HISTORIC VERMONT
An On-line News Journal about the Preservation of Vermont’s Historic Architecture and Landscape
Number 32  March 2004

Published by the Preservation Trust of Vermont, 104 Church Street, Burlington, VT 05401
http://www.ptvermont.org

For more information about Historic Vermont, to subscribe or to unsubscribe to the email version, or to submit something for publication please contact Meg Campbell, Editor. ptv@sover.net.    Please submit events AT LEAST  SIX WEEKS before the event to ensure listing in the newsletter.
    In This Issue....
     
      Local News
      • Town Meeting News
      • Preservation Trust of Vermont's Robert Sincerbeaux Fund Grants and Barn Assessment Grants
      • The Latchis Project
      • Middlebury Business Association Community Forum
      • Park-McCullough House Association in North Bennington Hires New Executive Director
      • VT Downtown Development Board Awards Downtown Designation to Brandon
      • Bennington Update
      • Children's History Garden, Manchester
      • Oakledge History Day On-Line
      • Mardi Gras fundraising dinner: The Carving Studio and Sculpture Center, West Rutland
      • National Register News
      Vermont News
      • Annual Historic Preservation Conference: May 21, 2004
      • Historic Preservation Grants Awarded by Division for Historic Preservation
      • Community Store Initiative
      • News on Act 250 from the Vermont Natural Resources Council
      • Landscape Change Program


      National News

      • Historic Preservation and Transportation Agencies Find Common Ground to Safeguard America's Heritage
      • National Issues Explained
      • "Index of Destination Stewardship":  Vermont Ranks 6th in the World
      • Historic School Day


      Publications

      • What the Experts May Not Tell You About Building or Renovating Your Home
      • 10 Reasons Why VT's Homegrown Economy Matters and 50 Proven Ways to Revive it!
      • Special Places in Vermont


      Grants and Funding

      • Downs Rachlin Martin Community Fund


      Educational Opportunities

      • 2004 Preservation Retreats at the Grand Isle Lake House.
      • Diversity Scholarship Program
      • Ethan Allen Homestead Talks
      • Transferring the Farm Workshop
      • National History Day Summer Institute
      • Preservation Leadership Training 2004
      • Preservation Education Institute Calendar Listings


      Opportunities for Employment & Volunteer Work

      • Library Director, Pember Library and Museum, Granville, NY


      This newsletter is made possible in part by a donation from Sovernet, www.sover.net.



LOCAL NEWS
Town Meeting News
  • Ferrisburg: Voters approved 505 to 325 in favor of allocating $350,000 for the rehabilitation the old grange building for use as town offices and community space.
  • Starksboro: Voters approved $125,000 to rehabilitate the town center property for town offices and parking.
  • Burlington: In a 16,894 to 11,682 vote, voters approved $1.8 million for work on the Chittenden County Courthouse.
  • Lunenberg: Voters approved the use of town funds to rehabilitate the Lunenberg Historical Society building for community use.

    •  
If there is more historic preservation news from your community not mentioned here, please email meg@ptvermont.org and we'll include it in the next newsletter.
 

Preservation Trust of Vermont's Robert Sincerbeaux Fund Grants and Barn Assessment Grants
The Preservation Trust offers two grants programs to help with project planning: The Robert Sincerbeaux Fund grants, up to $500, help non-profit organizations and municipalities get technical expertise to move preservation projects forward.  Barn assessment grants are available for individuals to help hire a contractor to do a condition assessment of an historic barn.  The Barn Assessment grants are made possible by a generous grant from the Gannett Foundation and the Burlington Free Press.

February 2004 Awards:
 

  • Castleton Federated Church.  Nationally significant 1833 Thomas Dake-built church received a grant to do condition assessment and preliminary handicap access design.
  • Wardsboro Library for a building maintenance plan for the library and condition assessment of the barn to help determine options for the barn's use.
  • Green Mountain College for condition assessment of all four of the barns and outbuildings on the school farm.
  • Preservation Burlington to help support a speaker series.
  • The First Unitarian-Universalist Society of Burlington for assessment of the brick meeting house (c.1816) at the head of Church St and to create specifications for repointing.
  • The Brownington Village Congregational Church for an assessment of the c.1841 church once pastored by Alexander Twilight, and to develop guidelines for adding a fellowship hall.
  • The United Church of Irasburg (c.1839) for an assessment that will address roof replacement and preservation priorities for the next few years.
The Latchis Project
The Latchis Memorial Building in downtown Brattleboro was built in 1938 by the Latchis family as a tribute to their father, Demetrious Latchis, a theater-builder who represents an immigrant success story.

The downtown complex consists of a 30-room hotel, restaurant, 800-seat theater/cinema, two smaller theaters, a storefront youth theater, and two retail storefronts. When the Latchis family decided to sell the complex in 2000, the community recognized their unique opportunity to own the complex and develop a downtown performance and visual arts center while saving a downtown hotel.

The Preservation Trust of Vermont was a partner from the start, working with the Latchis family and a local non-profit organization, Brattleboro Arts Initiative (BAI), toward an eventual purchase. The National Trust's Northeast Office stepped in with an early $1,000 Intervention Grant to do a condition assessment, which confirmed that the building was in good structural condition.  After almost three years of pre-development and fundraising; BAI, in partnership with the Preservation Trust, purchased the property for $1.6 million.

During those three years, ongoing improvements were made on the building, mostly unseen.  With early help from the Thompson Trust and the Walter Cerf Fund along with a State of Vermont Downtown Program grant, code improvements were made so that today the building is sprinkled, alarm systems are in place and final code improvements are being completed this month.  Plans are now underway for the more visible rehabilitation, and along with it, the next phase of fundraising.  With the help of a Cynthia Woods Mitchell grant, EverGreene Painting Studio just completed a finishes analysis and restoration plan for the exquisite Louis Jambor-painted Greek-motif wall murals and Zodiac ceiling in the main theater.  And on the facade, several concrete panels have been removed in preparation for a restoration of the exterior.  A new roof on the hotel will be completed this spring, and hotel rooms will receive a face-lift.

A HUD grant through Senator Patrick Leahy is helping with rehabilitation, but there are plenty of giving opportunities. Plans include adding a fourth movie screen in order to free up the main theater for more performances and, in time, restoring the main theater.  All this because a community and the Latchis family understood the power of bringing the arts to downtown and partnered with non-profit organizations, foundations, businesses, State and Federal agencies to make it happen. Brattleboro won't BE a great place -- it IS!  Come visit -- and spend the night!

http://www.latchis.com/

 

Middlebury Business Association Community Forum
When the Ames discount store closed in Middlebury in late 2002, the community not only lost a retail draw to the area, but residents were also not able to buy some low-cost discounted retail items. While the market has moved to fill
some of those gaps through wider offerings in existing retail stores, the market has not been quick to fill all of the gaps created by Ames closing.   Some Middlebury retailers report a decline in business since Ames closed indicating that it attracted shoppers to Middlebury.

The same pattern has been occurring across the country. Nationwide the number of players in the discount shopping goods sector has been shrinking as the retail giant Wal-Mart increases its market share in this and other categories of the retail economy. Although people in Middlebury miss the presence of Ames and the discounted goods it supplied locally, most do not seem eager to see a Walmart move into their town.

So what's a town to do?

The Middlebury Business Association is encouraging the community to explore other options for bringing discount goods and shoppers back to Middlebury. On Tuesday, March 9, at 6 p.m., the Middlebury Business Association will host the second of two forums addressing what might take the place of Ames. The focus at this forum will be community-ownership models for retail businesses. The forum will be held at American Flatbread in Middlebury. The forum will feature a keynote address by Bill McKibben, a nationally known environmental author and visiting scholar at Middlebury College's Environmental Studies program. In addition to being the author of The End of Nature, McKibben has been a staff writer for New Yorker magazine and is a regular contributor to the Atlantic Monthly, the New York Times, Harpers and Outside.

Other featured guest speakers include Stacy Mitchell, a senior researcher at the Institute for Local Self- Reliance and Bob Rottenberg from the Cooperative Development Institute.  The Institute for Local Self-Reliance provides research, analysis and innovative policy solutions for building strong local economies and sustainable communities and has advised small business groups, community organizations and policy makers about defending “main street” against chain stores. Stacy Mitchell recently wrote 10 Reasons Why Vermont’s Homegrown Economy Matters and 50 Proven Ways to Revive It. Mitchell will offer her insight on the importance of locally owned retail businesses to communities and effectively competing against big chain stores.

The mission of the Cooperative Development Institute is to support the creation and enhancement of cooperative and community-owned businesses in New England. The Institute’s hometown, Greenfield, Massachusetts, was also home to an Ames store and people there have been exploring options for a community owned business to fill the gap left by the store closing. Rottenberg, the executive director of the Institute, will report on  Greenfield’s experience and provide an overview of the range of community-ownership models.

Community leaders, business and professional people and interested citizens of the greater Middlebury area are encouraged to attend. Complimentary American Flatbread samples and a cash bar will be available.  Advance registration is requested by calling 802-388-4126. The forum is expected to run from 6-7:30 p.m.
 

Park-McCullough House Association in North Bennington Hires New Executive Director
The Board of Trustees of the Park-McCullough House Association, Inc. (PMHA) has concluded its search for a new executive director, and announces the hiring of Matthew Schulte to fill the position vacated last November.

Schulte is a native of Michigan, and was selected upon recommendation of the PMHA search committee.  “The search committee felt that Matthew’s experience helping both profit and non-profit organizations grow and prosper, and his commitment to preservation and maximizing historic resources were the perfect combination for the Park-McCullough House at this time” said Susanne Warren, Search Committee member.

Prior to accepting this position, Schulte played an active role in Southeast Michigan business and as a leader in the statewide historic preservation movement. In 1989 Schulte formed Lancers, Inc., a communication company which supplied freelance personnel to other corporations. This followed a few years later with the creation of Constellation Films, Inc., an independent motion picture company which produced  videos and films for broadcast and corporate clientele. Most recently, Schulte served as Director of Marketing for another communication company, Word Pictures, Inc.

In 1986 Schulte produced a documentary film about the struggle to preserve a rural octagon farmstead. This program found its way to air on Detroit’s PBS television station and won much acclaim for then college student Schulte. The eight-sided house was saved and Schulte later became president of the non-profit organization managing the site. Today, although surrounded on all sides by suburban sprawl, the 4.28 acre site remains a prominent link to past.

In the mid-1990’s, the then fledgling Michigan Historic Preservation Network (MHPN) nominated Schulte for its board of trustees. Schulte was instrumental in helping the organization grow, evolve, and succeed as its board set new goals to raise awareness, increase professionalism, and generate additional funds. In 2000 Schulte was elected president of the board of directors. He held this title until April 2003, when he became immediate past-president. During his tenure with MHPN the group succeeded in accomplishing its mission and is now partaking in unique collaborations with other organizations to achieve even more impact.

Park-McCullough House is located in North Bennington, Vermont and owned and operated by the non-profit PMHA. The organization is committed to the preservation, conservation, and restoration of its historic buildings, grounds, and collections to be shared with the public for its education and enjoyment. The mansion is open to the public for tours and for special events in the carriage house from mid-May to mid-October. (802) 442-5441. http://www.parkmccullough.org/
 

VT Downtown Development Board Awards Downtown Designation to Brandon
The Vermont Downtown Development Board voted on January 26th to award downtown designation to Brandon under the 1998 Downtown Development Act.  Brandon joins Barre, Bellows Falls, Bennington, Brattleboro, Burlington, Middlebury, Montpelier, Morristown, 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 applauded Brandon’s efforts, saying, “Brandon has been working hard over the past few years on the revitalization of their downtown, and anyone who has visited the community lately can see how much has been accomplished.  And their plans for future improvements is impressive. The Board is very pleased to recognize the energy and commitment of this community through downtown designation.”

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, Brandon 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.

The downtown designation status for Randolph and Springfield was also renewed at the Board meeting, which is required every 3 years.
 

Bennington Update
Bennington officials and residents are weighing whether or not to rezone industrial land for commercial use.  The two particular sites in question are the Bijur plant and land on Kocher Drive and the former Johnson Controls land on Northside Drive.  Rezoning the Bijur site would be an important first step towards the demolition of the Bijur plant and construction of a large unnamed super store.

The planning commission recently held two public forums to address issues related to rezoning industrial sites for commercial use and drafting restrictions for big box development in Bennington.  Both forums were well attended and the public overwhelmingly supported not rezoning existing industrial space for commercial use.  The public also supported putting some restrictions -- in particular an economic impact study and/or size caps -- for new retail development.  Among the few minority opinions were the two developers who wish to rezone the former Bijur plant to make way for a 170,000 sq. ft. combination retail/grocery store.

The Planning Commission is discussing the zoning revisions and will make a recommendation to the select board.  It is anticipated that the select board will address the issue in some fashion at the end of March.  It's unclear at this point whether or not the select board will accept, reject or amend the planning commissions recommendations.

For more information contact Meg Campbell, meg@ptvermont.org.
 

Children's History Garden, Manchester
The Garden Club of Manchester has been awarded a $500 grant from the Principal Financial Group Historic Gardens Project.  The funds will be used to support two one-week summer camps for children aged eight to twelve, in the Children’s History Garden at the North Shire Museum and History Center.

“Four hundred entries were judged by people from four different NGC regions”, said Pat Durfee, Garden Club co-president. “Three entries in Vermont won grants. We’re proud that our project with the North Shire Museum and History Center was one of them.”

Planting, tending, harvesting, and cooking will make up the summer camp curriculum. How people raised their food in “olden days”, learning about biodiversity through the study of heirloom varieties of vegetables and flowers, composting, soil analysis, insect study, seed-saving, and awareness of organic principles are also part of the study. There will also be drawing, story-telling, and music related to the garden.

For more information, call North Shire Museum's Executive Director Sally Mole at 362-5777, or email to norshire@sover.net.
 

Oakledge History Day On-Line
Students in Burlington have now nearly completed a web site that contains all the imagery and information we collected about Oakledge Park both with the Governors Institute of Vermont students in June and at Oakledge history day in August. The site can be found at http://www.uvm.edu/oakledge/. There are photographs, resort brochures, and written histories all detailing the now-lost landscape and buildings of the park that was once a Webb family estate and then a destination resort.

Mardi Gras Fundraising Dinner: The Carving Studio and Sculpture Center, West Rutland
The Board of Trustees of the Carving Studio and Sculpture Center invites you to melt away the winter blues at their annual Marble Mardi Gras fundraising dinner. The event will be held at Rutland Country Club on Saturday, March 6, 2004 beginning at 5:30 PM. Popular jazz vocalist Sandra Wright will provide entertainment. The evening will also feature the closing of the Studio’s exciting Silent Auction with Arts and Crafts, Vacation Getaways, Fine Dining Experiences, Sport and Fitness Opportunities and More generously donated by Vermont artists and businesses. Contact carving@vermontel.net  or (802) 438-2097 for a full list of auction items.  Bids on Silent Auction items may be made prior to the event until 12:00 noon on Friday, March 5th.

Attendance at the Marble Mardi Gras costs $50.00 per person. Proceeds from the dinner and auction support the outstanding arts education programs of the Carving Studio and Sculpture Center. To RSVP please contact the Studio at (802) 438-2097 or carving@vermontel.net.
 

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

Congregational Church of Ludlow
This rare example of an intact Shingle style church built in 1891-92  retains most of its original fabric and appearance. The structure is an asymmetrical, 2 ½ story building with a fieldstone foundation, wood shingle walls and cross-gable slate roof.  The T-shaped building, with several projections, has a dominant three story projecting round bell tower on the front southeast corner and a Colonial Revival entry porch. The church is located in a 19th century residential neighborhood one block south of Main Street.  Industrial, commercial and residential expansion in Ludlow during the third quarter of the 19th century led to the congregation outgrowing its 1839 church and the construction of this new one. During the last quarter of the 19th century many new landmark public and religious buildings were built in town, including this church.  Eligible under criteria A and C, the building was nominated under the Religious Buildings, Sites and Structures in Vermont MPDF.

VERMONT NEWS

    Announcing Vermont's Tenth Annual Historic Preservation Conference:
    “The Creative Community: Adventures in Preservation and Imagination.”
    Friday, May 21, 2004, Bellows Falls

    We are please to announce that Dayton Duncan will be this year's keynote speaker.  Mr. Duncan is an award-winning writer and documentary filmmaker and author of nine books including Out West: A Journey Through Lewis & Clark’s America.  For many years he has been involved with documentary filmmaker Ken Burns on his award-winning series for public television including:  The Civil War, Baseball, and Jazz. He is the writer and producer of Lewis & Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery.

    Bellows Falls will serve as an example of how a community's downtown can be revitalized through creative exploration: The Exner and Howard Blocks, the Bellows Falls Waypoint Interpretive Center as part of the Connecticut River Byway, and the Bellows Falls Downtown Development Alliance.  Come experience the energy and successes that come through involvement with the arts!

    For more information, contact Robert McBride, conference coordinator at (802) 463-3252 or ptvramp@sover.net.  Registration materials will be available soon on the Preservation Trust of Vermont's website: www.ptvermont.org

    The conference is co-hosted by the Preservation Trust of Vermont and the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation.
     

    Historic Preservation Grants Awarded by Division for Historic Preservation
    Advisory Council Announces $160,800 for Projects in 9 Counties

    The Division for Historic Preservation has awarded a total of $160,800 in grants to municipalities and non-profit organizations in 9 counties throughout Vermont.  Criteria for funding include public benefit, the impact of delaying or not doing the work and the historic significance of the building.  As part of public benefit the importance of the building to the community through its use, visual importance and history are considered.

    This year there were 63 grant applications requesting a total of $779,317 for historic preservation projects totaling $2,345,561.   Each grant must be matched by an equal amount of non-state funds.  This partnership between the state and local organizations or municipalities is an effective way to preserve historic buildings.

    “These grants serve as recognition that buildings in our communities are an important part of the history and image of the state,” said Eric Gilbertson, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer at the Division for Historic Preservation.  “The program continues to be very competitive with projects ranging from work on building foundations to windows to steeples that need restoration or repair.”

     The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation awarded $160,800 to 13 projects located in 9 counties across Vermont.  The awards are as follows:
     

      • Sudbury Meeting House, Sudbury   $15,000 for steeple restoration
      • Baptist Building, Fairfax    $15,000 for slate roof replacement
      • Village Foot Bridge, Northfield   $15,000 for structural repair
      • Grand Isle Lake House, Grand Isle   $10,200 for porch/foundation repair
      • Wallingford Town Hall, Wallingford   $10,000 for window restoration
      • Shard Villa, Salisbury     $15,000 for stone repointing
      • Old Meetinghouse, Sheffield    $     950 for sill and clapboard repair
      • Lunenburg Town Hall, Lunenburg   $10,000 for foundation repair
      • Union Christian Church, Plymouth   $12,150 for roof replacement
      • Middlebury United Methodist Church, Middlebury $15,000 for trim and repointing
      • Windsor Public Library, Windsor   $12,500 for chimney and repointing
      • First Baptist Church, Manchester Center  $15,000 for roof and structure repair
      • Southern Vermont Recreation Center, Springfield $15,000 for roof replacement


    Since 1987 the Division of Historic Preservation has managed this program with over 130 grants awarded to town halls, historical societies, libraries, churches and other buildings deemed to be historically significant.  This year 63 grant applications requesting a total of $779,317 in historic preservation projects.

     

    Community Store Initiative
    by Neeta McCullouch, National Trust for Historic Preservation

    Building upon the success of the Local Storekeeper Award program, which ran from 1996 to 2000, the Preservation Trust of Vermont and the Vermont Country Store, a Vermont-based catalogue business with two retail outlets, have embarked on a new program, the Community Store Initiative. Designed to help independently owned village stores, the program is comprised of four parts: Community Store Advisors, Storekeeper Retreat, Community Store Transitions and financial support.

    At the request of a storekeeper, the Preservation Trust assembles a team of local storekeepers and retail consultants who spend a day at the store, learning about it and the specific issues of concern to the owner. The team offers suggestions and shares its experiences. To follow up, they prepare a report with possible solutions for problems and ideas about how to help the store move forward. After their onsite visit, mentors are just a phone call away to help with future issues.

    The second part of the program is a two-day retreat that the Preservation Trust is hosting for storekeepers to give them an opportunity to share experiences and challenges, and to learn from each other. The retreat is open to all storekeepers and should provide a unique opportunity for hearing case studies and getting advice and feedback.

    Community Store Transitions helps develop new solutions and partnerships for local storekeepers and communities facing such difficult transitions as the sale of a store, declining business or the closing of a store. The program helps to facilitate a community-wide discussion about solutions to these and other  dilemmas and provides funds for consulting assistance as needed.

    The final part of the new initiative involves finding financial resources to help implement the solutions reached by the Community Store Transitions. The Preservation Trust cannot provide all the funds necessary, but they do try to provide enough support for seed money to get a project started.

    Village stores are a unique part of Vermont’s heritage, and the Preservation Trust of Vermont and its partners are working to make sure that this tradition continues for future generations.

    For more information, please contact Paul Bruhn at the Preservation Trust of Vermont (paul@ptvermont.org, 802-658-6647).

    News on Act 250 from the Vermont Natural Resources Council
    On Thursday, February 19, House and Senate Conferees in the Vermont Legislature came to preliminary agreement on a "permit reform" package, after months of wrangling over how to consolidate appeals for local, state, and Act 250 permits.  Lead negotiators for each body reached across the table to shake hands, thereby signaling a new chapter in Vermont¹s landmark environmental law, Act 250.  The Vermont Natural Resources Council, which has defended Act 250 since its inception, views the agreement as a bittersweet blessing.

    The final package included:

    • Consolidation of all local, state, and Act 250 permit appeals to Environmental Court;
    • A consolidated citizen board to deal with policy issues;
    • An updated definition of which interests can be granted party status in Act 250;
    • Appeals to the Vermont Supreme Court for all parties;
    • An overhaul of Vermont's local permitting system;
    • Provisions for voluntary "scoping" hearings to help consolidate review.


    The tentative agreement will not impair the ability of Vermonters to get involved in the development review process to protect our natural resources and our communities.  Nevertheless, an important part of Vermont's heritage has been lost.  For over 30 years, Vermont's citizen appeal boards have afforded regular Vermonters the opportunity to make decisions about how development will forever change the character of our landscape.

    The nine member Environmental Board has presided over Act 250 appeals, and the five member Water Resources Board has adjudicated water related permits issued by the state.  Now both have been replaced with an experimental environmental court.   VNRC believes that if this experiment goes awry, Vermont¹s economy will bear the brunt of the failure.

    So is it worth it?

    Ten years ago, members of the Environmental Board, including VNRC executive director Elizabeth Courtney, were ousted by the Vermont Senate without hearings or justification.  That move sent a chilling message to the citizen appointees: your position is in jeopardy if you neglect to make pro-development decisions.  As a result, the decision-making process for Act 250 appeals has become increasingly politicized.

    This past December, Governor Douglas pushed rule changes through the Environmental Board that would make it far more difficult for regular Vermonters to get involved in the Act 250 process.  These rules are in place until new legislation becomes effective.

    And if past appointments are any indication of what's to come, new selections for the Water Resources Board may diminish the balance that's needed for objective appeals.

    So, without agreement on new legislation, Vermont would be left with restrictive party status rules, no safe place to take appeals, and no opportunity to appeal bad decisions to the Vermont Supreme Court.  The current state of affairs made it clear that it was time to move on.

    The Senate held firm on principles important to the environmental community, and House negotiators agreed to a benign package that included key provisions supported by VNRC.  For their respective roles, both deserve
    credit.

    Most of the credit, however, goes to the citizens across Vermont who made it known to their elected officials that our long-term commitment to environmental protection is too precious to be sacrificed for short-term political gain.  So, to all of the Vermonters who have stood shoulder to shoulder with VNRC to defend Act 250, you are the heroes.

    Unfortunately, VNRC believes that a golden opportunity was missed to address the real problems in Vermont's development review process which include insufficient planning, lack of coordination and implementation among permitting authorities, and negligible foresight into the long-term environmental impacts of development.  These issues are being addressed in S.286, a bill that is currently being considered by the Vermont Senate, and is supported by VNRC.  The fate of S.286 is uncertain.

    In the next few weeks, there will be significant attention focussed on the details of the tentative compromise.  The draft bill will be picked apart line by line.  The bill must then be ratified by both the full House and Senate before it reaches the Governor¹s desk.  Vermonters should stand ready to contact their legislators in order to ensure that the intent of House and Senate conferees is reflected in the final version.
     

    Landscape Change Program
    After 6 months of work, the UVM Geology Department is ready to launch the new Landscape
    Change Program web page. It can be found at

    http://www.uvm.edu/perkins/landscape/

    The Landscape Change Program is a digital archive of Vermont images that documents landscape change over time using historical imagery paired where and when we can with modern images of the same sites. We now have more than 1800 images in the archive representing many towns throughout the state; more images are coming on line everyday. Our search engine allows you to find images using any combination of keywords, location, or date. The work you see has been supported by grants from both the National Science Foundation and the Lintilhac Foundation.

    We are continuing to work with schools and historical societies to collect any and all Vermont images of landscapes as they were and as they are. The newly developed web software allows anyone to submit an image and image description making this truly a community archive. If you have any interesting images of Vermont landscapes, give it a try! Submit your image from the program web page and in a few days, it too will be part of the archive.

    We hope that the site will be both interesting and useful to you. If you teach, please consider using the site in your classes, having students both search for and upload images. If you have a collection of images, please consider uploading them or be in touch with us and we may be able to help with scanning. We also have computers, scanners, GPS units and digital cameras that can be lent for the purpose of acquiring images for the program.

    If you need help with imagery or want to know more about getting involved in the project, please contact any of the project staff via either the project email glcp@uvm.edu or contact Paul Bierman (Professor, pbierman@zoo.uvm.edu).
     

     
NATIONAL NEWS

Historic Preservation and Transportation Agencies Find Common Ground to Safeguard America's Heritage

Capping a long battle to save Section 4(f), the strongest legislative protection for historic places, Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, today announced that an agreement had been reached between the Trust and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. With the help of Senator George V. Voinovich (R-OH) and the Ohio Department of Transportation, an amendment has been developed that would streamline preservation reviews of transportation projects while continuing to protect historic places.

"The National Trust is grateful to Senator Voinovich and the Ohio Department of Transportation for taking a leadership role in reaching out to a variety of stakeholders to develop this consensus position on Section 4(f)," said Richard Moe. "The National Trust fully supports this amendment as it relates to historic sites and the preservation community joins us in that endorsement, including our partners Preservation Action and the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers. We also want to acknowledge the tireless and effective support of Senators Warner, Jeffords, and Chafee as we have worked to protect America's heritage."

The 1966 Department of Transportation Act included Section 4(f) to require transportation officials to give paramount consideration to the protection of historic properties in planning their projects. This amendment would ensure that Section 4(f) works effectively to avoid potential harm to historic properties, while encouraging transportation officials and historic preservation agencies to work together to reduce bureaucratic paperwork for projects with truly minimal impacts on historic places. The amendment would not apply to transportation projects that adversely affect historic places and would leave fully intact the strong standards of protection for historic places that transportation law presently provides. The foundation for this agreement was laid in during a major transportation and historic preservation conference in Lexington, Kentucky in June of 2002.

Since becoming law in 1966 Section 4(f) has stopped plans for highways that would have severed the Mississippi riverfront from the historic French Quarter of New Orleans, devastated Overton Park in Memphis, Tennessee, and protected countless other historic places and neighborhoods from being bulldozed. The law enabled citizens in Baltimore to persuade officials to build a tunnel under Baltimore harbor instead of a massive bridge that would have loomed above Fort McHenry, birthplace of our national anthem, and destroyed thousands of homes in neighborhoods throughout the area.
 

National Issues Explained
If you have an interest in the status of national historic preservation issues, Preservation Action recently posted one page information sheets which highlight specific preservation issues and initiatives.  There are seven legislative briefings available:

  • Historic Preservation Fund (general);
  • Historic Preservation Fund (SHPO funding);
  • Historic Barn Preservation Program;
  • Presidential Sites;
  • Congressional Preservation Caucus;
  • Transportation Enhancements; and
  • The Conservation Trust Fund.
All briefings are available on the webpage in pdf format.  They are also available upon request in a Microsoft Word format if you wish to edit or individualize the briefings.  Please go to this link to view the information sheets:  http://www.preservationaction.org/04lobbyday/Briefings.htm

For more information about Preservation Action, or if you are interested in representing Vermont on the Board of Directors, please contact Ann Cousins: ann@ptvermont.org or (802)434-5014.
 

"Index of Destination Stewardship":  Vermont Ranks 6th in the World
According to a complex global survey undertaken by National Geographic's Sustainable Tourism Initiative, Vermont has ranked # 6 in the world on the Index of Destination Stewardship.  The index is published in the March 2004 issue of the National Geographic Traveler magazine.

Based on the results of extensive surveys of over 200 experts in a variety of fields, the index evaluates factors such as environmental and ecological quality, social and cultural integrity, condition of any historic buildings and archaeological sites, aesthetic appeal, quality of tourism management, and outlook for the future.  The survey looked at 115 of the world's best known tourist destinations.

Put simply, the index attempts to unravel which of the world's greatest places are still great, in light of development, pollution, globalization and mass tourism -- and which of these places has a good chance of retaining their cultural, environmental and aesthetic integrity.

Vermont ranks #1 in the United States, followed by Charleston SC, historic center and the Colorado Rockies, the Maine Coast and Yellowstone (all tied for #9).  The Norwegian fjords ranked #1.

For more information, check out the March 2004 issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine, available on newsstands. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/
 

Historic School Day
The Council on Education Facilities and International (CEFPI), a trade organization of the providers, users and builders of school facilities will be promoting a national recognition of schools in April 2004.  As part of this week-long promotion, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, in cooperation with the National Park Service, will co-sponsor “Historic School Day,” April 20, 2004.

The National Trust and the National Park Service are working with the 2003 National Association of Social Studies “Teacher of the Year” to develop lesson plans that will allow teachers to use the history of their school as part of teaching the standard curriculum. Links will be made between CEFPI, the National Trust, the National Park Service and other web sites that can expand the reach of the teachers and the students.  Lesson plans will be available on the Trust’s web site, the NPS web site and CEFPI’s web site beginning in March 2004.  Please encourage your school to participate and look for the links that will allow students and teachers to post their completed projects!

For more information, contact Kate Stevenson at Kate_stevenson@nthp.org or 202-588-6358
 
 
 

    PUBLICATIONS & RESOURCES
    What the Experts May Not Tell You About Building or Renovating Your Home
    by Amy Johnston.  This book is the survival guide for anyone wanting to make a dream house a reality.  Available in bookstores on April 1st. Book signing at the Barnes & Noble on Dorset St. in So. Burlington on Tuesday, April 27th at 7:00 pm.


    Amy Johnston is the founder of the Dreamhouse Institute.  Its mission is to help homeowners get construction projects built from smart to finish. Through it's seminars, web site links, helpful hints and books, you can gain the knowledge and strategies essential to success. You can excel in the professional culture of architects, general contractors, materials and budgets. You can be an active and successful participant in your own building project. Unlike other sources of information on this subject, Dreamhouse Institute is not underwritten by any construction or architectural associations, suppliers or manufacturers. This business is based on consumer advocacy for homeowners and led by one who has been in your shoes hundreds of times.

    For more information, visit the Dreamhouse Institute website:  www.dreamhouseinstitute.com.
     
     

    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!

     


    GRANTS and FUNDING

    Downs Rachlin Martin Community Fund
    To celebrate the firm's 50th Anniversary in 2000, Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC created the DRM Community Fund. Since its inception, the program has supported more than 80 community-based projects throughout our service area. DRM Community Fund grants have encouraged innovative grass-roots programs in the arts and education totaling $75,000 to date. This year, DRM will award approximately 25 grants of up to $1,000 each to non-profit organizations in Vermont and western New Hampshire to help stimulate economic growth.

    For questions regarding applications forms and more information visit: http://www.drm.com/newstand/fund/community_fund_2004criteria.asp or call Heidi Meyer-Bothling at 802-748-8324.

     


    EDUCATION and TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

    2004 Preservation Retreats at the Grand Isle Lake House.
    Make plans now to participate in one of the Preservation Trust's retreats at the Grand Isle Lake House!  Participating groups should be prepared to present a 10- to 15-minute case study about a particular challenge or project they're working on, and to use the case study to frame a questions or problem that needs to be addressed in order to move a project along.  The retreats are for sharing ideas, solving problems, and getting together with others who are working on similar kinds of projects.

    For more information or to talk about a possible project of case study, please contact Ann Cousins (802) 434-5014. ann@ptvermont.org or Doug Porter (802)644-2815  doug@ptvermont.org.  For a preview of the Grand Isle Lake House, visit our Web site http://www.ptvermont.org/grand_isle_lake_house.htm.

    The 2004 retreats will take place on the following dates:

    • May 17-18
    • June 21-22
    • Aug 10-11
    • Sep 13-14 for churches.  Tuomi Forrest from Partners for Sacred Places will be joining us again!
    • Oct 12-13


    The retreats are $75 per person for a shared room, $100 per person for a single room.  All meals are included.
     

    Diversity Scholarship Program
    Applications are now available for the National Preservation Conference 2004 Diversity Scholarship Program formerly known as the Emerging Preservation Leaders (EPL) Program. The Diversity Scholarship Program seeks to increase the diversity of participants at the National Preservation Conference and in the preservation movement. The program provides financial assistance (scholarships) to help community and cultural leaders, students and other professionals from diverse racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds participate in the National Preservation Conference.

    Participants will gain knowledge and tools to strengthen their ability to preserve historic places and revitalize their communities through plenary, educational and field sessions, and discussion groups. Scholarship awards will pay for registration and accommodation costs.

    For more information: www.nthpconference.org/Generalinfo/#scholarships; or by email at scholarships@nthp.org; the faxback service by dialing (202) 588-6444 document #9006; or by calling (843) 722-8552 and asking for CarolynGraham.
     

    Ethan Allen Homestead Talks
    Vermont Historical Society Director Kevin Graffagnino will be the featured speaker on Sunday, March 7.  His topic, entitled "A Hard Founding Father to Love: Ira Allen of Vermont," examines Ira's checkered career and his involvement in the development of the Champlain Valley.  While a significant figure in 18th century Vermont, Ira is not nearly as famous or fondly remembered as his older brother, Ethan.  Dr. Graffagnino, a former Homestead trustee, will provide an unusual and often humorous insight into this complex character from our state's colorful past.

    Author Willard Sterne Randall will visit the Homestead on Sunday, March 28.  Professor Randall, Historical-Scholar-In-Residence at Champlain College, is currently working on the definitive biography of Ethan Allen.  His talk, co-sponsored by the Champlain Heritage Society, will highlight the"Shays Rebellion" with commentary on the main figures involved: Ethan Allen, Alexander Hamilton and Daniel Shays.  The author of several books on American patriots, Professor Randall will have paperback copies of Alexander Hamilton - A Life for signing and purchase at the museum.

    Both presentations, which are free to the public, will take place in the Homestead's re-created 18th century tavern at 2:00 p.m.  Seating is limited, so be sure and call the Homestead office at (802) 865-4556 to make reservations.

    Located off Route 127 in Burlington's Intervale, one mile north of the city center, Ethan Allen Homestead is part of a system of public parks owned by the Winooski Valley Park District. The Homestead Trust is a private, not-for-profit organization that operates the park's museum and historic site.
     

    Transferring the Farm Workshop
    During Spring 2004, farm families will have the opportunity to learn about transferring the farm in a day-long workshop offered in 4 locations throughout New England, thanks to a grant from the Northeast Center for Risk Management Education.

    The workshop will help farmers navigate the farm transfer process and will include presentations by farmers, extension specialists, attorneys, and land link and land trust personnel. Topics will include: elements to consider when transferring the farm to the next generation--whether they be related or not; communicating for success; goal setting with the family and farm in mind; keys to estate and retirement planning; tools to transfer labor, management and farm assets; and the roles that farm link programs and land trusts can play in farm transfers. The program will also include a panel of farmers who will share their personal experiences with farm transfers.

    Transferring the Farm will be offered in four sites: Maine State Grange Hall in Augusta, ME on March 17; Urban Forestry Center in Portsmouth, NH on March 18; Sturbridge Host Hotel in Sturbridge, MA on March 31; and South Station Restaurant in Rutland, VT on April 1.

    Registration for each workshop will begin at 8 a.m. The program is scheduled from 8:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  The workshop fee, which includes registration, a workshop packet and lunch, is $15 per person if postmarked before March 3. After March 3, the fee is $25 per person. Checks should be made payable to: "UVM" and mailed to: Transferring the Farm Workshops, UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture, 63 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT  05405

    The workshops are offered by a partnership of the following organizations: University of Vermont (UVM) Extension, University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, Land Link Vermont at UVM's Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Maine Farm Link, New England Small Farm Institute, University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension System, and University of Maine Extension.

    For a workshop brochure or more information, please contact Debra Heleba at (802) 656-0233 or debra.heleba@uvm.edu. Anyone requiring special accommodations or scholarship help to attend, should call (802) 656-0233.
     

    National History Day Summer Institute
    Applications are due March 15 to participate in the annual National History Day summer institute.  The sessions are developed for history or social science teachers and others working with students in grades 6-12.  The institute will be July 25-30.  This year's topic is "Politics and the Press: The Influence of the Media on History."  Applications and information are available online.  http://nationalhistoryday.org
     

    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.

    Preservation Education Institute Calendar Listings
    The Preservation Education Institute offers workshops throughout the year in preservation skills, technology, and practice for building professionals, property owners and others.  For information visit www.preservationworks.org or call (802) 674-6752 or write PO Box 1777 Windsor, VT 05089-0021.  The Preservation Education Institute is a program of Historic Windsor, Inc., a 501 c 3 nonprofit.
     

      Care and Repair of Historic Barns, Tuesday, April 20, 2004 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Hynes Auditorium,
      Boston, MA.
      $125 bring your lunch The Preservation Education Institute will hold a daylong session on the maintenance and repair of historic barns and related agricultural buildings.  Join Jan Lewandoski, Arron Sturgis, and Tom Visser for slide-illustrated lectures on the evolution of farm buildings’ form and function, practical advice on conditions assessments, and case studies of repairs, stabilization, and maintenance planning. This program precedes the Restoration and Renovation Exhibition and Conference, April 21-24, 2004. Visit www.restorationandrenovation.com for details.

      Revealing Decorative Paint, Friday and Saturday, May 14-15, 2004, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
      A special behind the scenes program at Ascutney Church, Ascutney, Vermont.  Join Conservator Sara Chase for a two-day program to reveal and document free-hand painting and stenciling. Help the Church decide whether to integrate the historic designs into its interior today or document and cover it.  $50 bring your own lunch.
       

      Dates Pending

      • American Building Design and Technology
      • Paint: Historic and Contemporary Materials and Practice
      • Repointing Brick Masonry
      • Structural Evaluation & Repair: Timber Frame
      • Preservation Philosophy for People Who Maintain Old Buildings


    Register Now!  Early registration is appreciated so that the workshop is guaranteed to run. The Preservation Education Institute, A Division of Historic Windsor, Inc., PO BOX 1777, WINDSOR VT 05089-0021.  802-674-6752, 802-674-6179 FAX,  histwininc@valley.net, www.preservationworks.org.
     

     


    OPPORTUNITIES for EMPLOYMENT & VOLUNTEER WORK

    Library Director, Pember Library and Museum, Granville, NY
    Serve as head of the Pember Library. This position involves responsibility for library operations, administrative tasks, library personnel and reporting directly to the Executive Director. Contact Patricia Bailey, Executive Director at pember@adelphia.net for further information.

For more information about Historic Vermont, to subscribe or to unsubscribe to the email version, or to submit something for publication please contact Meg Campbell, Editor. ptv@sover.net

HOME | CONTACT US | MORE ABOUT PTV

The Preservation Trust of Vermont | 104 Church Street | Burlington, VT   05401
Phone: 802-658-6647 | Fax: 802-658-0576
email: paul@ptvermont.org