HISTORIC VERMONT
An On-line News Journal about the Preservation of Vermont’s
Historic Architecture and Landscape
Number 35 July 2004
Published by the Preservation Trust of
Vermont, 104 Church Street, Burlington, VT 05401
http://www.ptvermont.org
COMMENTARY
Endangered Vermont: Compromise will Produce a Great
Solution
by Paul Bruhn, Executive Director of the Preservation
Trust of Vermont
Once again the National Trust for Historic
Preservation has given Vermont a wake up call. It's a gift that
we should use well. We were put atop the National Trust's list
of Eleven Most Endangered Historic Places because of the threat
of mega big boxes and Wal-Mart's desire to build seven 150,000
square foot stores around the state.
What's the threat? Disinvestment in downtowns,
sprawl, undermining the sense of community and loss of civic
discourse that comes with great public places (this issue isn't
just about dollars and cents), loss of locally owned businesses,
loss of local and regional identity, and undermining the Vermont
"brand."
Though we might sometimes take our special
place for granted, Vermont is worthy of extraordinary efforts to
make sure we grow in ways that do not undermine the essential
character of the state. In 2004 Vermont received another
designation -- National Geographic Traveler Magazine named
Vermont as one of the World's 50 Greatest Destinations. Only
nine places in all of North America were included in the list.
It would be hard to overstate the ultimate economic value of
being one of the World's Greatest Destinations.
That said, we do have a dilemma. Since several
Ames Stores closed a few years ago, residents in several
communities feel like they do not have places to buy basic
goods, close to home, at inexpensive prices. We absolutely
understand.
So how can those needs be met in a way that
does not undermine the vitality of our downtowns, spoil our
countryside, and destroy our locally owned economy?
One answer is within an hour or two from where
you live. In Rutland, there is a good compromise and a terrific
solution. It's a 70,000 square foot Wal-Mart located in the
center of downtown. We actually worked closely with Wal-Mart and
local officials to make the project happen in 1997. It's a
solution that meets consumer needs, strengthens the downtown,
and is small enough so that homegrown businesses can survive.
Similar solutions will work in other downtowns.
As special as Vermont is, it is also fragile.
Carefully done, we can have growth without spoiling our nest. We
can make sure that consumers have what they need, and strengthen
our downtowns and community centers. We can support our
homegrown, locally owned businesses. It's not easy work, but
with some hard work and a collaborative spirit, I bet we
can do it!
If we use the National Trust's gift wisely, we
can sort out a future for our communities and state which will
help us stay on the list of the World's Greatest Destinations.
Other Thoughts on Vermont
Additional commentaries on the National Trust for Historic
Preservation's designation of Vermont as an Endangered Place are
located on our website www.ptvermont.org.
All three commentaries were aired on Vermont Public Radio in the
month of June.
Endangered
Vermont?
By Tom Slayton, Editor of Vermont Life Magazine
A
Wake-Up Call on Wal-Mart
By Chester H. Liebs, landscape historian, professor emeritus
of history at UVM and founding director of the University's
Historic Preservation Program.
Endangered
Places
By Jay Parini, poet, novelist and biographer who teaches at
Middlebury College.
VERMONT NEWS
The Argosy Foundation to help the
community of Ferrisburg Preserve the Ferrisburg Grange Hall.
The Ferrisburg Select Board is pleased to report that the Argosy
Foundation [of Boston, Massachusetts] has awarded a $75,000
matching grant to the Preservation Trust of Vermont to support
the rehabilitation of the Ferrisburg Grange Hall for the town’s
new Town Offices and Community Center. The Argosy Foundation was
very impressed with the community's commitment to the project,
and was eager to support this important work.
One hundred and thirty four years ago a
beautiful new building was constructed in the center of the town
of Ferrisburg. Over the passage of time this building, a symbol
of this community, has stood and still stands, square and true,
a testament to the skill of the builders. Starting out life as a
Congregational Church, we know it today as the Ferrisburg Grange
Hall.
Today, the Ferrisburg Grange Hall, like so
many of Vermont’s historic buildings, is in need of major
restoration. At the same time, Ferrisburg town offices are in a
desperate need of enlargement. The plan that has evolved, after
a decade of significant citizen participation, is to establish a
new town office complex within the lower floor of the Grange
Hall and construct a new addition on the west end of the
building to house the new vault. The second floor would be
restored to a multi-use community center. The entire historic
building will be restored and continue to serve the town far
into the future.
At the 2004 Town Meeting, the citizens of the
Ferrisburg voted overwhelmingly to support a bond of $350,000
toward the projected $650,000 cost of the project. The State of
Vermont Division for Historic Preservation, the Housing and
Conservation Fund, The Preservation Trust of Vermont and
others have already provided financial support for the project.
The Ferrisburg Grange has donated the property to the town to
facilitate the preservation of this important landmark.
The Argosy Foundation's challenge grant is a
major contribution towards completing the project. Larry Simino,
chairman of the Ferrisburg Select Board responded “On behalf
of the citizens of Ferrisburg, we would like to express our
sincere appreciation to Argosy Foundation and the Preservation
Trust of Vermont for your efforts in obtaining this grant for
the preservation and renovation of the Grange Hall. Needless to
say, this assistance will have a major positive impact on our
ability to complete this exciting project.”
For More information, contact Paul Danyow at
(802) 425-2126.
Grants Awarded for Historic Agricultural
Buildings
Advisory Council Approves $155,000 to Preserve 19
Historical Structures
The Division for Historic Preservation has
awarded a total of $155,000 in grants to restore and repair 19
agricultural buildings with historic significance in 19
communities throughout Vermont. Criteria for funding
include the building's historic significance and condition, and
its value as a local landmark.
“Vermont is recognized internationally for
stewardship of both its natural and built environment.
Barns are an important part of working landscape and if we can
help owners keep them in use it benefits all Vermonters,” said
Jane Lendway, State Historic Preservation Officer.
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
awarded 19 of the 55 applicants in a highly competitive
selection process. The awards are as follows:
Thompson-Plunket Barn, Milton: $10,000
True-Love Farm Barn , Shaftsbury: $10,000
Bread & Puppet Theater, Glover: $5,000
Broad Meadow Farm Barn, Westminster: $10,000
Knapp-Pyles Barn, Jericho: $10,000
Bovin Farm Barn, Johnson: $1,750
Kennedy Barn & Silo, Glover: $10,000
Hook Barn, Jericho: $8,000
Karp Barn, Greensboro: $10,000
Elijah Wright Farm Barn, Shoreham: $10,000
Clark Granary, Cornwall: $4,456
Spotted Dog Farm Barn, Brandon: $7,500
Taylor Barn, Essex: $10,000
Red Farmhouse English Barn, Westminster: $10,000
Starr Farm Beach Barn, Burlington: $9,663
Marsh Brook Farm Barn, Rochester: $10,000
Boutin Dairy Barn, Williston: $10,000
Lyoncrest Farm Barn, Barton: $7,000
Robinson Sawmill, Calais: $2,443
The Great Preservation Trust Travel Raffle
Last year's Great Travel raffle fundraiser was so successful and
so much fun, that we're doing it again this year!
For $100, your name will be put into a drawing
to receive an all-expense paid National Trust for Historic
Preservation Study Tour or $10,000 in cash.
Runner-up prizes include a $500 gift
certificate to the Vermont Country Store; a $250 gift
certificate to the Inn at Shelburne Farms; tickets for two to
the July 2005 Vermont Mozart Festival concert at the Grand Isle
Lake House including dinner and overnight; tickets for two to
the August 2005 Sterling Weed Big Band Swing Dance at the Grand
Isle Lake House including dinner and overnight.
The drawing will take place Wednesday evening
August 11, 2004 at the Sterling Weed Big Band Dance at the Grand
Isle Lake House.
To purchase a ticket, contact meg@ptvermont.org
or call (802) 442-8951. For more details about the event,
visit our website http://www.ptvermont.org/travel_raffle.htm.
2004 Grand Isle Lake House Retreats
The Preservation Trust of Vermont's Lake House retreats are for
groups working on an historic preservation or community
revitalization project. These retreats are a group mentoring
experience where each group is asked to present a 10 to 15
minute case study about a challenge they're facing related to
their project, followed by group discussion and
brainstorming/cross mentoring. The whole idea is to bring people
together from around the state who are working on similar kinds
of projects in order to take advantage of the collective
experience and thinking. In addition, we have resource
people at each retreat to join in the discussion. We try
to have about 6-8 groups of 2-4 people representing each
project. The goal is to boost projects along their timeline by
strategically identifying resources, solving problems, garnering
peer support, and generating self-confidence and momentum.
2004 Retreat Dates:
Aug. 10,11
Sept. 13,14 (emphasis on churches)
Oct. 12,13
Check-in at the Lake House is 3:00 and we finish
by 2:00 the following afternoon. The Gannett Foundation and
Burlington Free Press are generously underwriting the retreats
so that the cost to participants for room and three meals is
$75/person for a shared room, $100 for a single. There are a
limited number of single rooms available on a first-come
basis. For a preview of the Lake House, please see our web
site: http://www.ptvermont.org/lh_booklet.htm.
The retreats are part of the Preservation
Trust's Field Service Program, a partnership of the Preservation
Trust of Vermont and National Trust for Historic
Preservation. For more information, please contact our
Field Representatives:
Ann Cousins @ 802-434-5014; ann@ptvermont.org
or Doug Porter @ 802-644-2815; doug@ptvermont.org
A Letter from A Friend
Dear the Preservation Trust of Vermont,
Four members of the 9-member committee attended
the Grand Isle Retreat in May of 2003 to explore ideas on how
to structure our fund raising campaign to restore two former
historic school buildings. One schoolhouse is now used
as the Rupert Town Office; the other building houses the
Rupert Historical Society and the R.K. Kittay Public
Library. These uses greatly benefit the community, but
are in disrepair. They are both on the State Registry of
Historic Sites.
The committee used many ideas gleaned from
the Grand Isle Retreat, such as preparing a packet to quietly
solicit funds from a selected list of residents (50 people)
one on one before ‘going public’ with any general
fund raising. The packet contained a cover letter,
biography of each committee member, architect's findings (need
for project), cost estimate of each item in need of repair,
and a donation page with pledges for future years. We raised
approximately $34,000 before the end of the year. We
have since held a bake sale, sold tee-shirts with the logo
designed by one of Rupert’s young people, prepared several
grant applications, (have received a $5000 grant toward
installation of an elevator to the second floor Historical
Society), sent out a general solicitation letter that included
alumni of the Rupert schools, and have received several
in-kind donations of labor and services. A major silent
auction is in preparation for the fall of 2004.
The Preservation Trust has done a great
service for Vermont by holding the Grand Isle Retreat.
It gave us the encouragement we needed to get started. So many
small communities with such willing volunteers shared their
efforts and results with the retreat group that we went home
with eagerness and resolve that has been constant
throughout this past year and will continue.
Thank you and the staff of Vermont
Preservation Trust.
Thelma Georgeson
Rupert, VT
Vermont State Historic Sites Open for the Season
On Saturday, May 29, the Vermont state-owned historic sites open
for the 2004 season. These beautifully preserved gems tell
the story of Vermont and our nation--from the first inhabitants
to the Vermonter who became our 30th president. Plan to
visit this year and explore our fascinating past. Many
special events are scheduled throughout the year.
Vermont's history goes back further than you
may think. Exhibits in Addison's c.1780 Chimney Point
Tavern on Lake Champlain recount the 12,000-year-old story of
Native Americans as well as our French
heritage, starting with lakeside settlement in the 1730s.
Did you know Vermont played a key role in
American independence? Orwell's Mount Independence, the nation's
best-preserved Revolutionary War site, was built in 1776 to
protect America against British invasion from the north.
When the British captured it in July 1777 American troops
retreated to Hubbardton, where Green Mountain Boys fought to
enable the main American force to head southward. This
scenic Battlefield is hallowed ground, the site of Vermont's
only Revolutionary War battle.
On August 16 Americans successfully fought
British troops trying to capture desperately needed supplies in
Bennington. These battles led to victory that October at
Saratoga and to American independence. The 306 foot
Bennington Battle Monument, the state's tallest structure, was
completed in 1891 and offers glorious views from the top.
Did you know Vermont's Constitution, signed on
July 8, 1777, at a Windsor tavern (the Old Constitution House),
was the first to prohibit slavery, authorize a public school
system, and establish universal manhood suffrage?
Did you know the 1783 Hyde Log Cabin in Grand Isle is probably
America's oldest log cabin and the 1785-90 Eureka Schoolhouse in
Springfield is Vermont's oldest school?
Did you know millions of Americans owe their
higher education to Strafford's Justin Smith Morrill, whose acts
in the U.S. House and Senate established the land grant
colleges? The outstanding 1840s Gothic
Revival style homestead Morrill designed looks much as he left
it.
Two U.S. presidents were native Vermonters-did
you know? Fairfield's Chester Alan Arthur (b.1829) became
president upon the fatal shooting of James Garfield and was a
champion of civil rights and civil service reform. The
Arthur site commemorates his life and career. America's
best-preserved presidential site is the rural village of
Plymouth Notch. Calvin Coolidge, born here in 1872, also became
president here in a dramatic early morning inauguration on
August 3, 1923, after President Harding's death.
You're invited to explore this fascinating
heritage. For more information about hours of operation or
for a calendar of events, contact John Dumville, 802-828-3051, john.dumville@state.vt.us
or visit the sites online at www.HistoricVermont.org.
Thank You to All Who Helped with the
Conference!
Thank you to all 225+ people who helped with and attended
the May 21st Historic Preservation Conference in Bellows
Falls. It was a delightful and inspiring day.
Special thanks to Conference Coordinator Robert McBride whose
capacity for getting one of the most creative conferences off
the ground exceeded all expectations!
Two awards were presented at the conference,
one to architect Daniel V. Scully for the Bellows Falls Waypoint
Interpretive Center. The Waypoint Interpretive Center of
the Connecticut River Scenic Byway is exceptional architecture
that not only captures the spirit of Bellows Falls – its
history and its renewal – but also sets a new standard for
contemporary design that respects the past while looking towards
the future. Stretching across the building is a
powerful symbol of Bellows Falls history. The 145 foot
long steel bridge brings back to memory the beloved Walpole
Bridge, built in 1905 and destroyed in 1982. Beneath the
bridge, the Center – with its railroad station features
- surges forward behind the pull of an “engine.” The
Waypoint Interpretive Center provides “renewal with a sense of
style.”
The second award, the William Pinney Award,
was presented to Senator Vince Illuzi for his longstanding
and tenacious support of Vermont's historic resources,
downtowns, and community-based organizations
involved with historic preservation activity, as well as his
efforts to minimize sprawl, concentrate state buildings
in downtowns, and work for the continued use of historic schools
for educational purposes.
The award was created in honor of William
Pinney who passed away this spring. Bill was hired in 1967
and appointed Vermont's first SHPO, serving until his retirement
in 1983. He started the Vermont state survey of historic
resources, Vermont's National Register Program and grants
program. He is responsible for construction of the visitor
center at the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site in
Plymouth, and instrumental in the acquisition of Mt.
Independence and Chimney Point, important historic sites. In
1975 he shepherded the Vermont Historic Preservation Act
through the Legislature, creating the Division for Historic
Preservation. He was a strong advocate for community
preservation in Washington and as a result, Vermont received a
proportionately high share of federal funding to state historic
preservation offices for preservation projects in the 1970s and
1980s.
In 1976 Vermonters embraced the celebration of
the nation's bicentennial, and the Division for Historic
Preservation, under Bill's leadership, restored over 100
buildings throughout the state from Bellows Falls to Bennington,
to Burlington to Brattleboro with a landmark $1.2 million grant
from the Economic Development Administration. This project put
unemployed carpenters and other building trades back to work,
demonstrating that rehab is labor intensive and resource
conserving. Bill will be remembered for his tenacity in standing
up for the laws that will protect our historic barns, houses,
theaters, and commercial buildings for many generations to come.
Mark your calendar now for next year's
conference to be held on Friday, May 6th, 2005 in Bennington.
Found at the Conference
Did you lose a pair of tortoise shell sunglasses in the
downstairs bathroom of the Town Hall theatre -- the one by the
Women's Club? If so, contact Scott McArdle to claim them: smcardle@vermontcf.org.
802-388-3355
New Exhibit Opening at American
Precision Museum
The American Precision Museum in Windsor, Vermont presents a new
exhibit Building for Invention: The Machine Shops on Mill
Brook. The exhibit traces the history of operations at the
Robbins and Lawrence Armory and immediate neighborhood on both
sides of the Mill Brook, a hotbed of invention since the early
19th Century.
The exhibit opens on Saturday May 29.
Building for Invention will introduce visitors
to the 1846 Armory building that houses the museum, and how the
museums collections came to hold such an important place in our
country's industrial history. At this site, Robbins and Lawrence
were the first to achieve interchangeability of parts on a fully
practical level, providing the basis for all subsequent mass
production of machine products. They created systematic
improvement and refinement of existing standard and
special-purpose machine tools, enabling them to perform with the
close-limit precision essential for repeatability and thus
interchangeability. This important story will be expanded in the
exhibit, using reproductions of historic maps, photographs,
advertisements, architectural drawings, and key artifacts from
the collection including shop drawings from the museums
archives. The exhibit ties in with the museums current focus,
the restoration of the Armory, a National Historic Landmark.
The Armory is a classic example of a New
England mill building, and many of its distinctive features are
intact. The exhibit encourages discovery of the Armorys
significant architectural elements and why they merit
preservation. Last November, the prestigious Save Americas
Treasures program awarded the museum a matching grant of
$200,000 to kick off the restoration. The immediate focus is on
a new slate roof to match the deteriorated original, and
restoration of the Armorys 166 historic windows. Ann Lawless,
the Museums director since March 2003, says We are very close to
our $400,000 goal, needed to complete the roof project in the
2004 construction season. We look forward to opening our doors
to share the story of our buildings past, present, and its
future with the museums visitors.
Additional displays in the main exhibit hall
feature the largest collection of historically significant
machine tools in the nation, tracing their evolutionary
development from the earliest period. See planers, lathes,
milling machines, rifles, models, and a working 19th century gun
shop. Visit the children's activity area, the gift shop, and
relax on the terrace overlooking the historic falls of Mill
Brook.
Open daily 10-5 May 29-Oct 31. $6 adults. PO
Box 679, 196 Main St., Windsor VT 05089. On US Route 5, between
Exits 8 and 9 off I91, at the south end of Windsors historic
village center, just south of the Cornish Windsor Covered
Bridge. 802-674-5781.
info@americanprecision.org.
www/americanprecision.org.
Northern Forest Partnership Small Grants Program
The North East State Foresters Association and the Northern
Forest Center are pleased to announce the first Northern Forest
Partnership Small-Grants Program.
The Northern Forest Partnership Program is
jointly administered by the North East State Foresters
Association and the Northern Forest Center and made possible
through a grant from the USDA Forest Service Economic Action
Program and support from Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire.
The Partnership Program grants will support innovative,
community-generated projects that work in a forested landscape
to promote diverse and sustainable economies.
The Partnership Program has $70,000 available
for grants of up to $5,000 to support projects that strengthen
local economies, communities and the environment. Non-profits,
local government entities, and businesses are eligible to
apply. Application deadline is June 30th, 2004.
Applications and guidelines are available on-line at www.northernforest.org.
It is the intent of the Northern Forest
Partnership Program to announce decisions by September 1.
The North East State Foresters Association is
the State Foresters of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New
York cooperating with the US Forest Service State & Private
Forestry. NEFA works to encourage sound decisions about the
management and use of forest resources across Maine, New
Hampshire, Vermont and New York by identifying significant
regional trends, broadening awareness of forest health and
sustainability issues, providing a regional context for state
and local decisions about forest resources, and analyzing the
environmental, social, and economic impacts of forest land use.
The Northern Forest Center is a private,
non-profit organization that mobilizes people to build healthy
communities, economies, and ecosystems by working together
across the Northern Forest region.
Questions should be directed to Heather
Cowenhoven at 603-229-0679 or hcowenhoven@northernforest.org.
Restoration Begins of Marshfield's
Martin Bridge
The Martin Bridge (1890), the state's last agricultural bridge,
was recently lifted off its deteriorated abutments with a crane
and set on the river bank to await restoration. John
Johnson, President of the Marshfield Historical Society, reports
that the research, planning and grant writing phases are in
place for the principal structural restoration of the bridge and
its field stone and granite abutments.
Do you have good news from your town you'd
like to share with others around the state? Send your news
to meg@ptvermont.org and
we'll include it in the next newsletter!
National Register News
The National Park Service has recently listed the following
Vermont properties on the National Register of Historic Places.
Alice Lord Goodine House, Groton
This 2 1/2 story, clapboarded, gable roofed building has a mix
of Greek Revival, Queen Anne, and Colonial Revival style
details. It was built in two distinct sections, a main c. 1840
Greek Revival block with distinctive central entry, set
perpendicular to the street and faced with a c. 1920
storefront on the first floor with porch above. The
second section is a c. 1877 4 X 3 bay vernacular Queen
Anne ell with bay window and a Colonial Revival style
porch. A two-story c. 1877 barn is attached to the rear
corner of the main block. Located on VT State Route 302,
in the center of the village of Groton, the building, which
was originally one story and faced the road, was a tavern and
inn during the 1840s-1870s. In the 1870s the roof
was raised and the building was turned 90 degrees. It then
became the home over the years of three prominent local
families. The storefront added in the 1920s allowed the
residing family to operate a home business. The building and
its periods of construction capture the predominant
architectural styles, building trends, and periods of economic
vitality in Groton Village. The building is being rehabbed for
affordable housing and is a Rehabilitation Investment Tax
Credit project.
J.R. Darling Store, Groton
This is a c.1895 large, two story, gable front, L-plan,
mixed-use building with vernacular Victorian influences
located on VT Route 302 in the center of Groton.
Attached to the main block is a large two-story gable roofed
c. 1899 rear ell. In 1914 large storefront windows flanking an
entrance, with a hip roofed porch with turned posts above,
were installed on the gable end of the main block, facing the
street. After the arrival of the railroad in 1873 Groton’s
population boomed as its lumber and granite industries were
able to access new markets and recreational activities at
nearby ponds flourished with the arrival of tourists by train.
This led to the need for more goods and services and resulted
in the construction of this building, which housed the town’s
third general store. The store continued its historic function
under various owners until 2003; the longest continuously
operating commercial building in the village of Groton. The
building is being rehabbed for affordable housing as well as
the reopening of the storefront for commercial activity and is
a Rehabilitation Investment Tax Credit project.
F.W. Wheeler House, Richford
This house is a wood frame, 2 ½ story, gable roofed,
vernacular Queen Anne style side-by-side duplex built in
1904. It is located in an early 20th century residential
neighborhood one block from Main Street in downtown Richford.
The interior contains an intact characteristic symmetrical
floor plan with original detailing and finishes, doors and
windows.
From 1890-1910 Richford’s population
increased by 40%, a result of thriving wood mills, saw mills,
and agricultural plants whose business exploded after the
arrival of the railroad in Richford in the 1870s. With the
influx of workers came a growing demand for housing and 60 new
houses were built in 1903/04. The most popular style for
these dwellings was the Queen Anne. This duplex is
representative of the housing constructed for workers during
the early 20th century in Richford. This building has
been recently rehabbed for use as affordable housing and was
an RITC project.
Richford Primary School, Richford
This 1903 school is a 2 story, brick veneer, gable roofed,
square plan, vernacular Italianate style building with a
modern two story, gable roofed, wood frame wing. The interior
is well preserved and retains original finishes. The large
entry hall remains intact with original suspended lights,
classroom doors, and main staircase. The school’s
Italianate style, while relatively outdated when the building
was constructed, compliments the style of Richford’s brick
commercial buildings that comprise its downtown district only
two blocks away.
The school was built in response to the 1892
Vermont law requiring the abolition of district schools and
consolidation of services, as well as the enforcement of
compulsory attendance laws. This was also a period when
Richford’s population was booming as new manufacturing
ventures attracted workers and created increased demand for
educational services. The building has recently been rehabbed
for senior housing and was an RITC project.
Sweat-Comings Company House, Richford
This vernacular, two story, hip roofed Colonial Revival style
duplex was built in 1909 and is located on the edge of a
residential neighborhood one half block from Main Street in
downtown Richford and across the street from the Sweat-Comings
Company complex.
The building was originally located next door to the
Sweat-Comings Company complex for use as a boarding house for
employees. In 1924, Sweat-Comings expanded and moved
this building across the street to its current site where it
was used as a dwelling for the Company watchman. The house was
built during a period of rapid industrial growth in Richford
and reflects early 20th century housing built in response to
this economic growth and associated influx of workers.
The building has been rehabbed for use as affordable housing
and was an RITC project.
Public Comments Welcome
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) intends to enter into a
Programmatic Agreement (PA) with the Vermont Division for
Historic Preservation and the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans)
regarding the delegation of reviews of FTA projects under
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and
invites comment from the public. The PA expands an
existing agreement with VTrans to include FTA projects.
FTA typically funds eligible capital and operating transit
related projects.
Under the proposed PA, historic preservation
professionals in VTrans will evaluate FTA projects as they do
now for FHWA and VTrans projects, identifying historic and
archeological resources, evaluating potential project impacts
and recommending actions to eliminate or minimize any potential
adverse impacts. The original PA with VTrans has been
hailed as a national model of environmental streamlining and
historic resource protection. To receive a copy of the
proposed PA, please contact Judi Molloy, Transportation Program
Specialist, Federal Transit Administration, 55 Broadway, Kendall
Square, Cambridge, MA 02142, or call 617-494-3488. The
deadline for receipt of comments to FTA is August 5, 2004.
NATIONAL
NEWS
Preservationists Win Big Victory!
Ten Percent Tax Credit Saved!
Senator Baucus (D-MT), a key member of the Senate Finance
Committee, has succeeded in removing the provision that would
have used the 10% tax rehabilitation credit as a revenue raiser
from the corporate tax bill (S.. 1637) currently on the Senate
floor. This is a major victory for historic preservation and
could not have been achieved without the support of all
preservation advocates who wrote to their Senators in opposition
of the provision. Preservationists are confident that the
provision will not be an issue again in the 108th Congress, but
are remaining vigilant as lawmakers continue to work through a
very heavy election year agenda full of tax items.
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!
EDUCATION and
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
Exploring Architecture Near and Far
Exploring the Rockingham Meeting House With Richard Ewald
Sunday, August 1, 2004, 1 PM
The Rockingham Meeting House has been
designated a National Historic Landmark within the National
Register of Historic Places. “Landmark” status is only
conferred on properties of exceptional historical value that
retain an abundance of architectural integrity.
Construction on the Meeting House began in 1787. It has
served the community of Rockingham ever since for church
services, town meetings, weddings and more.
Richard Ewald is an architectural historian
and writer. Richard is active in local preservation
projects in both professional and volunteer capacities. He
serves as Development Director for the Town of Rockingham.
Richard authored Preserving the Cultural Landscape of the
Connecticut River Valley and co-authored the National
Register Nomination of the Meeting House and recently
co-authored Proud to Live Here with Adair D. Mulligan.
Our event precedes the Annual Pilgrimage at
the Meeting House with a featured speaker to be announced at a
later date. Bring a bag lunch to picnic on the grounds of the
Rockingham Meeting House. Tour of the Meeting House and
Graveyard. Rockingham, Vermont Cost:
$12.00
HWI/PEI Members: $10.00
For more information, please contact: histwininc@valley.net,
802-674-6752.
Great Moments in America Tour
Thursday, August 19 to Saturday, August 21, 2004
The Preservation Education Institute and The Calvin Coolidge
Memorial Foundation cordially invite you to
experience the glory days of summer at the sites that sheltered
presidents.
Tour includes:
- all transportation
- two nights lodging in historic hotels
- two sumptuous breakfasts
- three luncheon buffets
- one dinner, seated and served at the
Wentworth
- admission and special tours to President
Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site, Franklin Pierce
Homestead, White Court, Boston Athenaeum, birthplace of JFK,
and John Adams National Historic Site
$645.00 per person (double occupancy-2 beds per room); $869.00
single occupancy. Both organizations are nonprofit and the
fee includes a tax-deductible donation of $50 per person to PEI/CCMF.
For more information, contact Cheryl at the
Preservation Education Institute, PO Box 1777, Windsor, VT
05089-0021, 802-674-6752.
OPPORTUNITIES
for EMPLOYMENT & VOLUNTEER WORK
Arts Education Coordinator, Vermont Arts
Exchange, North Bennington
Part- time position with a growing, non-profit community arts
organization. Tasks include coordinating artist residencies,
contracts and general administration. Excellent writing skills,
experience with mac and excel spreadsheets required. Salary
commensurate with experience. Send resume, cover letter, three
references: VAE, PO Box 725 North Bennington, VT 05257.
Seeking President of The New York State
Historical Association
The New York State Historical Association (NYSHA), headquartered
at its Fenimore Art Museum, and The Farmers' Museum, Inc.,
sister institutions located in the picturesque heart of "Leatherstocking
Country" in upstate New York, seek a President to lead the
institutions. Surrounded by other world-class organizations such
as the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Glimmerglass
Opera, and the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, these two museums
boast outstanding collections and an enviable history of
educating, informing, and entertaining generations of visitors.
Reporting to the boards of the two museums and
supervising their common senior management team, the President
will be an entrepreneur with a vision for the institutions in
the 21st century, charged with realizing that vision by
maintaining and building the quality of the museums' offerings
while stabilizing their finances.
He or she starts from an advantaged position,
given the highly distinguished nature of several of the museums'
collections and the support provided by their substantial
endowments. Building from that base, the President will
work to build visibility for the institutions, to increase
attendance, to create plans and systems that provide for fiscal
accountability, and to augment income by raising funds
from private and public sources.
The President will bring talent, energy, and
intelligence necessary to lead an organization as well as
the compelling personal qualities necessary to work with
sophisticated, engaged boards and to build relationships with
potential donors and institutional partners. Previous engagement
with non-profit institutions is strongly preferred.
Additional information on the search is
available on our website: www.wittkieffer.com.
We welcome nominations
and expressions of interest sent to nysha@wittkieffer.com
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
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