanded funding for the Housing and Conservation Board. 

Several Senators and Representatives played a significant leadership role in making all of this work possible.  The short list both Democrats and Republicans (in alphabetical order) includes: Senators Claire Ayer, Susan Bartlett, Ann Cummings, Vince Illuzzi, Ginny Lyons, Dick Mazza, Hinda Miller, Phil Scott, Diane Snelling, and Peter Welch.  On the House side, the list includes: Janet Ancel, Don Bostic, Johanna Leddy Donovan, Robert Dostis, Martha Heath, Kathy Keenan, Warren Kitzmiller, Joe Krawczyk, Jim Masland, Sue Minter, Harry Monti, Michael Obuchowski, Carolyn Partridge, Mary Peterson, and Gaye Symington.  Governor Douglas was a critical supporter of the expanded downtown legislation.

Below is a summary of this and other bills acted on in the legislative session. (Reprinted with permission from the Vermont Forum on Sprawl.)

Downtowns, Village Centers & Growth Centers (S.142)
The newly created growth center program supports community planning that reflects the state’s historic settlement pattern of compact villages surrounded by a working landscape of farms and forest. The bill also expands and streamlines the existing tax credit program that helps owners of buildings located in designated downtowns and village centers to upgrade their properties. These programs will help communities to accommodate future business and housing development without compromising the state’s essential character. Click here for details on the bill.

The Forum took the lead on the growth center portion of the bill, and the Preservation Trust of Vermont took the lead on improvements for the Vermont Downtown Program which is a program of the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation. on this initiative.

Tax Increment Finance Districts (S.165)
In conjunction with other stakeholders, the Forum successfully advocated for new funding sources to support infrastructure in designated growth centers. We focused much of our attention on expanding the state’s severely limited Tax Increment Financing (TIF) program to be more useful to communities planning for mixed-use growth centers. This effort paid off with the passage of S.165, which included authorization for TIF Districts within designated growth centers.

TIF programs allow communities to designate property tax revenues from future development in a defined area or district to fund infrastructure improvements in that area. The presumption is that by creating the infrastructure, you are making the development that will pay for those improvements possible. Without the investment in infrastructure, the development would not occur, or would occur in a sprawl location.

Under the new TIF program, up to 75% of future tax revenues that would otherwise go to the state education fund could be temporarily reallocated to pay the debt service on infrastructure improvements, such as wastewater systems, parking structures, or streets and sidewalks. An important aspect of the program is limiting the geographic area that could be included in TIF Districts, thereby protecting the solvency of the education fund. The location criteria included in the bill are limited to designated growth centers, compact, high density, and located in or near existing industrial areas, and blighted or otherwise economically depressed areas. A two-year transition is included in the bill to allow existing growth centers to be eligible prior to the establishment of the formal designation process.

Progress Made on Other Initiatives
While much of the attention was on health care reform and the state budget, the Vermont Legislature took several important steps forward on matters related to smart growth, land conservation, affordable housing and energy efficiency this year.

Vermont Housing & Conservation Board
This year, funding for the Vermont Housing Conservation Board (VHCB) was increased 4 ½%, still well below the formula required by statute. In the event that the transfer tax generates revenues in excess of the projected amount for the year, a portion of that surplus will also go to VHCB programs.

By providing financial assistance for affordable housing development and the conservation of farm and forest land and other open space, VHCB may be the most important public investment in smart growth in Vermont’s history.

The VHCB was established in 1987 and was funded through a dedicated percentage of the state’s property transfer tax. Since the early 1990s, however, the Legislature has redirected a significant portion of the transfer tax revenues to other programs.

While the Forum applauds the continued support for the VHCB, the increase is well below the appreciation in land cost and increase in construction costs that are making affordable housing development and land conservation more expensive every year.

Economic & Fiscal Impacts of Big-Box Stores
Despite having passed the Senate, S.175 – the “large scale retail” bill – ran out of time in the House. The bill would have required that applicants for big-box stores (in excess of 75,000 square feet) fund an independent assessment of the economic and fiscal impact of the proposed store on the host community and region. The bill also would have required that local review boards consider those impacts on the ability of surrounding communities to provide municipal services and facilities.

The House Committee on Natural Resources and Energy did take the bill up in the final days of the session, but several issues were raised that required more time to address than was available. We anticipate that the bill will be reintroduced in some form next year.

Support for Municipal & Regional Planning
S.142 directed regional planning commissions (RPCs) to provide technical support to municipalities engaged in growth centers planning, and made funding such local initiatives a priority under the state municipal planning grant program. Both RPCs and municipal planning grants are funded through a portion of the property transfer tax and, like VHCB, have not received funding at the full statutory formula since the early 1990s. Both the RPCs and municipal planning grant program received 4 ½% funding increases, which is good news to communities planning for their future.

Other Legislation Other issues addressed by the Legislature include support for the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation's two grant programs, Cultural Facilities grants, an increase in tax credits to support affordable housing, including a new employer housing assistance program, new energy efficiency incentives, and an “ancient roads bill” intended to clarify the ownership and location of abandoned and un-maintained public roads.

Eric Gilbertson Receives Award at National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers
On March 14, 2006, the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers (NCSHP0) presented the NCSHPO Awards for Excellence in Historic Preservation at their Annual Membership Meeting in Bethesda, MD. This was the second year for the awards which were created as a means to recognize State Historic Preservation Offices for their outstanding programs and service.

An award was presented to Eric Gilbertson, Vermont’s Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer in the category of Lifetime Achievement in recognition of a current SHPO, Deputy SHPO, or SHP Office staff person who has made a significant, long-term (20 years or more) contribution to historic preservation.

Eric is a rare public servant in the way he has combined his passion for Vermont’s historic and archeological resources with an extraordinary respect for the people who live in and use them, and even for the people who occasionally threaten their preservation.

Eric received a BA in History from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls in 1966, and three years later, an MA in History from Indiana University. He served as the Indiana Deputy SHPO from 1973 until moving to Vermont 1976 to become the Historic Sites Assistant Director.

Eric has been involved in nearly every major Division initiative over the last 30 years. The $20 million rehabilitation of the long-vacant, massive Equinox Hotel was the largest tax credit project in Vermont and Eric managed it, in a hands-on way that ensured success. The first barn grant in the nation? Eric created it and manages it today. After seeing the demise of one metal truss bridge after another, Eric was a leader in working with the Vermont Agency of Transportation to develop, first, a process and, then, detailed individual plans to preserve the state’s most important bridges. When the State Archeologist suggested creating a system of Underwater Historic Preserves to protect Lake Champlain’s fragile shipwrecks in 1985, he encouraged this as-yet-untested concept with a “Let’s try it!” A steadfast champion of state investment in the chronically under-funded State-owned historic sites, Eric’s efforts on the “Heritage 91” long-range development plan have been critical for getting more funds for these fragile National Historic Landmarks and archeological resources.

Eric has been an inspiring mentor to dozens of young preservation professionals, both in the Division for Historic Preservation, and in the classroom at the University of Vermont where he has taught as an adjunct professor and frequent guest lecturer. He has led motorcycle tours of Vermont’s covered bridges, and volunteers on his hometown Design Review Board. Eric is a model of professional and personal integrity who leads by example and he is a much-beloved, legendary, character in Vermont historic preservation.

A complete list of award winners is available on the NCSHPO website at: www.ncshpo.org.

Governor Announces 2006 Historic Preservation Grants
The Historic Preservation Grant Program, administered by the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation, invites municipalities and non-profit organizations to apply for funding for a variety of capital repairs. Eligible projects include repairs to roofs, foundations, walls, sills and overall stabilization. Project sponsors must raise at least half the cost of the grant project, but generally contribute more. Since its inception twenty years ago, the program has provided more than $2.8 million and leveraged many millions more to bring new life to over 400 historic buildings in every corner of Vermont.

"This year's funding has been awarded to projects that range from quintessential Vermont churches in village centers, a round schoolhouse and the restoration of an historic ski jump so it can remain an international venue for the sport," said Vermont Governor Douglas. "The list of grants shows the wide variety of historic buildings in Vermont that have strong community support for their preservation."

2006 Historic Preservation Grants to Municipalities & Non-Profit Organizations

• Hardwick (Caledonia) Old Firehouse, cost $27,000. Award $12,000 for Bell Tower.
• Barre (Washington) First Church of Barre Universalist, cost $60,100. Award $15,000 for Steeple Repair.
• Sudbury (Rutland) Sudbury Meeting House, cost $87,337. Award $15,000 for Windows.
• Windsor (Windsor) American Precision Museum, cost $72,940. Award $15,000 for Cupola Structure.
• Brattleboro (Windham) Goodenough Farmstead, cost $56,770. Award $12,000 for Foundation Drainage.
• N. Bennington (Bennington) North Bennington Mission, cost 36,750. Award $15,000 for Stone Work Portico.
• Jamaica (Windham) Jamaica Town Hall, cost $30,000. Award $5,000 to Restore Ceiling.
• St. Albans (Franklin) St. Paul's United Methodist Church, cost $53,400. Award $15,000 for Masonry.
• St. Johnsbury (Caledonia) Masonic Temple, cost $32,865. Award $15,000 for Roof.
• Brookline (Windham) Brookline Round Schoolhouse, cost $18,000. Award $15,000 for Roof.
• Starksboro (Addison) Starksboro Village Meeting House, cost $11,701. Award $5,000 for Steeple Repair.
• Bellows Falls (Windham) Immanuel Episcopal Church, cost $92,500. Award $15,000 for Roof Repair.
• Lunenburg (Essex) Lunenburg Congregational Church, cost $10,900. Award $5,450 for Foundation and Floor.
• Brattleboro (Windham) Harris Hill Ski Jump Tower, cost $24,000. Award $12,000 for Tower Repair.
• Shoreham (Addison) Newton Academy, cost $143,000. Award $15,000 for Roof.
• Windsor (Windsor) St. Paul's Episcopal Church, cost $41,000. Award $15,000 for Roof.

 

Downtown Board awards Bradford $75,000 for project
The Vermont Downtown Development Board has voted to grant $75,000 to the town of Bradford to support pedestrian improvements on downtown Barton Street. This money will improve street lighting and sidewalks, and move the overhead utilities into underground conduit, making it a much more visually attractive and pedestrian-friendly street.

In other actions, the board voted to award downtown designation to Bristol under the 1998 Downtown Development Act – the 20th downtown to receive recognition to date. Bristol joins Barre, Bellows Falls, Bennington, Bradford, Brandon, Brattleboro, Burlington, Middlebury, Montpelier, Morristown, Poultney, Randolph, Rutland, St Albans, St. Johnsbury, Springfield, Vergennes, Windsor and Winooski in the growing network of designated downtowns.

In order to obtain downtown designation, a community must demonstrate a long term commitment to revitalization through planning, capital improvements, economic development, and preservation of historic resources. The community must also have an established downtown organization devoted to managing the revitalization effort - from setting work priorities to organizing volunteers and raising the funds necessary to support its work.

As a designated downtown, Bristol is now eligible to apply for a variety of programs to assist revitalization projects, including state funds for transportation improvements, and tax credits for the rehabilitation of older and historic buildings and for life safety and code compliance.

Finally, the Board renewed the Village Center Designation in two communities – Plainfield and Putney. These communities will remain eligible for the benefits available for designated villages - including the building rehabilitation tax credits that were revised this winter by the legislature. Eligible village buildings can now use the credits for code work, façade improvements, and general improvements.

For more information, please visit: http://www.historicvermont.org/programs/downtown.html

Shelburne Farms Receives Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund
Shelburne Farms recently received a $10,000 award from the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund for 3-D laser scanning of the Breeding Barn (1891), a monumental Queen Anne and Shingle Style building that served as the center of Dr. Seward Webb’s horse-breeding efforts. The Barn is currently the subject of a detailed structural analysis, and the laser scans will be used to quantify structural deformations, confirm component dimensions, and generate a set of HABS-level drawings that can be used for designing repairs and will ultimately be donated to the Library of Congress. Field service representative Doug Porter is working with Shelburne Farms on repair design, and will present a paper on the project at the Fifth International Conference on the Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions in New Delhi in November.

Vermont Humanities Council Annual Fall Conference
Setting as Character: Vermont Landscape, Stories and Sense of Place
Killington Grand Hotel: November 3-4, 2006. Friday evening and all day Saturday.
Presented in partnership with the Vermont Land Trust

The Vermont Humanities Council’s fall conference will examine 200 plus years of thinking about Vermont’s landscape and how it has informed, and been impacted by, our sense of place.

How has the landscape shaped the character of Vermont and its people? How have Vermonters in turn shaped the landscape? When did the desire to save what is special about Vermont begin, and why have the same concerns been repeated throughout the state’s history? Are we finally at a tipping point where changes to the landscape might irrevocably change the state’s character? How can we look at land use and landscape in a new way by focusing on the human stories that are embedded in the land?

Plenary and breakout sessions will seek to answer these questions through literature, historical documents, art history, and cultural heritage.

Details and registration information will be forthcoming later this summer. http://www.vermonthumanities.org/index_files/fallconf06.htm

 

National Register News
The National Park Service has recently listed the following Vermont properties on the National Register of Historic Places:

Whitingham Village Historic District
The Whitingham Village Historic District is a group of commercial, institutional, agricultural and residential buildings on approximately 55 acres constructed between 1840 and 1950 which form the village core of Whitingham located along Route 100 in southeastern Vermont. The Historic District includes in total 42 buildings and 4 structures. Of these, 36 buildings and 1 structure, contribute to the district. 6 buildings and 3 structures are non-contributing.

The Whitingham Village Historic District is an outstandingly well-preserved example of a nineteenth century village center developed at a crossroads where water power was plentiful. The village is located near the large Sadawga Lake and at the juncture of important nineteenth century roads leading from Whitingham to Jacksonville, Wilmington, and Readsboro. It developed around the water power of the Sadawga Brook.

Fort Vengeance Monument Site, Pittsford
The Fort Vengeance Monument Site is a historic period Euro-American archaeological site that preserves important traces of Vermont’s early military, agricultural, and commercial history. It was nominated by the Vermont Agency of Transportation as part of the project to upgrade Route 7.

The site preserves traces of the of the Caleb Hendee, Sr. farmstead (1774-circa 1830/60), remains related to a tavern that Hendee operated on his farmstead between 1783 and 1808, and evidence of the Chester Thomas house and farmstead (circa 1860-1900). The site also likely includes deposits and features associated with Fort Vengeance (1780-1782), a stockade fortification that stood on the farmstead during Revolutionary War. This field fortification was a wooden stockade structure constructed for the defense of Vermont’s northern military frontier during the Revolutionary War and was important in the defense of the independent republic of Vermont against British incursions from Canada. The fort and a member of its company, Caleb Houghton, who was killed nearby, are commemorated by a modest marble obelisk that was erected on the site in 1873.

Spaulding Bridge, Cavendish
This single span, pin connected, Parker pony truss built in 1905, crosses the Black River. It spans 98 feet, 6 inches, is 16 feet, four inches wide and continues to carry traffic. The bridge is a rare example of a pin connected design-fewer than 6 remain standing in the state. It is an outstanding example of a small category of metal truss bridges purchased and erected by towns before Vermont’s legislature authorized state aid for local bridge projects in 1912 and before state engineers began influencing the design of local bridges after federal aid became available in 1916. This bridge is typical of the designs towns purchased directly from manufacturing firms prior to 1916. 

Gould’s Mill Bridge, Springfield
This single span, steel, Baltimore through truss bridge built by Boston Bridge Works in 1929 and has ten 16 foot panels that create a160 foot span over the Black River. It is 26 feet 6 inches wide and is currently closed to traffic but will be rehabbed for continued highway use as well as a bike path. The bridge originally had a dual function; the easterly half used by the Springfield Terminal Railway Company-an electrified urban railroad important to the town’s industrial development, and a standard one lane highway. The bridge has a skewed alignment to accommodate the railroad. The bridge was built as a result of the destruction of the 1927 flood and illustrates many of the innovations and characteristics typical of bridges of this era. Baltimore trusses are rare in Vermont, a few continue to serve Vermont’s rail systems and only two remain on the state’s highway network. 

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NATIONAL NEWS

National Trust for Historic Preservation Annual Conference
October 31 – November 5, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Every year preservation experts, professionals working in related fields, and community leaders all gather at the National Preservation Conference. Come together to share preservation challenges, successes, new information, and inspiration.

The 2006 Conference offers a special focus on green buildings. The conference will include targeted educational and field sessions plus a full-day, pre-conference summit addressing the combined goals of green building and historic preservation advocacy, LEED certification issues, and more.

A spotlight on various types of revolving funds. Break-out sessions on Friday consider the latest financial and real estate techniques for establishing and expanding funds in communities, cities, and states of all sizes.

Look for special sessions that build and expand on recent conference “hot topics.” If this is your first year participating, you’ll take away an informed perspective on critical issues and hot topics— information to use immediately back home.

Pittsburgh becomes our living laboratory for exploring the latest in preservation. The city’s numerous historic districts, accessible downtown, and historic resources within easy driving distance make the city a gold mine for hands-on learning. So join us in Pittsburgh for the National Preservation Conference 2006, Making Preservation Work!

http://www.nthpconference.org/

 

11 Most Endangered Places
National Trust for Historic Preservation recently Announced its 2006 List of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places: Smithsonian's Former Crown Jewel, The World Trade Center "Survivors' Staircase," The Historic Neighborhoods and Landmarks of New Orleans And Mississippi, and more.  For a complete listing, please visit: http://www.nationaltrust.org/11most/index.html

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COMMENTARY

Economics, Sustainability and Historic Preservation
by Donovan Rypkema
With so much interest in Green Building these days, Economic Development consultant, Don Rypkema, looks at historic preservation and sustainable development.

"The whole purpose of sustainable development is to keep that which is important, that which is valuable, which is significant.  The definition of sustainable development is '...the ability to meet our own needs without prejudicing the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.'  We need to use our cities and our historic resources in such a way that they are available to meet the needs of future generations as well."

For the complete transcript of his speech from the closing session of the 2005 National Trust Conference, please visit:
http://www.ptvermont.org/rypkema.htm

 

What Makes a Great Village?
by Paul Bruhn, Executive Director of the Preservation Trust of Vermont
What makes a great village?  That was the question we posed to the participants in the first annual Village Center Retreat at the Grand Isle Lake House earlier this summer.  The event was co-sponsored by the Division for Historic Preservation and the Preservation Trust of Vermont.  It provided participants the opportunity to share experiences and challenges as well as a chance to learn more about a variety of programs designed to help communities strengthen their village centers.

Part of the discussion focused on what elements are important to building and maintaining a strong and vibrant village.  Not every village will have every single element, but the more the better according to the participants.  It's also true that successful villages become less successful if critical elements are  lost over time.  If a once strong village center loses one critical element, and then others become more fragile and even lost, then a downward spiral can result.  Over time, a strong commitment by local officials and residents is the key to good stewardship. 

Here's the list of critical elements:

• General store
• Post Office
• Library
• School
• Town Offices
• Dinner/restaurant
• Places of worship
• Community hall
• Traffic calming
• Septic/sewer capacity!
• Public restroom
• Businesses
• Bank
• Housing for all income groups
• Lodging for visitors
• Fire Department
• Monuments, outdoor sculpture
• Town green/ bandstand
• Arts and cultural activities, museum
• Place for kids
• Recreation opportunities
  

What do you think?  Do you have ideas to add?  Let us know! paul@ptvermont.org

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PUBLICATIONS & RESOURCES

Vermont Gathering Places
In celebration of Preservation Trust of Vermont’s 25th Anniversary, Peter Miller has produced an exquisite photography and essay book entitled Vermont Gathering Places.

The book includes over one hundred images of gathering places in communities around Vermont, including village stores, post offices, local restaurants, libraries, churches, art centers, community halls and Main Streets. Many of these places have been directly supported by Preservation Trust grants.

The book is the third in a Vermont Trilogy by the author and photographer. His first two books, Vermont People and Vermont Farm Women, are recognized as state classics and have won three national awards.

"Vermont Gathering Places is about where Vermonters meet," said the author, "from town meetings to country stores, fairs, church suppers and farmer’s markets. It is a book about community and the personal interactions that are so important to Vermont, and make our state unique."

Miller photographed and reported on gathering places in every Vermont county. Two of the largest chapters are on country stores and town festivals and parades. Vermont Gathering Places is available in Vermont bookshops, through the Preservation Trust of Vermont (802-658-6647) or can be ordered through the secure site www.silverprintpress.com

 

Vermont Directory of Foundations, 2006 Edition, Now Available
All updated, many new listings, with notes and guidance from the foundations themselves.  To purchase a copy, please send $50 includes postage and handling to CPG Enterprises, Inc., PO Box 199, Shaftsbury, VT 05262.  You can download an order form at www.cpgfundraising.com, and send it with your check or simply send a check with your name, organization name and address on a separate sheet. Please include 6% tax if you are not a tax exempt nonprofit! Sorry, no credit cards accepted.

 

National Endowment for the Humanities Public Programs: Interpreting America's Historic Places
Places where history was made have a special power to connect people to the past and to impress upon us the deeper lessons of our history. The National Endowment for the Humanities invites proposals for public programs that exploit the evocative power of historic places to address themes and issues central to American history.

Are you preserving an historic place? If so, you might also want to think about exhibits, interpretive materials, heritage tourism partnerships, or other strategies for helping the public to learn more about your historic place, and the people, stories, events, and ideas that make it a significant part of American history.

“Interpreting America’s Historic Places” grants support public humanities programs that use one or more historic sites to interpret important topics in American history. Projects can interpret a single historic site, a series of sites, whole neighborhoods, communities or towns, or larger geographic regions.

September 12, 2006, is the deadline for proposals for both Consultation Grants and Planning Grants for Interpreting America’s Historic Places.  January 23, 2007, is the deadline for proposals for Implementation Grants.

To speak with a program officer about an INTERPRETING AMERICA’S HISTORIC PLACES proposal, call 202-606-8269 or send an e-mail to publicpgms@neh.gov.

 

Cultural Facilities Grant
Deadline October 2, 2006
Thanks to the Vermont State Legislature the amount available for Cultural Facilities Grants has been maintained at $200,000 for FY2007. This program is meant to assist nonprofit organizations and municipalities in Vermont to improve the potential of facilities to provide cultural activities for the public. Awards will range from $750 to $20,000. Grant recommendations will be made on the basis of competitive review of submitted materials with priority given to applicants articulating a compelling case for need.

The Cultural Facilities Grant application will be posted on the Vermont Arts Council website on August 1, 2006. This year the grant application will be done completely online using the Council’s new online grant making system. Free informational Grantseekers Workshops will be held in early September. You are strongly encouraged to attend one of the workshops. Descriptions of the projects funded through the Cultural Facilities Grant Program in 2006 can be viewed at http://www.vermontartscouncil.org/cultural.html.

 

PreservationOnline.org E-Newsletter
Preservation magazine recently launched a free weekly e-newsletter that provides links to daily preservation related news stories through its Web site, PreservationOnline.org. Sign up to receive the latest headlines and links to stories about the world of historic preservation at http://www.PreservationOnline.org/newsletter. To send items for inclusion in Trust Worthy, please e-mail: pr@nthp.org.

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EDUCATION, TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Paint: Historic and Contemporary Materials and Practice
August 22 and 23, 2006, 9 am to 5 pm daily
Gardner House, Norwich Historical Society, Norwich, VT
This comprehensive two-day workshop will cover historic and contemporary paint formulas, proper surface preparation, paint application techniques, mitigation of lead hazards associated with painting and paint removal, and what painters and builders need to know about microscopy and paint sampling and analysis. Slide lectures and a field trip documenting case studies will be emphasized.

The class will be taught by Professor Thomas Visser, Director of the Graduate Program in Historic Preservation at UVM and author of Field Guide to New England Barns and Farm Buildings. Tom is a former building contractor and has been consulting in architectural conservation for more than a decade.

Cost: HWI members/government staff/Norwich Historical Society members: $165; Others: $190.

The Preservation Education Institute PO Box 21 Windsor VT 05089-0021, 802-674-6752, 802-674-6179 fax

 

Researching and Restoring New England Farm Landscapes
Saturday and Sunday, September 9 and 10, 2006, 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. daily
Billings Farm and Museum, Woodstock, VT

With this brand new workshop, the Preservation Education Institute renews its commitment to offering workshops of interest to owners and enthusiasts in addition to professionals. So come one, come all for an in-depth study of vernacular farmsteads.

Landscape Historian Marshall McKee will lead participants through discovery of the hidden history of farms. Who lived on farms? What types of animals were frequently found here? How do farmscapes reflect trends in culture and agriculture? How do you work with old archival records, maps, and photographs?

Learn how to build your plans for the future of a farm you own or want to own or how to work with clients. Make good restoration or rehabilitation decisions based on sound preservation principles and a deeply explored sense of place.

The Theron Boyd Historic Site, owned by the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation to be developed as one of the State-Owned Historic Sites, will serve as our laboratory. The Billings Farm & Museum has graciously offered us classroom space and will provide a tour of the Farm for participants in this workshop. Marshall will share her work on the Barrett House owned by Historic New England, Inc., in New Ipswich, New Hampshire as a model for developing cultural landscape reports.

Cost: Members of HWI/PEI or the Billings Farm & Museum or Government Agency staff: $95. Others: $125. Tuition includes lunch daily.

The Preservation Education Institute PO Box 21 Windsor VT 05089-0021 802-674-6752 802-674-6179 fax.

 

Vice President for Land Conservation
Interested in working for a successful organization helping to conserve Vermont’s productive landscape? We are seeking applications to direct and manage our land conservation programs, including supporting, supervising and evaluating the work of VLT’s Field Team. This position is a member of VLT’s senior management team and participates fully in organizational planning, development and assessment efforts, and works externally with a diverse array of federal, state and local agencies; private nonprofit entities; local organizations; and individuals.

Minimum qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline such as natural resources, agriculture, forestry, or natural resources planning, plus a minimum of five years of directly relevant management experience in the conservation field or a combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills are acquired.

Ideal candidate will have a solid track record in developing external relationships, organizing and engaging communities, managing teams, developing policy and implementing new programs; and bring substantial experience in creatively structuring conservation projects. Appreciation of community issues and the ability to communicate land ethic values are critical.

Salary based on experience and includes a comprehensive benefits package.

To apply, send resume and cover letter to: Search Committee, Vermont Land Trust, 8 Bailey Avenue, Montpelier, VT 05602

Position will remain open until August 4. For more information and job description, visit www.vlt.org.

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Historic Vermont is available free to subscribers. To subscribe or unsubscribe, please visit our website http://www.ptvermont.org/ptv_news.htm. To submit something for publication, please contact Meg Campbell at ptv@sover.net

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