VERMONT
NEWS
Silent
Auction Success
Thanks to all the donors and bidders who participated in the
recent Preservation Trust of Vermont Silent Auction. We
raised over $21,000 for the Preservation Trust! -- Meg
Campbell
Preservation
Trust Receives $15,000 to Help Save Vermont's Historic Barns
The Preservation Trust of Vermont recently received a $15,000
grant from the Gannett Foundation and the Burlington Free Press
to encourage the maintenance and rehabilitation of Vermont's
historic barns.
Agriculture has been
fundamental to the economic, cultural, and physical character of
Vermont since the late 18th century. It has defined and
shaped the state in a way no other industry has. Agricultural
sites and structures from two centuries of development punctuate
the hills and valleys of every county in the state. While
substantial resources have been invested in protecting farmland
over the past decade, our historic barns remain at risk.
According to estimates,
each year we loss in excess of 200 barns due to demolition,
collapse, and moving. With the financial issues facing
Vermont farmers, maintaining our collection of historic barns is
particularly challenging.
These funds will help
barn owners take a critical first step -- to develop cost
effective, phased plans for maintenance and
rehabilitation. Several preservation architects and
consultants have agreed to do these plans for a flat fee. Such
plans then enable owners to do the specified work themselves and
seek support from other sources. Since the early 1990's a
variety of donors and the Preservation Trust of Vermont have
provided technical assistance grants to assist in the
development of these plans. More than 100 historic barns
have received assistance through this program. The program
not only assists owners with suggestions for immediate, low-cost
recommendations for stabilization work, it provides owners
with the basic information needed for grant applications to
other sources of funding such as the Vermont Division for
Historic Preservation. This technical assistance program
has helped to stimulate several million dollars in actual
rehabilitation work on historic barns located throughout
Vermont.
This grant will enable
the Preservation Trust to provide grants and technical support
that will help save thirty-eight barns over the next two to
three years. For more information, please contact the
Preservation Trust/National Trust Field Service Representatives
Ann Cousins (434-5014) ann@ptvermont.org
or Doug Porter (644-2815) doug@ptvermont.org.
American
Precision Museum receives $200,000 Building Restoration Grant
The American Precision Museum of Windsor VT has been awarded a
prestigious $200,000 Save America's Treasures grant to assist in
the restoration of the 1846 Robbins and Lawrence Armory, the
National Historic Landmark that houses the museum.
The grants are highly competetive nationally, and are
administered by the National Park Service (NPS) in partnership
the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH),
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), National Endowment for
the Humanities (NEH), and Institute of Museum and Library
Services (IMLS).
"The American
Precision Museum is housed in a true American treasure in need
of saving," said Senator Patrick Leahy, a senior member of
the Senate Appropriations Committee. "This grant will help
the museum restore a national landmark that has withstood more
than a hundred of Vermont's harsh winters. As more and more
machine tool firms pass into history, it is important to
preserve this piece of America's history because of its classic
mid-Nineteenth Century New England mill architecture and
American mechanical ingenuity."
The SAT award will
enable the Museum to get started with a major building
rehabilitation in 2004, says Executive Director, Ann Lawless.
"We are thrilled to have received this award. Our National
Historic Landmark building has many critical preservation needs.
The roof, masonry and windows all need work."
In 1999 the museum
assessed the condition of the building and approximate costs for
repairs by engaging Tom Keefe of Keefe and Wesner Architects,
Middlebury VT. His report was funded by the National Institute
for the Conservation of Cultural Property. The museum
staff and board has been working with the Preservation Trust to
develop a roadmap for the building. In 2002, members of the
staff and board attended a Preservaton Trust Industrial Heritage
Sites retreat at the Grand Isle Lake House. And in August
2003, Executive Director Ann Lawless attended a similar retreat.
Through the initiative
of Doug Porter, Field Services representative, the museum began
a partnership with the University of Vermont Graduate Program in
Historic Preservation. With Doug's technical assistance,
Sarah Vukovich and Rebecca Williams -- two students in Professor
Tom Visser's conservation class -- are compiling a detailed
survey of the museumâ's 165 historic windows. The window survey
is an essential planning and budgeting tool that will be used in
developing project specifications.
According to the
Museum's Board Chairman, Clark Griffiths, of Lebanon NH,
"This is an important day for the Museum, for Windsor and
for the Precision Valley. The SAT grant is a clear recognition
of the historical importance of the precision manufacturing
industry here. It is also a tribute to the skilled
craftspeople whose ingenuity and creativity led to the building
of machines that could mass produce identical parts,
interchangeable with each other, that came to be known as the
'American System' of precision manufacturing. Many such
craftspeople are still living in the region."
The Save America's
Treasurers grant requires the museum to match the federal funds
with cash, other nonfederal grants, and donated professional
services and volunteer help. Thus, the total value of the
current project will be $400,000. "A portion of the cash is
in hand and the Museum is seeking additional grants and
gifts," said Rick Roesch, Museum Vice Chair and co-chair of
the Development Committee."The museum welcomes
contributions and donations of services and equipment from the
community to help with the implementation of this exciting
project. The long term goal is to preserve the contribution
precision manufacturing made to the world and increase the flow
of educational tourism to the region."
During the restoration,
the Museum will remain open to visitors during its regular
season which lasts Memorial Day to the end of October. The
museum plans to present new exhibits focusing on the building's
architecture, important events that occurred here that shaped
history, and effects on the lives of people. The American
Precision Museum contains the largest collection of historically
significant machine tools in the nation. Further information is
available on the Museum's web site at www.americanprecision.org.
For more information on
Save America's Treasures, visit their website http://www.saveamericastreasures.org/
WalMart
Supercenter in Bennington?
The town of Bennington recently received inquires from a
development firm outside Albany for a 170,000 square foot
supercenter at the site of the former Bijur plant.
Recently, the Preservation Trust learned that this may be a
proposal for a Walmart Supercenter and an additional developer
may also be interested in opening a Sam's Club on Northside
Drive.
Both the size of the
proposed store and the location could be catastrophic for
Bennington's historic downtown and independently-owned
businesses. The store is more than three times the
size of the existing Walmart -- or nearly twice the size of the
Home Depot being built on Northside Drive -- or, even more
eye-opening, 56 times the size of Evans' on Main Street and 85
times the size of the Bennington Bookshop! The Bijur site
is located adjacent to both a residential area and the
community-built park on the outskirts of Bennington, away from
the two areas of planned commercial development.
In order for the
proposal to go forth, the former industrial site needs to
entirely be rezoned from industrial to commercial. Before
that can happen, there will be a forum with the selectboard to
gather public feedback on this issue -- to be scheduled sometime
later this spring. Citizens who live or work in the
southwest have an a very real opportunity to let their voice be
heard!
On Wednesday,
January 14th, the Bennington County Regional Commission
will host a public education forum with members of the Vermont
Smart Growth Collaborative and other guests. The forum
will address the impacts of big box development on Bennington -
how will a Wal-Mart or other big box stores affect the
community, Bennington's downtown and other businesses in town?
The forum will be held from 7 to 9 pm upstairs in the Public
Safety Building (above the downtown firehouse). Panelist
will include several economists and development experts.
If you would like to
receive more information and notice of future meetings related
to this issue, please email meg@ptvermont.org.
VT Downtown
Development Board Awards Downtown Designation to Morristown
The Vermont Downtown Development Board voted on November 24th to
award downtown designation to Morristown under the 1998 Downtown
Development Act. Morristown joins Barre, Bellows Falls,
Bennington, Brattleboro, Burlington, Middlebury, Montpelier,
Poultney, Randolph, Rutland, St. Johnsbury, Springfield,
Vergennes, Windsor and Winooski in the growing network of
designated downtowns.
Kevin Dorn, Chair of
the Downtown Development Board and Secretary of the Agency of
Commerce and Community Development recognized Morristown’s
efforts, saying, “We are really pleased to be able to
recognize the energy and commitment of this community.
They have worked really hard over the past few years, and they
have great plans for enhancing the economy of this beautiful,
historic downtown. Their initial efforts are already
beginning to show results, and I think we can look forward to
some wonderful changes in downtown Morristown.”
In order to obtain
downtown designation, a community must demonstrate a lasting
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, Morristown 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 accessibility code compliance.
The Downtown
Development Board also awarded Village Center Designation to
North Bennington, and to Wallingford, East Wallingford, and
South Wallingford. With 19 Designated Village Centers now
in Vermont, Secretary Dorn noted that “the popularity of this
new program continues to grow. Many of our communities are
already working to revitalize their village centers, we are
happy that through this program we can bring more state
assistance to those efforts.”
Several other awards
were made at the Board’s meeting as well. A $50,000 tax
credit was awarded for the installation of sprinklers and an
elevator in the St Johnsbury Athenaeum, as part of a larger
rehabilitation project of this National Historic Landmark
building. Finally, a $35,500 sales tax reallocation
award was made on the building materials used in the new
Community National Bank in downtown Barre.
American
Association for State & Local History Announces 2003 Awards
Program
The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH)
invites submissions to the 2004 Awards Program. Established in
1945, the Annual Awards Program is the most prestigious national
recognition program for achievement in the preservation and
interpretation of local, state and regional history.
The AASLH Awards
Program recognizes exemplary work completed by state or federal
historical societies, institutions or agencies; regional, county
or local historical societies, institutions or agencies;
specialized subject societies in related fields such as oral
history, genealogy, folklore, archaeology, business history,
railroad history, etc.; junior historical societies; privately
owned museums or foundations; individuals; and organizations
outside the field of traditional historical agencies.
Awards are given for
general excellence, exhibits, public programming, special
projects, media/publications, individual achievement, and
preservation or restoration projects. Nominees need not be
members of AASLH to qualify.
Nomination forms may be
obtained by visiting the AASLH website, www.aaslh.org, or by
contacting the AASLH office by phone, 615.320.3203, or by email:
history@aaslh.org.
Nominations are due to
state award representatives on March 1, 2004. Completed
nominations from Vermont institutions should be sent to: Tracy
Martin, c/o The Old Stone House Museum, 28 Old Stone House Road,
Brownington, VT 05860-9557. Tracy encourages anyone with
questions to contact her at 802.754.2022. Nominations are then
reviewed by a national committee in the summer of 2004 with
formal presentation of the awards made during the AASLH Annual
Meeting, September 29-October 2, 2004 in St. Louis, Missouri.
Vermont
Forum on Sprawl's Online Community Planning Course
Want to do your part to prevent sprawl? Register now for this
innovative community planning course, which takes place entirely
online! The course is for planning or conservation
commissioners, architects, developers, government officials and
engaged citizens who want to learn about preventing sprawl with
smart growth strategies. The course is based on the Vermont
Forum on Sprawl award winning publications; the instructor is
Faith Ingulsrud, a land use planner now at the Department of
Housing & Community Affairs. Topics in this interactive
course include community assessment, best site planning, public
involvement, smart growth planning and regulations. The course
runs from January 15 to April 8, registration is only $75. For
more information, visit www.vtsprawl.org
email or call Dylan Voorhees at dvoorhees@vtsprawl.org
or 864-6310.
Chester
Fire Station Update
Kuodos to Don Hinckley and the entire staff of NBC Solid
Surfaces in Springfield! For the second year in a row, Don and
staff volunteered a day to help the Chester Historical Society
clean and make repairs to the old fire station on Route
103. The Chester Historical Society has been working for
several years to raise funds to rehabilitate this local
landmark. Having this boost of approximately 15 people
working all day is very much appreciated by the Historical
Society, the Town, and everyone who drives by this fantastic
landmark! Thank you from all of us! And watch for
further work on this building. The Historical Society,
with help from a Preservation Grant, has raised enough to begin
repairs next Spring on the roof and towers, exterior woodwork
and windows. At the same time, their fundraising continues
for the next phase of repairs on the firehouse and the Chester
Academy.
National
Register News
The National Park Service has recently listed the following
Vermont properties on the National Register of Historic Places.
Union
Co-operative Store Bakery, Barre
This 1913 building is a 1 ½ story, brick, 3 X 3 bay,
gable-front building with a small shed roof canopy across the
front façade and a flat roof addition on the left side. The
vernacular building has an asphalt roof, concrete foundation,
and its only ornament is the wooden brackets that support the
front canopy. Much of the interior remains intact including a
carbon stained outline on the brick wall of the former
L-shaped brick oven. The bakery is located adjacent to the
Socialist Labor Hall in Barre, a National Historic Landmark,
whose once thriving and expanding co-operative store helped
give birth to this building with it's need for a larger bakery
space. This free-standing extension of the store
was constructed, like the Labor Hall, by Socialist Labor Party
members within Barre's Italian community. The bakery
continued the Italian community's strong union traditions by
being the first bakery in the City to adopt the union label
for its foods. The bakery also reflects the evolution of
the baking industry on the local level from small independent
operations to larger more commercialized companies as well as
the evolution of technologies and cleanliness standards within
the industry.
Ira
Hill House, Isle La Motte
Located in the center of the village of Isle La Motte is this
2 ½ story gable-roofed, vernacular c. 1822 stone house with
large wood and stone ell. The ell was originally a c.
1822 1½ story barn that was converted to the present ell in
1840. It is one of nine buildings constructed by master
stonemason James Ritchie on Isle La Motte combining local
materials and Scottish building techniques. Constructed
of local limestone, it was part of a building and quarrying
tradition on the Island that resulted in the widespread
exportation of the stone for use in constructing noteworthy
buildings and bridges in the US and Canada. The property has
functioned as a tavern, dance hall, inn, and cider mill and
processing facility (in the ell). Ira Hill, the
original owner, was active in state and local politics and
commerce. He was a Representative to the Vermont Legislature
and a delegate to the Vermont Constitutional Convention.
NATIONAL
NEWS
Emily
Wadhams Accepts Position as Vice President at the National Trust
for Historic Preservation
Emily Wadhams of Burlington, Vermont recently accepted a
position as the Vice President for Public Policy at the National
Trust in Washington DC.
After a career as a
preservation consultant focusing on affordable housing
rehabilitation projects and as adjunct professor in the
University of Vermont’s Historic Preservation program, Emily
served as State Historic Preservation Officer for Vermont from
1998 until this year. As SHPO, Emily was instrumental in
developing collaborative relationships with state and federal
agencies in Vermont and created an alliance with the state
transportation agency that has served as a national model.
As an Advisor to the National Trust and a member of the National
Conference of SHPO's Board of Trustees, she has taken a national
leadership role in preservation advocacy issues. She
currently is the Vice President of the board of the Preservation
Trust of Vermont.
"I am delighted to
have someone in this position with experience working with the
preservation concerns facing
state governments and legislatures across the country,"
says Richard moe, President of the NTHP. "Emily is a
strong preservation professional and a leader in the movement,
and I am pleased that she has agreed to
join our team at the National Trust."
As our Vice President
for Public Policy, Emily will work with the NTHP staff on a
variety of issues, including the advocacy elements of the Next
Trust Strategic Plan, the housing initiative, Section 4(f)
and other preservation legislation at the federal level, and
state and local policy.
Watch out Washington,
the Vermonters are coming!
Make
History by Receiving the First Preserve America Presidential
Award
With the January 15, 2004, deadline to
apply for the new Preserve America Presidential Award rapidly
approaching, outstanding historic preservation accomplishments
have an unprecedented opportunity to receive national
recognition at the highest level. President and Mrs. Bush will
recognize award recipients at an annual event.
Nomination
forms must be received by January 15, 2004, and are available at
www.PreserveAmerica.gov
or by e-mail request to Paawards@achp.gov.
Awards will be announced during National Historic Preservation
Week, May 3 through May 9, 2004.
Each
year, President and Mrs. Bush will give four Preserve America
Presidential Awards – two for projects that advance heritage
tourism and two for exemplary privately funded historic
preservation projects or programs.
Presidential
Awards will honor organizations, businesses, government
entities, and individuals for:
- Exemplary
accomplishments in the sustainable use and preservation of
cultural or natural heritage assets;
- Demonstrated
commitment to the protection and interpretation of America’s
cultural or natural heritage assets, and the integration of
these assets into contemporary community life; and
- Innovative,
creative, and responsible approaches to showcasing historic
resources in their communities.
The Advisory Council on Historic
Preservation, in partnership with the National Park Service,
is administering the awards program on behalf of the White
House. Complete information and the nomination form can be found
at www.PreserveAmerica.gov. Don’t miss this opportunity to
make history and gain the national recognition your
historic preservation project deserves
www.PreserveAmerica.gov
Preservation
Leadership Training 2004
This year's Preservation Leadership Training will take place in
Astoria, Oregon on June 5-12, 2004. Application Deadline: April
1, 1004
If you know of someone
who would make a great candidate for PLT, please send them to
the website at http://www.nationaltrust.org/plt.
10 Reasons Why
Vermont's Homegrown Economy Matters, And 50 Proven Ways to
Revive It
by Stacy Mitchell, Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Published by the Preservation Trust of Vermont
This new 60-page
publication is the result of several years of collaboration
between the Institute of Local Self-Reliance and The
Preservation Trust of Vermont. Detailed here are
specific reasons why locally owned businesses matter and
practical ways to plan for a homegrown economy, foster
revitalization and unite independent businesses. Mitchell uses
practical examples from successful businesses and vibrant
communities all across the states to illustrate the point that
everyone benefits from keeping Vermont's economy local.
The book is available for $10 from the Preservation Trust of
Vermont (802) 658-6647 or as a free download pdf file from the
Preservation Trust website:
http://www.ptvermont.org/publications/HomegrownEconomy/sprawl_book.htm
New!
Special Places in Vermont Publication
With your help, the Preservation Trust of Vermont is going to
build a collection of Special Places in Vermont. Our
goal is to publish a series of short paragraphs written by
residents describing the off-beat, the undiscovered, and the
historic spots that help to make Vermont a special part of our
world.
Initially we will
publish the collection on our website, and may in the future
publish a book. Contributions can be varied -- from a walk
through a village district or former marble quarry, to a meal at
a restored hotel or breakfast at an historic diner, to the
experience of a service in an 1850 church, or a swim in a pond
above an historic crib dam. The possibilities are endless, and
the more we all enjoy and appreciate these special places, the
more we will all work to maintain them.
We welcome
contributions of all kinds. If you have some place you'd
like to share, please email meg@ptvermont.org.
Please describe the site and tell us why it's important to
you. Keep in mind that we would like to include your name
and the town where you live in the future publications.
Thanks for being a part
of our project!
Vermont
Directory of Foundations & New Hampshire Directory of
Foundations
The 2004 Editions of both the Vermont Directory of Foundations
and the NH Directory of Foundations are now complete and
published! Each includes updates on all in-state
foundations and many, many out-of-state foundations that have
identified Vermont or New Hampshire or both as targets for their
grantmaking. Information was obtained directly from the
foundations, or from the most recent available tax information
and annual reports. To order, send a check for $45
(Vermont) or $48 (New Hampshire) or $85 (both) to : CPG
Enterprises, Inc.; PO Box 199; Shaftsbury VT 05262.
Sorry, no credit card orders.
GRANTS &
FUNDING
Historic
Preservation and Barn Grants
This year the legislature appropriated $150,000 each for the
Division's matching grant programs for the restoration of
buildings owned by municipalities and non-profit organizations
and barns (agricultural buildings).
The grants for
agricultural buildings (barns) can be on privately owned
buildings. The purpose of the program is to preserve the
buildings that help make up Vermont's working landscape. Small
agricultural buildings such as corn cribs and milkhouses are
also eligible. Projects must be for restoration, have a
strong public benefit component, and are usually for serious
problems that are likely to cause further deterioration.
Applications are due on January 5, 2004.
Applications need to
have a good cost estimate for the proposed work and photographs
showing the building in its setting and illustrating the
problems which need work. To get an application or discuss
your project call Eric Gilbertson at 828-3043 or emailing eric.gilbertson@state.vt.us.
OPPORTUNITIES
for EMPLOYMENT & VOLUNTEER WORK
Historic
Preservation Coordinator, Rockingham
Municipal position, 12 hours/week. Administers historic
preservation grant program. Staff to Rockingham Historical (CLG)
Commission. Collaborates with many partners, interacts with
public. Challenging work in exciting community. Preference given
to education/experience in historic preservation, history,
architectural history, or related field. Equal Opportunity
Employer. 802-463-3456 or rbfdevel@sover.net
or write CLG Search, Town of Rockingham, PO Box 370, Bellows
Falls, VT 05101
Director,
Old Stone House Museum, Brownington
The Orleans County Historical Society seeks an enthusiastic
individual to lead this vibrant regional
organization and to oversee operations at the Society's Old
Stone House Museum in Brownington,
Vermont.
The Director works
closely with the board of trustees on long-range planning,
policy development, fundraising and financial management. The
Director also provides leadership in the Historical Society's
office where a staff of four employs a team approach to the
development of exhibits, events and programs and to the
coordination of day-to-day activities.
Strong communication,
interpersonal and organization skills are required. A Master's
degree in American History, Historic Preservation, Museum
Studies or a related field and previous experience in museum
administration preferred. This is a full-time, year-round
position.
To apply, please send a
letter, resume and three professional references with phone
numbers to:
Orleans County
Historical Society
28 Old Stone House Road
Brownington, VT 05860
Information at: www.oldstonehousemuseum.org
