HISTORIC VERMONT
An On-line News Journal about the Preservation of Vermont’s Historic Architecture and Landscape
February 2007
Published by the Preservation Trust of Vermont, 104 Church Street, Burlington, VT 05401
http://www.ptvermont.org
(802) 658-6647

In This Issue....

News from the Preservation Trust

  • Save the Date: May 16th, Annual Preservation Conference
  • Call for 2007 Preservation Awards Nominations
  • Preservation Grants Awarded

Vermont News

  • Valentine's Snowstorms and the Turner Barn in Waitsfield
  • Update on Tax Credits for Downtowns and Village Centers
  • Update on Big Box Legislation
  • The High Cost of Low Prices, by Sen. Vince Illuzzi
  • VT Chosen as Finalist for 2007 International Tourism Award
  • Wal-Mart Updates in St. Albans and Bennington
  • Kingdom Top Spot for 'Geotourism'
  • Vinyl Siding Decision Upheld
  • Save the Single at Mad River Glen
  • Preservation Burlington Presents "Date with History"
  • Governor Announces $2.8 Million in Enhancement Grants
  • National Register News
     

National News

  • Community Restoration and Rehabilitation Act
  • 2007 Traditional Building Exhibition & Conference

Publications & Resources

  • Ten Tips for Managing an Historic Preservation Project
  • Need an Old Freight Elevator?

Education, Training & Employment Opportunities

  • National Main Street Conference

  • 2007 New Hampshire Old House & Barn Expo

  • Call for Presentations

  • Diversity Scholarship Application Available

  • Preservation Leadership Training 2007

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

NEWS FROM THE PRESERVATION TRUST

Save the Date!
Vermont's Annual Preservation Conference: Wednesday, May 16th, Montpelier, VT
This year's preservation conference will be held at the Union Institute (former Vermont College) in Montpelier on Wednesday, May 16th.  The conference will include our biennial awards luncheon where PTV honors exceptional preservation efforts in the state (see below).  More conference information and registration instructions will be available soon on the Preservation Trust website www.ptvermont.org.

2007 Preservation Awards: Call for Nominations
Since 1982, The Preservation Trust of Vermont has recognized outstanding contributions in the field of historic preservation. Awards are presented to the individuals and organizations who have made special contributions in  preserving Vermont's historic architecture. The awards will be presented at the Preservation Trust's Annual Conference on May 16th. 

Volunteers, professionals, municipalities, non-profit organizations, businesses and corporations, state agencies,  building contractors, labor unions, media, schools and colleges, and governmental officials are examples of those who are eligible for the awards.  Eligible activities include: preservation or adaptive use of an historic property; educational and public information materials and programs; building trades and professional training; programming at historic properties; financial support; and special encouragement and leadership in the preservation field. Other exemplary activities are also eligible.

The deadline for nominations is April 16th.  For more information about how to submit a nomination, please visit our website: http://www.ptvermont.org/AWARDS/2007awards.htm or contact Elise Seraus at the Preservation Trust of Vermont (802) 658-6647, elise@ptvermont.org.

Preservation Grants Awarded
Since 1994 the Freeman Foundation and the Preservation Trust of Vermont have had a partnership to support preservation projects. Over $8.5 million in grants have been awarded to help more than 329 projects in communities throughout the state. These grants have played a key role in over $109 million in total rehabilitation work. The last rounds of grants includes:

Greensboro Free Library: $50,000 
The Library is housed in a town-owned property consisting of a c.1890 farmhouse with Italianate detailing, an attached carriage house, and a c.1960 addition. In the past, the buildings have housed a hospital, health center, and nursing home. The library itself is located in the most recent addition to the property, and the adjoining historic buildings are currently unused. The library has outgrown the existing space and has developed plans for rehabilitation of the farmhouse and carriage house to accommodate community needs. New facilities will include reading and meeting rooms, a community café, rooms for children and teens, expanded stacks and computer services, and a librarian’s office. Rehabilitation plans are phased, calling for rehabilitation of the ground floor in the first phase, and redevelopment of the second floor in the second phase. This grant will provide enough funding to complete the first phase of work. 

Manchester Congregational Church: $15,000
The church is a wood frame structure with white clapboard siding, and was built in 1871 after the original church burned to the ground. The church, county courthouse, and the Equinox Hotel dominate the center of Manchester Village. The sanctuary is located on the 2nd floor of the main building with a vestry immediately under it on the first floor. Above this is a square bell chamber capped by a four-sided clock face and topped by an octagonal steeple sheathed with wood shingles. Over the last two years, many improvements have been carried out on the building including painting and restoring the 14-carat gold hands and numbers on the clock faces, painting and repairing all sides of the main church block, and installing a sprinkler system in the sanctuary. The final phase involves necessary structural repairs to the steeple, as well repairs and repainting of the steeple’s exterior finishes. This grant of $15,000 will allow them to complete the final repairs to the church.

Old Parish Church and Crafts Building, Weston: $45,000 
The church was organized in 1803 to provide for worship services of the many denominations represented by early residents of Weston and surroundings. Construction on the building was begun in 1815 and completed in 1831. The first floor served as a town hall, and a parish hall was located on the second floor. In the 1860's, the town voted to buy and install the clock with three faces, to the North, East and South, which is still operating. The dual purpose building remained until the 1970's when the town voted a new town hall and Mr. Raymond Austin, an architectural designer recast the building into its present single purpose church with 3-sided balcony. The workmanship of the 1970 renovation is top-notch and the building has been very well maintained over the past years. 

As early as 1888, the Crafts Building housed a blacksmith shop. It served as the town firehouse during the early years of the twentieth century and was then was incorporated into the operations of the Vermont Guild of Old Time Crafts & Industries. In the last twenty years, little or no maintenance has been done to the building. The Crafts Building is a two story, wood shingled building with a stone foundation. The building juts out over the West River wherein lies one of the problems: the river is eroding the wood supports and weakening the stones in the southwest corner of the foundation. The estimated cost of work on this building is $75,000. 

This grant ($20,000 for the church and $25,000 for the Crafts Building) coupled with what's been raised locally will help them to complete the work on both buildings, including restoration of the decorative wood shingles on the Crafts Building. 

John Warren House, Middlebury: $40,000 
This elegant Federal style house, built in 1804, has been acquired by the Vermont Folklife Center and will serve as the organization's archive, program center, and administrative offices. The Folklife Center is dedicated to preserving and presenting the folkarts and cultural traditions of Vermont. The original floorplan of the main house will remain intact, and an addition will house an elevator, accessible restrooms, offices and storage area. The project also includes development of a multi-media center and a digital classroom for visiting school groups. This grant will be focused on the rehabilitation and code work in the original building.

VERMONT NEWS

Valentine's Snowstorm and the Turner Barn in Waitsfield
In the morning on Thursday, February 15th the roof on the historic barn addition at the Turner Dairy Farm in Waitsfield collapsed from the weight of snow. Many people from the community responded to the crisis despite the fact that much of the community itself was buried under over three feet of snow that had fallen in the past 24 hours.  Fortunately, the historic barn survived the storm.

The historic Turner Barn was one of the barn rehabilitation projects the Preservation Trust of Vermont supported several years ago as part of a partnership with the Freeman Foundation, the Preservation Trust and the Vermont Land Trust. PTV is helping the Turner family by providing a $5,000 challenge grant to the community effort to reconstruct the barn. "Our support is recognition of the enormous outpouring of community support in the Mad River Valley for the Turner Family and Barn.  It's one more great example of how passionate Vermonters are about their sense of community and place," Paul Bruhn Executive Director of the Preservation Trust said.  

The Turner's operate a dairy farm that is located on Route 100 in Waitsfield, VT. They are currently milking about 35 cows twice a day. The Turners have been transitioning to an organic farm and are due to receive their organic certification on May 18th. Conventional dairy farmers get paid around $11 a hundred weight for their milk; organic farmers receive over $30 per hundred weight for their milk. There is a little over 12 gallons of milk per hundred weight. Clearly it pays to become a certified organic dairy, but the transition process is costly. The farmers must pay higher prices for feed while receiving conventional milk prices.

The roof of the main barn where the milking cows are is still intact. The roof that collapsed is the L part of the barn that houses dry cows and heifers. Five cows were killed. Two cows were injured and are in Cabot, VT. The rest of the cows from the damaged part of the barn were transferred to an organic farm in Middlebury. The daily cost for keeping the cows in Middlebury is high, but it is necessary that they be in an organic farm in order to maintain the eligibility for organic certification.

While the Turners have basic insurance, it is rare for insurance to cover this type of damage (called "broad peril") given the age of the barn (this has been confirmed by the two insurance agencies in town). The Turners have been told by their insurance adjuster that they will not receive any compensation for the damage to the barn. They will receive compensation for the five cows who were killed and vet bills associated with those five cows, but will not receive compensation for the unborn calves or any vet bills incurred for animals who survived the tragedy.

To see photos and read more about this story, please visit
http://www.vermontlocalvore.org:80/turner/

 

Up-date on Tax Credits for Downtowns and Village Centers
Support from the Douglas Administration and the Legislature during the 2006 Legislative Session resulted in major improvements in the Tax Credit Program for Vermont's designated downtowns and village centers.  An increase in the annual overall cap on tax credits to $1.5 million was an important piece of the bill that was signed into law.  The program has proven to be enormously successful, and demand for the tax credits has gone far beyond the funds available.  All of the credits were awarded in the first three months of the fiscal year, leaving a backlog of projects for the next fiscal year.  The current backlog totals over $1.4 million and is growing weekly. 

Despite the popularity of the program, the Douglas Administration did not include a requested increase in the program in their proposed budget. Local downtown groups, the Preservation Trust, the Vermont Forum on Sprawl, and the Smart Growth Collaborative are all encouraging the Legislative leaders to increase the support for the program.

For more information about the program, visit www.historicvermont.org and click on the Vermont Downtown Program.

Up-date on Big Box Legislation
A bill designed to provide local officials and citizens with information on the potential impacts of big box developments is beginning to make its way through the Legislature. The bill was introduced by Senator Vince Illuzzi of Orleans County.  His commentary on the proposed legislation appears below.  The bill is supported by local citizens groups, the Vermont Natural Resources Council, the Preservation Trust, the Vermont Forum on Sprawl, and the
Smart Growth Collaborative. 

The High Cost of Low Prices
By Senator Vince Illuzzi, February 25, 2007
As Derby voters assemble for town meeting, one issue they will confront is whether to spend $650,000 to purchase sewer capacity and perhaps build a new sewer line from Newport to enable construction of a proposed Wal-Mart and other big box stores.

Once approved, it will be the first big cost directly associated with supporting large scale retailing on the Derby Road .  It won’t be the last.

I introduced S. 66 so that towns can learn from the challenges, plan for the changes, and anticipate the costs that come with big box development. Changes include impact on existing businesses and costs that are associated with increased police protection, maintenance and new infrastructure, like for water, sewer and roads.

For example, just last week, The Burlington Free Press reported that the Vermont State Police will be unable to meet the expected increase in demand for routine police services in light of the growing number of drug-related violent crime and complex murder cases.  The Senate Appropriations Committee has been told that larger Vermont towns without police departments, like Rutland Town , St. Albans Town and Derby should not expect VSP will keep up with increased demands.

Are we ready and able to meet the challenges and the costs that may be headed our way?

The Williston Experience
Let’s look at our neighbors in Williston to see how they have fared as the host community to several large big box stores, and the related chains that co-locate with them.

Williston routinely assigns one full-time officer per shift, sometimes more, to address the police needs generated by big box stores – traffic accidents, crime, missing persons, security and the like. 

Williston built new and expensive infrastructure and hired more town employees to address water, sewer, road and the related needs of the big stores.  That infrastructure will need to be upgraded and replaced from time to time. 

Once Williston property taxpayers totaled up the high cost of supporting the low prices offered by the big box stores, they voted to institute a 1% local sales tax to help pay for those additional burdens.  In Williston, at any retail location, there is a 7% sales tax.  The extra 1% hasn’t at all bothered sales at the big box stores, but what has been the impact on smaller retailers in Williston?

Williston taxpayers went one step further.  They used the ballot box to fire municipal officials who considered only the benefits and none of the costs.  Those local officials failed to ask the right questions. 

S. 66

To avoid these pitfalls, I’ve co-sponsored S. 66 to give guidance to towns interested in hosting a big box store. The bill will encourage, but not mandate, the right questions be asked up front.

We all want low prices, but at what cost.  We deserve to know when they come with a high price tag for the host community, other local merchants and the regional economy. 

Predictability
One of the biggest complaints of developers in Vermont is the lack of certainty and predictability in the permit process.  They want to know up front what will be required to get a permit. 

District environmental commissions, the ones who administer Act 250, are asking for regional impact studies.  But they are doing so in the middle of the permitting process, often after one of the parties to the proceeding asks that one be done.

That puts the entire permitting process on hold.  It’s a major reason why there hasn’t been a final decision on whether to allow a Wal-Mart in St. Albans Town . 

S. 66 provides the requested predictability to developers and solid information to those entrusted to issue the permits.    

S.  66 Will Result In Informed Decisions
Armed with the information generated by the study, all will know up front the expected costs and impacts.   It will help avoid higher taxes or higher fees for emergency services, roads, water, sewer and related infrastructure maintenance and replacement needs. 

Thus, S. 66 will: authorizes but not require a town to request a municipal impact study; and require a regional impact study to analyze the costs, benefits and burdens associated with any retail project of over 75,000 square feet, or over 100,000 square feet if the project is proposed for a designated downtown or new town center.

S. 66 won’t apply to the 140,000 square foot Wal-Mart store contemplated for the Derby Road because the developer already has sought conceptual approval.  But we can still learn from Williston’s costly mistakes.

Big box store developers, like the one who made millions in Williston, won’t like S. 66 because it encourages the tough questions to get asked up front.  These developers will label any bill that shows both sides of the ledger as “anti-Wal-Mart.” 

But read the bill, and see for yourself if it doesn’t simply encourage consideration of the high cost of low prices . . . before the permits are issued and it’s too late.

I welcome Wal-Mart and other big box stores to Vermont , but in the final analysis, they should benefit and not burden the community and the state in which they locate.   

Sen. Vince Illuzzi is chair of the Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs Committee and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.  

 

Vermont Chosen as Finalist for 2007 International Tourism Award
Governor Jim Douglas announced recently that the State of Vermont has been selected as one of 12 finalists for the prestigious 2007 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards for its work promoting and supporting downtown revitalization.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) in London , which announced the 2007 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards finalists, chose Vermont ’s downtowns, and the Vermont Downtown Program, as finalists in the Destination Award category.

This award is given to a destination that comprises a network of tourism businesses and organizations — a country, city, state or region — that has shown dedication and succeeded in maintaining a policy of sustainable management incorporating social, cultural, environmental and economic aspects as well as multi-stakeholder engagement.  

The other two Destination Award finalists are the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Greenbox ecotourism program in Ireland .

Vermont visitors and residents have shown a growing appreciation for the unique local businesses, historic architecture, rich cultural and social activities, and strong sense of community found in the state’s downtowns. With the help of the Vermont Downtown Program, aggressive revitalization efforts are now in place in all of the state’s major downtowns.

Building on each community’s history and historic buildings, these local efforts have demonstrated how revitalization of their communities builds the local economy and cultural institutions, while supporting growth in a way that minimize environmental impacts.  The attractiveness of Vermont ’s downtowns and villages is widely recognized as a key part of the state’s allure to visitors from around the globe.   

The Vermont Downtown Program was established in 1994 to provide technical assistance and training to communities and help cities and towns develop skills and strategies for their downtown revitalization efforts. The program is an affiliate of the National Main Street Center , a division of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which has worked in more than 1,900 communities nationwide revitalizing and redeveloping “Main Streets.”

Winners will receive their award during a special ceremony at the 7th Global Travel & Tourism Summit on May 11, 2007 in Lisbon , Portugal . For more information, visit http://www.tourismfortomorrow.com or http://www.vermontvacation.com

 

Wal-Mart Update

St. Albans
The Northwest Citizens for Responsible Growth (NWCRG) are protesting the St. Albans Town Development Review Board's decision not to address conflict of interest issues in the second round of hearings to review a 160,000 square foot Wal-mart store proposed by JLD Properties of Burlington for Exit 20 of I-89.  A prior decision in favor of the permit was rendered by the same DRB last year, but it was vacated at the request of the Town Selectboard after it was determined that conflicts of interest contaminated that process, as well. The Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC) has been actively opposing the Wal-mart project on behalf of the NWCRG and Marie Frey and Richard Hudak who own and operate a family farm three-tenths of a mile away from the proposed site.   Much of the controversy centers on public comments attacking the NWCRG and the VNRC that have been made by DRB Chairman, Bob Johnson over the past two years.  Most recently, serious irregularities in the Town's handling of the NWCRG's petition for Interested Party Status in connection with large-scale retail development at Exit 19 of I-89 have cast further doubt on the impartiality of the Town Development Review Board.  The NWCRG will continue to vigorously oppose the Wal-mart proposal and demand unbiased review of all large-scale projects in Franklin County. For more information visit www.nwcrg.org

Bennington
In late winter of 2006, the Town of Bennington issued a permit with conditions to a developer for the construction of a 112,000 sq. ft. Wal-Mart.  The permit was immediately appealed by the Citizens for a Greater Bennington, working in partnership with the Vermont Natural Resources Council and the Preservation Trust of Vermont.  The appeal was put on hold until the filing of the Act 250 application.  After more than a year of inactivity, the Environmental Court is now requiring the developer to submit an Act 250 application by May 21st.  The appeal process will be mediated instead of going to the courtroom, and the first round of mediation must be completed by the end of June.   

Kingdom Top Spot for 'Geotourism'
By CARLA OCCASO Staff Writer, Barre-Montpelier Times Argus, February 18, 2007

National Geographic has picked the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont to be among the first U.S. travel destinations to join its "geotourism" program.  The magazine said the selection of the Northeast Kingdom reflects its status as one of the world's top tourism spots, according to Jonathan Tourtellot, editor of National Geographic Traveler Magazine.

"The Northeast Kingdom was of interest to us for two or three reasons," Tourtellot explained. "Vermont itself was of interest after having been voted 'highest U.S. destination for destination stewardship' a few years ago by travel experts choosing from among 115 places throughout the world. Vermont placed 11th in the world while the Norwegian Fjords were named the top destination. Charleston, S.C., came in second among U.S. destinations."

"Geotourism" is defined as tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place. National Geographic's geotourism program is designed to help preserve places through the promotion of local craftspeople, recreation areas and businesses.

He pointed to possible threats to an area like Vermont posed by big box store development, an explosion of second home building and major resort expansion. Development can change the character of an area if it isn't done right, he warned. Tourtellot hopes the geotourism program helps keep "development in tune with the nature of Vermont."

The geotourism program has already led to the creation of a Web site, a guide and a map highlighting points of interest in the Northeast Kingdom. 

For more information, go to Northeast Kingdom Geotourism at www.travelthekingdom.com/geotourism or the National Geographic's Center for Sustainable Destinations at www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/sustainable/.

Vinyl Siding Decision Upheld
By Tim Johnson, Free Press Staff Writer, Burlington Free Press, January 6, 2007

A Burlington board's decision to prohibit vinyl siding on a 1927 "historic" house has been upheld by Vermont Environmental Court.

The court's ruling came last month on an appeal filed by property owner Peter Amour, who had sought to have the siding installed on the front building at 360-364 S. Winooski Ave. Amour was appealing the April 2005 rejection, by Burlington's Development Review Board, of his proposal for vinyl siding. The board's decision was based in part on the building's designation as historic.

Thomas S. Durkin, environmental judge, determined that vinyl siding on the building would not comply with city ordinance.

To read the full article, please visit the Free Press Archives 

Save the Single at Mad River Glen!
Nowhere in Vermont can the mountains, invigorating climate and indomitable people be found in greater evidence than at Mad River Glen in Waitsfield, Vermont. This ski area, created in the earliest days of Vermont skiing, still attracts the energy and excitement that signals true lovers of the sport and the state.

And its icon is the Single Chair... nationally, the only remaining single chair lift that is still in its original location and still taking skiers to a mountaintop for a snowy launch.

Today, the Single needs work. It is tired and worn but no one wants to give it up. So the Mad River Glen Cooperative has partnered with the Preservation Trust of Vermont and the Stark Mountain Foundation to make sure the Single is preserved and used for decades to come. We are hoping hundreds who love Vermont, its history, its mountains and its skiing will join together to preserve the Single.

The Board of Directors of the Preservation Trust of Vermont has voted to act as a project sponsor for this one-of-a-kind preservation project in Vermont.  Over the next several years, the Trust will work with the Mad River Glen Cooperative to raise the necessary $1.6 million. The Preservation Trust will hold a covenant on the Single, ensuring that the lift will remain in good condition and operable for at least 50 years, and the Single will be documented according to the Historic American Engineering Records Standards.

For more information about the Single Chair Project, please visit Mad River Glen's website: http://www.madriverglen.com/single/ To make a contribution to Save the Single, proceed to PTV's online donation page and following the instructions to target your donation to this project:  https://www.gifttool.com/donations/Donate?ID=198&VER=1&LNG=EN

 

Preservation Burlington Presents "Date With History"
Thursday March 22, 2007 at 7 pm, The Fleming Museum

Music, Performers, Reception, and a Guided Tour of the Special Exhibit  "Burlington and Winooski 1920-2020: The Evolution of our Built Environment."  This exhibition brings together striking visual materials that tell the story of change in these two Vermont cities and encourage us to envision their futures. 

Ticket Prices; $30 per person or $35 at the door.  Please send checks to Preservation Burlington, PO Box 481, Burlington, VT  05402.  For more information, visit www.preservationburlington.org.

The exhibit will run through June 24, 2007. In conjunction with this exhibition, residents of Burlington and Winooski a receive 30% discount on memberships ($30 Family/$20 Individual). Please email fleming@uvm.edu or call (802) 656-0750 to become a member today.

 

Governor Announces $2.8 Million in Community Enhancement Grants
Governor Jim Douglas today announced that 17 Vermont communities in 2007 have been awarded a combined $2.8 million for transportation enhancement projects. Governor Douglas said the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) awards enhancement grants to communities and non-profit organizations for a wide range of eligible projects such as restoring historic buildings, rebuilding and extending sidewalks, improving hiking and biking trails, and purchasing scenic easements.

Enhancement awards for FY07 include the following:  

  • Rokeby Museum , Ferrisburgh, Construct the Rokeby Museum US Route 7 Visitor Center : $200,000
  • City of Vergennes, Construct the Otter Creek Pedestrian Riverwalk in Vergennes, $158,000
  • Town of Bennington , Design and Construct Sidewalks on Union, Silver & Valentine Streets in Bennington : $155,000
  • Town of Stamford , Construct Sidewalks along VT Route 100 & VT Route 8 in Stamford Village : $200,000
  • Town of Lyndon , Conduct a Scoping & Feasibility Study for a Multi-use Path Around Lyndonville: $28,000
  • Town of Colchester , Design and Construct the Warner's Corner Sidewalk and Landscape Project: $300,000
  • Town of Shelburne , Design and construct the Webster Road Shared-use Path: $300,000
  • City of South Burlington , Design and Construct the Tilley Drive Multi Use Path Connection: $200,000
  • City of Winooski , Design Sidewalks to the Winooski Public School : $60,000
  • Village of Johnson , Conduct a Pedestrian Corridor Feasibility Study in Johnson village: $16,000
  • Town of Glover , Design and Construct Sidewalks on VT Route 16 in Glover village: $80,000
  • Brandon Chamber of Commerce, Rehabilitate the Stephen A. Douglas Birthplace into a US Route 7 Visitor Center in Brandon village: $258,000
  • Town of Barre , Construct Sidewalks in Lower Graniteville & Lower Websterville villages: $200,000
  • City of Montpelier , Design and Construct a Pedestrian Bridge over the Winooski North Branch in Downtown Montpelier : $300,000
  • Town of Woodbury , Rehabilitate the Woodbury Rail Trail: $20,000
  • Town of Bethel , Design and Construct Sidewalks on North Main Street in Bethel village: $168,000
  • Town of Hartland , Design and Construct a Sidewalk from Hartland Three Corners to Hartland Elementary School : $200,000

 

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

Ascutney Mill Dam Historic District, Windsor
Nomination is a CLG project undertaken to recognize and honor the work that owner Ed Battison has done throughout his life to preserve this and other important historic resources in Windsor .

The Ascutney Mill Dam Historic District is a complex of five contributing buildings and one contributing structure located on the Mill Brook and south of Ascutney Street . The district includes a c. 1864 residence (#4) and blacksmith shop/shed (#5) fronting on Ascutney Road, the 1834 Ascutney Mill Dam- a stone arch gravity dam that is a National Civil Engineering Landmark  (#1), an adjacent 1848 sawmill that was re-built and expanded in 1864 as a powerhouse (#2), a nearby 1864 drop forge that was re-positioned on the site and refitted as a sawmill in 1870 (#3), and the Spooner Print shop (#6), an earlier building important in Windsor and state history that was recently moved to the site to ensure its preservation. Historically the buildings, with the exception of the Spooner Print Shop, were related to the use of the dam particularly in the mid-19th century when the Jones and Lamson Co. developed an industrial complex here.

The Ascutney Mill Dam Historic District represents a very important part of Windsor ’s heritage. The Mill Brook and the water power that so many drew from it, was harnessed and utilized through human ingenuity and enterprise embodied in the design and construction of the dam, and the examples of early industrial and commercial architecture. This district is significant in the areas of engineering, architecture, industry, commerce, and community development.

NATIONAL NEWS

Preservation Organizations Unite to Make Incentive Work Better in Rebuilding Neighborhoods
Reps. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH) and Phil English (R-PA) along with their Senate colleagues Sens. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Gordon Smith (R-OR), recently introduced the Community Restoration and Rehabilitation Act – H.R. 1043 in the House and S. 584 in the Senate – a bipartisan bill that would improve the existing historic preservation tax credit (rehab credit) for the restoration and rehabilitation of the nation’s vacant and underutilized historic buildings. The House bill was introduced with 23 original cosponsors comprising eight key members of the tax committee and the leadership of the House Historic Preservation Caucus. For more information, visit http://www.nationaltrust.org/news/2007/20070215_tax_credit.html

Two Keynotes Means Twice as Much Learning at the Boston 2007 Traditional Building Exhibition and Conference
It is with great pleasure that the Traditional Building Exhibition and Conference will host a Keynote Address by Donovan Rypkema, Principal of Place Economics and author of The Economics of Preservation.  His talk, entitled, “Historic, Green and Profitable” will take place on Thursday, March 8, 2007 .  A second Keynote Address will be presented by Jack Larkin, Chief Historian at Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge, Massachusetts, Affiliate Professor of History at Clark University, and author of Where We Lived:  Discovering the Places We Once Called Home, 1775-1840, published by the Taunton Press/National Trust for Historic Preservation.  His talk will be on Friday, March 9, 2007 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Both take place at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston , Massachusetts as part of the largest trade show in North America dedicated to historic preservation and traditionally inspired new construction.

The links between the environment, economic responsibility, and social responsibility should be fostered and balanced for true sustainable development to occur.  Using examples of how sustainable development works, Mr. Rypkema will show us how our responsibility lies in the stewardship of meaning and memory as they are manifested in our historic buildings.  

The phrase, “sustainable development” is one that is frequently used but not always understood.   Mr. Rypkema will show us how the definition of sustainable development is much broader in the rest of the world than in the United States .  He accepts the widely held definition of sustainability as, “the ability to meet our own needs without prejudicing the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”  He goes on to say, “We need to use our cities, our cultural resources, and our memories in such a way that they are also available for future generations.”

Jack Larkin has found houses to be more than the materials of which they are made.  Rather, he sees them as a way to glimpse into the lives of our ancestors. Using the Historic American Buildings Survey photographs, he guides us into appreciating the lives of those who came before us.

The Historic American Buildings Survey began in 1933 as a way to employ architects, draftsmen, and photographers during the Great Depression.  From 1934-1940, thousands of drawings, photographs and short histories of buildings were produced and have provided a wonderful resource for this book. 

Mr. Larkin draws from “travelers’ tales, diaries and journals, family and community histories, builder’s plans and building contracts, house inventories, and even court testimony” to demonstrate for us the great regional diversity in house forms and to help us imagine how the early landscape looked.   He will show us how our early houses and their architecture affected the lives of those who created and lived in them.  His careful research will make the past come alive and give us a new appreciation of these dwellings.

This event will offer more than 80 workshops, seminars and tours of the city. Attendees can also visit hundreds of suppliers of traditional products and services at the exhibition on March 8-10, 2007 .  There will be a fine selection of seminars, workshops, and panel discussions beginning March 7 that will be of interest to architects, traditional building practitioners,  home owners, craftsmen, building managers, and historic preservationists. 

The Exhibit Hall will feature hard-to-find products and specialty items used in commercial and residential historic preservation and traditionally inspired new construction.  Company experts will be available for consultation.  Traditional Building Live will feature demonstrations of traditional building crafts and new products.

The second annual Traditional Building Design Challenge will take place at this conference and will challenge the country’s best architects and designers to design a new old house that could fit into one of Cape Cod ’s nationally recognized historic districts.

For more details visit www.traditionalbuildingshow.com or e-mail info@restoremedia.com or call 1-781-779-1560.

PUBLICATIONS & RESOURCES

Ten Tips for Managing an Historic Preservation Project
From the Staff of the Preservation Trust of Vermont

As you start down the path of saving and using your historic building, here are a few tips to help you along the way:

  1. Always thank your contributors.  Have you ever not been thanked by an organization you contributed to?  Remember how you felt?

  2. Keep careful records about your project.  Maintain a list of contributors and the chronology of your effort.  You'll need this information to tell the story of your success.

  3. Make sure that everyone connected with your effort knows the history and chronology of the project.  They should also know who contributed.

  4. Involve as many people as possible in the effort.  Teams do work!

  5. Saving great historic buildings is hard work, so be sure to find ways to have fun along the way. We can tell what other organizations have done.

  6. Find an important use for the finished building.  The more the building is used, the more people will appreciate it and help maintain it over the long term.

  7. When hiring an architect and contractor, be sure to get people who appreciate old buildings and have a lot of experience working on them.  Visit some of the buildings they have worked on.

  8. If you are lucky enough to receive a grant, be sure to understand and follow all of the conditions required by the donor.  If reports are required, mark the dates on your calendar and be sure to submit them on time. Be sure to say thank you!

  9. Keep in touch with your supporters. Let them know how the effort is moving along.

  10. Publicize your progress.  When you receive a grant or large donation, celebrate by letting the local paper, radio station, and television know.  Be sure to recognize the donor, and be sure to get their name right!

 

Need An Old Freight Elevator?
Vintage co. 1880.  Includes the platform, corner post, yokes, pulleys, gears, etc.  At least one yoke is painted "Morse Elevator Company, New York and Philadelphia."  The platform size is about 3.5 feet by 4 feet.  For more information and a digital photo, please contact Bob Duncan at (802) 864-6693 or bobd@duncanwisniewski.com.

EDUCATION, TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

National Main Streets Conference
On March 25-28, 2007, economic development and preservation-based community revitalization practitioners will gather in Seattle from throughout the nation to share their expertise and proven strategies for building sustainable commercial districts.

The 2007 Main Streets Conference in Seattle will focus on sustainability of both revitalization organizations and the communities they serve. By focusing development back to traditional town centers and commercial districts, preservation-based revitalization has always supported the tenets of land use sustainability and Smart Growth principles. Main Street programs provide a framework from which sustainability principles can be applied to the entire community’s development. In Seattle we’ll learn  how communities face and resolve the challenges of sprawl; building successful partnerships that communities develop to create sustainable growth;  and answering the question: where does smart growth and community development meet? Content will also focus on how Main Street and other revitalization programs stay active and effective in their communities. Learn from the experience of others to build a foundation of people, resources, and experience to keep organizations going long past the initial energy of a program’s inception.

Timothy Egan, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and New York Times national enterprise reporter, will be the Keynote speaker at the Opening Plenary of the 2007 National Main Streets Conference, Monday, March 26, 2007, at the historic 5th Avenue Theater in Seattle, Washington.

Back by popular demand! Don Rypkema, principal of Place Economics and 25-year veteran in the Main Street field, returns to the podium of our Closing Session this year. Arguably one of the best-known figures in the Main Street world, Don has in recent years focused his time and travels in international locations, bringing back new ideas and perspectives to examine what works in community revitalization in the United States. 

For more information, visit http://conference.mainstreet.org/

2007 New Hampshire Old House & Barn Expo
March 24-25, Manchester, NH
This year's Expo pays special attention to "green" technology and good stewardship strategies that make your historic home more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.  For more information, visit www.nhpreservation.org.

Call for Preservations
Restore Media, LLC., publishers of Old-House Journal, Clem Labine's Traditional Building, and Old-House Journal's New Old House, and producers of the Traditional Building Exhibition and Conference announce a CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS for New Orleans, October 17-20, 2007 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

The deadline for submission is April 2, 2007. For an electronic version of the call visit www.traditionalbuildingshow.com or contact Judy Hayward, Restore Media Conference Director, P.O. Box 21, Windsor, VT 05089, e-mail: jhayward@restoremedia.com 802-674-6752, or fax: (802) 674-6179.

 

Diversity Scholarship Applications Available
Applications for the 2007 Diversity Scholarship are now available online at http://www.nationaltrust.org/scholarships/diversity_scholarship.html. The application postmark deadline is June 1.

The goal of the Diversity Scholarship Program is to increase the diversity of participants at the annual National Preservation Conference and in the preservation movement. This year's Conference will take place in the Twin Cities of Minnesota, October 2 – October 6, 2007.

The Program provides financial assistance (which can cover registration, transportation and/or lodging) to approximately 60 community leaders from diverse social, economic, racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The National Trust seeks culturally diverse applicants whose attendance at the Conference will benefit their communities and whose commitment to historic preservation will be reinforced by their participation. Through interactive sessions, presentations, informal gatherings, and tours of the Twin Cities and surrounding areas, participants will learn the tools necessary to strengthen their commitment to and effectiveness in preserving historic places and revitalizing communities.

The Diversity Scholarship Program is expanding the opportunities available to scholarship alumni, including an alumni newsletter featuring updates on the activities of past Scholars, and alumni reunions at future National Preservation Conferences.

For more information about the Diversity Scholarship Program, call Free Harris at 202.588.6027, e-mail scholarships@nthp.org, or visit http://www.nationaltrust.org/scholarships/diversity_scholarship.html
 

Preservation Leadership Training 2007
June 23-30, Owatonna, MN
The National Trust for historic Preservation, in partnership with the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism, presents this intensive program that provides participatory learning experiences in leadership and organizational development.  For more information, visit www.nationaltrust.org/plt.

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

 

 

 

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