Invitation to Grand Isle Lake House
Retreat for Local Preservationists
July 15-16: FULL
August 26-27: Church
Rehabilitation Projects
September 9 - 10: Community or Building
Preservation Projects
September 30 - October 1: Community or
Building Preservation Projects
The retreats are a group mentoring experience
where representatives from communities are invited to present a
10 to 15 minute case study about a particular challenge or
project they're working on. The case study is meant to
frame a problem that once solved will boost projects along their
timelines. Each presentation is followed by a group discussion
and brainstorming session for sharing ideas, expertise and
experience…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 group experience and
thinking. We try to have 6-7 groups of 2-4 people
representing a project.
The retreats are two days. Check-in at
the Lake House is 3:00 on Monday, and we finish by 2:00 on
Tuesday. Cost for room and three meals is $80/person for a
shared room, $100 for a single. There are a limited number
of single rooms available on a first-come basis.
If you are considering attending a retreat,
please contact Ann Cousins
434-5014 or Doug Porter
644-2815. One of the things we try to do is to have
resource people from around the state at each of the retreats.
Who they are depends on what projects are going to be
represented.
For reservations, please send a check payable
to the Preservation Trust of Vermont, 104 Church St.,
Burlington, VT 05401. Include contact information: name,
address, phone, e-mail, project.
For a preview of the Grand Isle Lake House,
visit our Web site at www.ptvermont.org
Major Renovations Planned for the St.
Johnsbury Athenaeum
State Librarian, Sybil Brigham McShane, on
behalf of the Freeman Foundation and the Vermont Public Library
Foundation, has awarded a public grant library incentive grant
of $408,000 to the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum. This grant is
part of the $10 million public library incentive grant program
funded by the Freeman Foundation to improve library
effectiveness and community outreach throughout the state.
The Athenaeum will use the Incentive Grant for significant
interior renovations scheduled to begin this summer. The
project goals are to improve public safety and
accessibility. Building improvements will increase the
safety and convenience to library patrons, visitors and staff,
and benefit all who use the Athenaeum's collections, services
and programs. The total cost of the project is estimated
to be just over $1 million. For more information, contact
Lisa Von Kamm or Lorna Higgs, (802) 748-8291. http://www.stjathenaeum.org/
Vermont Historical Society Re-Opening
Soon!
The Vermont Historical Society library has moved
to the Vermont History Center in Barre and will soon be open to
the public. The facility will be opening for researchers
on Tuesday, July 16. Hours will be the same as in the
past: 9-4:30 Tuesday - Friday and 9-4 on the second Saturday of
each month. The grand opening celebration will be on
Saturday, July 20.
New address: Vermont Historical Society, 60
Washington Street, Barre, Vermont 05641-4209
Voice: 802-479-8500; Fax: 802-479-8510
Directions to our new library are on the web at http://vermonthistory.org/barremap.htm
.
Vermont manuscripts: http://arccat.uvm.edu,
For New England history also try: http://nebib.uvm.edu
Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium
Receives Grant
The Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium has
received a grant of $1500 from the Vermont Historical records
Advisory Board to complete the processing of the Museum's
institutional records. Together with the other institutional
records that have already been preserved and described, these
documents will be available to researches working on the origin
and growth of the Museum as an educational institution and
interpreter of the sciences and humanities. These
documents can also be used to shed light on the history of the
development of the Museum's collections and exhibits, and on
philanthropic intentions of the Museum's founder, Franklin
Fairbanks. For more information, contact Pat Swartz,
Fairbanks Museum, (802) 748-2372.
Brandon Town Offices Not to Move to
Training School
Brandon voters overwhelmingly (450 to 180)
defeated the plan to move municipal offices out of the downtown
to the former Brandon Training School. It's back to the drawing
board, and the Selectboard and community will hopefully focus on
solutions in the downtown area. The Preservation Trust has
offered to help with the next steps.
To read the Rutland Herald article by
Ed Barna, click here: http://rutlandherald.nybor.com/Archive/Articles/Article/48640
Middlebury Offices to Stay Downtown
Middlebury selectmen voted 4-2 to rebuild the
municipal offices at their current location at the intersection
of College and South Main Streets. This was an enormous
step forward for a downtown solution since Middlebury College
had offered $3 million and an out-of-town location to the Town
in return for vacating the current site.
With special funding from a handful of
donors, the Preservation Trust has committed $100,000 toward
helping the Selectboard develop a downtown solution for its
office needs. Thus far the funds have been used for
planning and developing cost estimated for a variety of
solutions.
To read the Addison Independent article
by John Flowers, click here: http://www.addisonindependent.com/MapleManorcutasoffice.html
Historic Essex-Caledonia Organizes
When historic sites and structures are
threatened, it’s time for a local preservation group that can
step in and help. That was the feeling of the small group
that met on May 2 to found a new organization for the region,
Historic Caledonia-Essex, Inc. Spearheaded by local historian
Dave Warden, the group hopes to raise awareness of sites and
structures with prehistoric and historic significance in the
area that need resources.
Especially of concern is connecting
landowners with the grants and other financial help they need to
protect evidence of peoples' lives in the two-county region.
(Orleans County already has its own county historical society.)
The fledgling group created an initial list of 19 structures and
sites that may need assistance right away, and hopes to add
more. Great job!
For more information about the
Essex-Caledonia group, please call 748-1722. If you would like
help getting a local preservation group started in your area,
contact one of the Preservation Trust's Field Representative: Ann
Cousins 434-5014 or Doug
Porter 644-2815.
Vermont Downtown Conference Scheduled
Please mark your calendar on Wednesday, Sept.
25, for the Vermont Downtown Program's annual conference, which
will be in downtown Burlington. Don Rypkema, principal of Place
Economics in Washington, DC, will be the keynote speaker. Don is
a real estate and economic development consultant who
specializes in downtown and neighborhood development. He is a
terrific speaker and many of you may remember his presentations
at the Forum on Sprawl's downtown conference in 1998, and the
Preservation Trust/Division for Historic Preservation
first annual conference in 1995.
We have a full day of sessions planned to
meet a variety of interests and disciplines. At the end of the
day, the Forum on Sprawl is holding a reception and fundraiser
in celebration of downtowns. We hope that you will join us for
both of these events. Look for further information later this
summer. For more information, contact Jane Lendway jlendway@dca.state.vt.us
National Register News
National Register News: The National Park
Service has recently listed the following Vermont properties on
the National Register of Historic Places.
Ascutney State Park, Windsor and
Underhill State Park, Underhill
Part of a group of 21 state parks constructed
by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in Vermont in the
1930s as part of President Roosevelt’s New Deal
Program. The parks’
landscaping and rustic architecture are
typical of parks constructed by the CCC nationwide and reflect
a period of social and conservation reform as well as new
tourism and recreation trends. The parks were nominated to the
National Register under the nationwide Historic Park
Landscapes in National and State Parks Multiple Documentation
Form.
King Block, Barton
A Rehabilitation Tax Credit Project for use as
affordable housing. Three story, 12-bay by 3-bay, wood frame
large tenement building composed of several structures joined
together and modified several times over its history.
The structure originated as a c. 1870 Italianate single family
house, by the 1890s it had evolved into multi-family housing
with shared entries and separate living units, and by 1921 it
reached its current configuration. The historic
modifications to the building reflect the periods of expansion
of Barton's milling and manufacturing industries. The
building exhibits typical design features of large tenement
buildings built in Vermont in the late 19th and early 20th
centuries such as the multiple entry doors on the front
façade and multi-level Colonial Revival style rear porch.
West Fairlee Center Church, West Fairlee
A wood frame, c. 1855, 3-bay by 3-bay Greek
Revival style church nominated under the Religious Buildings,
Sites and Structures in Vermont Multiple Property
Documentation Form. The church's role in the life of
West Fairlee Center reflects the community's religious history
and related economic fluctuations.
PRESERVATION IN PROGRESS
Lake Elmore Town Hall
The Lake Elmore Town Hall has undergone few
changes since it was built in 1897. Having just
completed a condition assessment, the community is now working
hard to raise around $50,000 to rehabilitate the small Queen
Anne style building. The capital campaign committee is
planning a lakefront August event featuring local talent--of
which Lake Elmore is blessed! Sharon Draper, Town Clerk,
is helping to plan the event. For more information,
contact Sharon at 888-2637.
Pawlet
Work is well underway at the new Pawlet
library, an adapted reuse of the Pawlet Village School.
Built in 1911, the school is an outstanding example of the
Colonial Revival style. When the school closed in 1998
due to consolidation, Pawlet residents ralied to find a new
use for this village center building. Overcoming
challenges, including accomodating septic on a postage
stamp-sized lot, the project is nearly complete. Having
raised $85,000 locally and receiving a $30,000 Preservation
Grant in 2000, the Pawlet Projects Committee is working hard
to raise the final $40,000 needed to complete the $250,000
project. For more information, please contact Gordon Brown,
Building Chair, at 325-3309.
NATIONAL
Oppose Cuts to the Historic
Preservation Fund -- Call or Fax Your Senator Today!
Thursday, June 27, the Senate Appropriations
Committee voted to report a FY ‘03 Interior spending package
that cuts Historic Preservation Fund appropriations by
13%. The cuts appear to have been made at the 11th
hour when Committee Chairman Robert Byrd (D-WV) scrambled to
trim $344 million from the overall bill.
We must ensure that Senator Byrd and all his
colleagues on the Appropriations Committee understand that such
cuts will be devastating to state preservation programs and ask
them to restore funding either on the floor of the Senate or
when the bill is conferenced with the House. Fortunately, the
House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee acted to
increase funding to the HPF by $9.5 million.
Below is a sample letter to be used to fax
your Senator immediately. If your member is on the
Appropriations Committee (see list below), please be sure to
follow up with a phone call by calling the Capitol switchboard
at (202)
224-3121. Thank you for your advocacy.
__________________________________________
Dear Senator
I have learned that the Senate Appropriations
Committee approved a 13% reduction to the Historic Preservation
Fund (HPF) for FY ‘03. Specifically, the cut takes $5
million from the State Historic Preservation Offices. These cuts
are especially disappointing because the Committee stated its
intention to fully fund the Conservation Spending Category
"CARA-lite," and yet singled out the HPF, a CARA-lite
program, for reductions.
[INCLUDE HERE ANY SPECIFIC PROJECTS OR CUTS
IN YOUR STATE - for more information on your state's funding,
please visit our website at www.preservationaction.org]
I urge you to support historic preservation
programs in [STATE] by contacting Chairman Byrd and asking him
to restore the cuts in conference.
Sincerely,
_______________________________________________
Senate Interior Appropriations Committee:
Robert F. Bennett (R-UT), Conrad Burns (R-MT),
Robert C. Byrd (D-WV), Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO), Thad
Cochran (R-MS), Pete V. Domenici (R-NM), Byron L. Dorgan (D-ND),
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Judd Gregg (R-NH), Ernest F. Hollings
(D-SC), Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI), Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT), Patty
Murray (D-WA), Harry Reid (D-NV), Ted Stevens (R-AK)
National Trust Announces 11 Most
Endangered Historic Places
Although Southern California's Indian Pass and
the 1,515 miles that comprise the upper Missouri River basin
would appear to have little in common, they're linked by an
unfortunate distinction: These lands of great beauty and
spiritual significance, which have been called home by Native
Americans for thousands of years, are today threatened one by a
mining project and one by government neglect. Throughout the
South, historic schools that were the result of an extraordinary
partnership between two men -- one black, one white -- to
further education for rural African Americans are forgotten and
forlorn. And across the nation, historic neighborhoods are
falling victim to a teardown epidemic as older homes are
demolished and replaced with dramatically larger, out-of-scale
new structures, that are eroding the historic fabric of the
existing communities.
These are just four of 11 sites the National
Trust for Historic Preservation named to its 2002 list of America's
11 Most Endangered Historic Places.
"All 11 sites on this year's list are
irreplaceable treasures. They remind us that not every community
has an Independence Hall or Mount Vernon, but every community
has some landmark that makes it unique and special," said
Richard Moe, president of the National Trust. "These places
tell America's story. Losing them would be unthinkable and
saving them isn't someone else's job."
The History Channel will feature the list on
Saturday, July 6, 2002, at 10 p.m. EDT/PDT in a one-hour
documentary special entitled, "America's Most
Endangered." The show, hosted by Josh Binswanger, also host
of "This Week in History," is part of the The Save Our
History campaign, The History Channel's award-winning national
initiative dedicated to historic preservation and history
education.
America's 11 Most Endangered Historic
Places has identified more than 135 threatened one-of-a-kind
historic treasures since 1988. While a listing does not ensure
the protection of a site or guarantee funding, the designation
has been a powerful tool for raising awareness and rallying
resources to save endangered sites from every region of the
country. Whether these sites are urban districts or rural
landscapes, Native American landmarks or 20th-century sports
arenas, entire communities or single buildings, the list
spotlights historic places across America that are threatened by
neglect, insufficient funds, inappropriate development or
insensitive public policy.
To view the entire list of America's 11 Most
Endangered Places, and to read more about the program, click
here: http://www.nationaltrust.org/news/docs/20020606_11most.html
National Trust Supports Saving Sacred
Places
The following statement was issued June 3, 2002,
by Paul W. Edmondson, Vice President & General Counsel for
the National Trust for Historic Preservation, at a news
conference by the newly-formed Coalition for Sacred Places:
The National Trust for Historic Preservation
is pleased to be able to participate as a member of the
Coalition for Sacred Places. We support the preservation of
Sacred Places of Native Americans, and have worked closely with
Native American tribes and organizations to see that such sites
are protected. Although these places are not always thought of
as historic properties, the National Trust recognizes that
Native American sacred places are an important part of America's
heritage, and deserve to be preserved and protected as such.
Because many Native American sacred places
lie on public lands, the National Trust is particularly
committed to ensuring that federal agencies manage those lands
in a way that respects these sacred places, and that agency
officials take into account the need to treat these unique areas
with special consideration. Such sites are highly vulnerable,
whether from inappropriate development, damage and looting, or
in some cases outright destruction. We support the efforts of
the Coalition, and we encourage Congress to be thorough in its
oversight responsibilities of the federal executive branch
agencies that are entrusted with the protection of these
precious and irreplaceable resources.
Charlotte, North Carolina's Approach to
the Big-Box Boom
Charlotte's new warning to big-box developers:
If you build it, you might have to pay so we can tear it
down someday.
City planners say that anyone who wants to
build a giant discount store such as a Wal-Mart or Target -- a
staple of Charlotte suburbs for decades -- must also provide the
means for the city to destroy the building if the store closes
and remains empty.
Read the whole article here: http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/3484745.htm
PUBLICATIONS
& RESOURCES
GREAT NEW WEB SITE!
Vermont Division for Historic Preservation
The Division for Historic Preservation is the
public agency designated to be the advocate for historic and
prehistoric properties in Vermont. Their new web site has
everything you need to know about the programs and services
offered by the Division -- including the Downtown Program,
Historic Registers, State Historic Sites, and Financing
Assistance -- and more, all sharply designed and well
organized. If you are interested in preservation in
Vermont, check out this site and you'll probably learn something
new!
http://www.dhca.state.vt.us/DHP/index.html
National Register Documentation
Digitization Progresses
The National Register of Historic Places is
pleased to announce that the General Services Administration's
Center for Historic Buildings, Office of the Chief Architect is
partnering with the National Park Service to digitize records of
listed GSA properties to make them accessible online through the
National Register Information System database. This is the first
inter-agency partnership on this project and the latest
incremental step by the National Register in digitizing the
documentation on nearly 75,000 nominations. Multiple property
nomination contexts have been digitized and are now available at
www.nr.nps.gov. Work on the
National Park Service's own listed properties is currently
underway. To find out more about the scanning project and
partnership opportunities, visit www.nr.nps.gov/nrpard.htm.
National Trust Offers Help for Historic
Property Appraisals
While historic properties are culturally
significant, they can also present an uncommon challenge to
property appraisers and potential buyers because historic
properties are valued by other variables outside traditional
appraisal rules.
To simplify the process, the National Trust
for Historic Preservation has published "Appraising
Historic Properties," a 28-page booklet that offers tips
for finding qualified appraisers, basic valuation principles,
the valuation process, appraising easements and more. The
publication is written by Judith Reynolds, MAI, the author of
the first and second editions of Historic Properties:
Preservation and the Valuation Process. Reynolds has specialized
over a 25-year career in the appraisal of historic properties
and preservation and conservation easements.
"Appraising Historic Properties" is
available for $10 from Preservation Books. National Trust Forum
members can take advantage of a 25% discount and standard
members of the Trust receive a 10% discount. Discounts do not
apply to shipping charges. Order today (order number 2I87) from
the Preservation Books website, www.preservationbooks.org,
or call 202-588-6296.
Smart Growth Resources for Historic
Preservationists
Smart codes, state agency location policies
designed to strengthen downtowns, retail caps for big-box
stores, development moratoria, and a citizen’s guide to local
preservation ordinances are among seven new issue papers
recently added to the National Trust’s web site. Go to http://www.nationaltrust.org.
Click on the Save Historic Places icon, then scroll down to
Issues and Initiatives.
EVENTS
Perspectives on the History and
Archaeology of Burlington Bay
Preservation Burlington and the Lake Champlain
Maritime Museum are pleased to announce an inaugural lecture
series at the Museum’s recently restored 1815 Captain White
Place Maritime Education Center (formerly Chickenbone Café) at
43 King Street in Burlington. The series, which is scheduled for
every other Thursday from June 27 through September 5, 2002, is
titled “ Perspectives on the History and Archaeology of
Burlington Bay.” All lectures are at 7:00 PM. The public is
invited to attend at no charge. As parking in the neighborhood
is limited, please use nearby City of Burlington parking lots.
The lecturers include historians,
architectural historians and archaeologists who are currently
conducting research on Burlington and the surrounding
area. They include:
- Mary O’Neil - “The Captain White
House” (June 27)
- Vince Feeney - "How Burlington
Became the Queen City: Economic Engines and Growth
Patterns." (July 11)
- John Crock/Kate Kenny - "Recent
Prehistoric and Historic Archaeological Investigations
within the City of Burlington: Documenting and Preserving
Cultural Resources While Promoting Conscious
Development" (July 25)
- Tom Visser -“Burlington’s Historic
Architecture” (August 8)
- Scott McLaughlin - “The Canal Boats
and Boatmen of Burlington 1819-1940: Members of a Unique
Maritime Community” (August 22)
- Bob McCullough - “Parks and Green
Spaces In Burlington” (September 5)
For more details on Museum programs and
activities, check the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum web site www.lcmm.org.
For more information on the lecture series, contact Brian Knight
at 802-238-2918 or brian@preservationburlington.org.
July 6-7th
220th anniversary celebration of the
Battle of Hubbardton
Look here for more information:
http://www.state.vt.us/dca/housing/HistoricSites/index.htm
August 10 (Saturday)
Self-guided tours around several of the
Mad River Valley's notable barns.
Presented by the Waitsfield Historical Society
in conjunction with the Mad River Valley Arts Festival.
More information coming soon! Call 496-7173.
OPPORTUNITIES
Housing Vermont Job Openings
Housing vermont is seeking qualified applicants
for two positions in the development department: a project
manager and an assistant project manager. Please contact
Dot Bechard at (802) 863-8424 to get a written job description.
Enhancement Grants
The Agency of Transportation has announced the
schedule for 2003 Enhancement Program. This program
provides substantial grants for transportation-related
activities in Vermont, including sidewalks, bikepaths, historic
preservation, environmental mitigation and more.. The
first step in the application process is to submit a
pre-application letter by September 4, 2002. Background
information and the program schedule are on line at http://www.aot.state.vt.us/projdev/Sections/LTF/Enhancements%20Program/EnhancementsMainPage.htm.
Please call Sandy Aja at (802) 828-2544 if you have any
questions about the process.
National Preservation Conference
No matter what the cause, you'll find more than
100 learning opportunities at National Preservation Conference
2002 http://www.nthpconference.org
that will help focus or reshape your strategic thinking.
Interactive sessions provide you with the opportunity to learn
from experts and share with your peers. We promise you will
leave Cleveland armed with tips, tools, and new ways of
thinking.
Take a sneak peek at some of the education
sessions, created by preservationists like yourself, facing
common issues:
- The Corporate Good Neighbor Initiative
- When It's Time to Hire a Lobbyist
- Saving Historic Schools = Good Public
Policy + Strong Advocacy
- Transportation and Preservation: A Case
Study in Legislative Advocacy
Bring back ideas from these sessions and others
that you'll implement immediately at your own advocacy
challenges. Set your personal agenda for National Preservation
Conference 2002, check out our online Schedule Planner http://www.nthpconference.org/.
Be sure your schedule includes our
outstanding Plenary session speakers:
- Rodney Reynolds, publishes American
Legacy Magazine, focusing on African-American history and
culture;
- Andres Duany, new urbanist, who
challenges your paradigms;
- Bishop Anthony Pilla, calls on us to
explore rebuilding and recreating cities;
- Henry Glassie shares ideas on preserving
rural landscapes around the world.
These renowned speakers will inspire us to think
differently about what shapes our lives and what it takes to be
successful at every level of the preservation movement.
Register online today at http://www.nthpconference.org
or fax your registration to 202-588-6472.
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
