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HRAB 08-21-90 Meeting AgendaCOUNTY of FREDERICK Department of Planning and Development 703/665-5651 MEMORANDUM FAX 703/667-0370 TO: Historic Resources Board Members FROM: RCT, Deputy Director DATE: August 15, 1990 RE: August 21, 1990 Meeting and Agenda There will be a meeting of the Historic Resources Board Tuesday August 21, 1990, at 7:30 p.m., in the conference room of the Old Court House, 9 Court Square, Winchester, Virginia. In addition to materials related to the agenda items there are also a number of informational items included in the package. Please let me know if you have any questions or are unable to attend. AGENDA 1. Discussion and recommendation on rezoning application #008- 90, Wiseman/Shiho tract. 2. Discussion of proposed revision to historic preservation section of Comprehensive Plan. 3. Discussion of outline for Historic Overlay District Regulations. 4. Discussion of information on status and condition of Shawneeland Lodge. 5. Other. 9 Court Square - P.O. Box 601 - Winchester, Virginia - 22601 Historic Resources Advisory Board, Agenda 8/21/90 page 2 1. Information pertaining to rezoning application 1008-90 are attached. The proposal is to rezone the existing 73 acres of Rural Areas (RA) zoned land, to 53 acres of Business General (B-2); and 20 acres of Industrial Transition (B-3) zoning. The property is located on Rt. 642, southeast of the I-81/Rt. 37 interchange. The applicants have proffered; 1) $150,000.00 toward improvements to Rt. 642 2) To build a connector road through their property 3) To install underground utilities 4) To dedicate and preserve up to one acre for the historic fort site. The HRAB will need to make a recommendation to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors as to what needs to be done to adequately protect the integrity of the fort site. A motion should be made at this meeting if at all possible. 2. A draft of the revisions to the history section of the Comprehensive Plan are enclosed. The HRAB needs to finalize a recoitimendat ion for revisions to the Plan as soon as possible. Public hearings on the contents of the plan are tentatively scheduled for October. (This gives us only one more meeting) Members of the HRAB will be expected to attend the hearings and field questions regarding their preservation recommendations and current activities. 3. A skeleton outline for the structure of a Historic Overlay District are enclosed for discussion. 4. An engineering report, requested by the Board of Supervisors on the condition of the Shawneeland Lodge, is enclosed. At present there are no immediate plans to demolish the structure although, this appears to be likely at some point. It may be possible to convince the Board of Supervisors to have the structure dismantled in such a fashion that, if some portion of the old cabin is salvageable, it can be determined and the appropriate action as to its future determined at that time. -W l!1 ir, '_ilk -1 : G �' .iii. 1, .. -r•I' iF F'Iafh�iiH _; r'C �,':'/t✓ OtAF"I': 8/06/90 PROFFER STATEMENT 1HIII PROPERTY REZONING REQUEST CASE NO. , .._:_..... .. 1-I1IS PROFFER STATEMENT is made this _ day of 4 , 1990, by Winchester Investment Associates Limited Partnership and Shiho, Inc. ("Owner„ Applicant"). RECITALS .1. Owner/Applicant is the owner of 72 acres of land identified as a portion of Parcel 89 on Tax Map 75-1 in Frederick County, Virginia (the "Property") outlined on the attached plat; 2. 20 acres contiguous to the Property were rezoned to B-2 pursuant to rezoning applications ; 3. Owner/Applicant desires to rezone the Property from RA (Agricultural) to B-2 (General Business) and B-3 (Industrial Transition); 4. Wiseman Development Company, on behalf of Owner/ Applicant; agreed to contribute to the funding of improvements to Route 642 by letter agreement dated and confirmed by Frederick County by letter dated _ ::........ ' 5. 0,,Aner/Appl1cant filed a rezoning application, Case No. ,_on August 3, 1990; We the undersigned, sole owners of land to be rezoned under rezoning request number , referred to as the Shiho rezoning, and the applicant for said rezoning, hereby voluntarily proffer the following conditions. The conditions proffered shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators, assigns, and successors in interest of the undersigned. In the event the Frederick County Board of Supervisors grants said rezoning to B-2 and B-3 and accepts these conditions, the following proffered conditions shall apply to the land rezoned in addition to other requirements set forth in the Frederick County Code: I. Owner/Applicant will pay an amount not to exceed One Hundred l"'ifty'Tliousand Dollars ($150,000) to Frederick County to be applied to the R- . ~42 rovement Project. Owner/Applicant agrees to pay for its share of engineering costs associated with the Route 642 Improvement fruject as they arc incurred. Owner/Applicant's share of construction costs associated the latter of a) property, or h) improvement. with improving Route 642 will be owing and payable upon issuance of the first building permits for the Shiho commencement of construction of the Route 642 2. As shown on the attached plat, access to the Property to be developed will be by way of a seventy foot (70) right of way entering the Property from Route 642. The applicant agrees to dedicate the right of way to the Virginia Department of Transportation. The construction of all roads within this development will be at the expense of the Owner/ Applicant. The road section within the proposed seventy foot (70') right of way shown as future Route 642 will be built in phases as shown on the approved Master Development Plan. 3. All utilities required within the development area for service to the individual uses will be placed underground. The development area is the area bounded by the limits of this proposed rezoning and adjacent rights of way. 4. Owner/Appiicant agrees to preserve and dedicate up to one acre of open space overlaying the historic fort site on the Property. `This land will be included as open space for density calculations affecting the overall development. OWNER / APPLICANT: Wiseman Development Company, G.P. Winchester Investment Associates, L.P. Date Shiho, Inc. LDate -T G.W.CLIFFORD & ASSOCIATES, INC. 20 S.CAMERON ST. PO BOX 2104 WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA 22601 703-667-2139 TO: Va 22601 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL PRESENT DATE JOB NO. 6 August 1990 ATTENTION Bob Watkins RE: VVicPman/.vPIIN() WE ARE SENDING YOU ® ATTACHED [7 UNDER SEPARATE VIA THE FOLLOWING ITEMS HAND DELIVERED ❑ CHANGE ORDER F7SAMPLES F-1 APPROVED/AS NOTED FOR YOUR USE SPECIFICATIONS SHOP DRAWINGS Fx I PRINTS ❑ PLANS rx-1 OTHER REMARKS COPY OF LETTER Bob, COPIES i DATE I DESCRIPTION 1 8/6/90 Revised Proffer Draft per Countv Ordinance ARE TRANSMITTED F7 APPROVEDlSUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL F-1 APPROVED/AS NOTED FOR YOUR USE F-1 RETURN/CORRECTIONS AS REQUESTED RETURNED FOR REVIEW or COMMENT FOR BIDS DUE _ 19 REMARKS RETURN/WITH Bob, This Is what Wiseman Faxed to our office. Is this Statment acceptable? COPY TO: _ SIGNED Thomas W. Price REV. 2.0 ALIG 7 fog 30 til +i� RESUBMIT FOR APPROVAL SUBMIT___ FOR DISTRIBUTION RETURNED CORRECTED PRINTS LOAN PRINT/RETURN RETURN/WITH SIGNATURES This Is what Wiseman Faxed to our office. Is this Statment acceptable? COPY TO: _ SIGNED Thomas W. Price REV. 2.0 ALIG 7 fog 30 til +i� Vc �- DIVISION OF 10STORIC LANDMARKS Negative no(s-9612 y v ' , 6 SUL VEY FORM Historic name CARY' S BROOK County/ Town/ City RURAL COUNTY Street address or route number nvv r,v USGS Quad STEPHENS CITY Original owner Francis Jones Original use RESIDENTIAL, Present owner Present nvyner address Common name CARYSBROOK Careysbrook, Date or period c=.4840-1855 Architect/ builder/craftsmen Cary's brook, Source of name Mrs- Elizabeth Engle Source of date architectural evi rlenr,`P Stories 2 story:&1 story wings Present use VACANT/ABANDONED Foundation and wall const'n Acreage Main 2 story portion is frame stone foundation. The wings are frame with brick Root type nocraina. All portions of the house have a ca State condition of structure and environs roof made of standing seam me a . poor State potential threats to structure The property has recently been purchased by developers. Note any archaeological interest Just NW of the house is a Civil War redoubt which appears to be in - original/excellent condition. See map and file 34-320. Should be investigated for possible register potential? yes El no 6f yes, maybe as part- of a multiple nomination Architectural description (Note significant features of plan, structural system and interior and exterior decoration, taking care to point out aspects not visible or clear from photographs. Explain nature and period of all alterations and additions. List any outbuildings and their approximate ages, cemeteries, etc.) Carysbrook is a mid -19th century dwelling made up of a central section and two side wings. The central section of the house is two stories constructed of frame on a laid stone foundati It is three bays on the front side, with a door and two windows next to it. It is thus asymmetrical. It has a gable roof of standing seam metal and an interior end brick chimney. The siding was originally weatherboard although most of it has been removed. The house has basically been gutted. The windows, doors, siding and mantlepiece are all missing. The windows were probably 6/6 sashes. The surveyor found architrave trim and corner blocks aroun several of the window openings. This central portion of the house is flanked by two one story wings which were probably built very soon after the main portion of the house. These wings are of frame construction with brick nagging. For the most part the siding has been removed and the nogging exposed. Some of the original siding, board and batten, still can be found in the gable ends of the wings. The wings both have interior end brick chimneti As with the main portion of the house, the wings have been stripped of all their woodwork, mantlepieces, windows and doors. It appears that a frame wing had been added to the south one story wing sometime in the 20th century. An outline of a mantlepiece can be seen on the exterior wall of the south one story wing which would have been an interior wall for the 20th century wing. On the end of the north one story wing is the entrance to the cellar. The cellar is lined with coursed rubble and appears to have occupied the area under the entire wing. Carysbrook is in very poor condition because it has been stripped of so many of its archit( tural elements. Its architectural form is very unusual for this area as is the use of the two different construction methods. Interior inspected? yes, partially Historical significance (Chain of title; individuals, families, events, etc., associated with the property.) INFORMATION ON OUTBUILDINGS: None of the outbuildings at Carysbrook remain. Just to the north of the house are the ruins of what was probably the meathouse. There are also some ruins NE of the house which were most probably farm -related outbuildings such as barns, chicken coops and corn cribs. 72+ Ae 7,y ,1 7 F �/ l k- .�. - '� / Its '`o:, �1 ,•a. r~�' n� _j 7� t/ ✓v )) �� 0 :J�J %- i' 730 SES - �� -� - .I I'E'Q7l,Uj�^ k ♦, _ - _, (jL{IIS Cha - 732 i OUA RRY f q rT,1�Y E'�).�lf'7]5 City 771 •,P4`y .z _ 842 7I8p 724 �rc` Double To B 37 •:' y" Ch_ i a ♦ 1. 1,., O M 672 'auClaLse +He[he1 Cb. yrs , G' 1Y / / l � 09� ZO I-•4�:-- i��liRL4S - 1, Y . At. CSL•. 1'2 64 1825000 - _7''`�s 1tfiI1 . _ R;d,,,,� YARDS �.aChap -'1677 , 1677 v i� • ' •c .. �� ...,+`"t-ic- +u' -I• 57.3 , f AM-\ –•"�"i ce 1tilIIc�\t'h `��h<� r• y `. eC, ,7 �2 R uro 1- .r O I RP�1.e�110E ,/ i.; • r� ei -� 538 a ,� F 695• 1 WIS" •/ �1650oU •APGS /_' 10. - / �r}� Topograpl-y .y J.O.Klmartin,il.R,Kilmer 6} �� fi•n, V 1Jc and G. F. We E, r.Qho�e �1 l c +.r DI 1111, 3s .. Srn: .1,'a � ry,. ;'rand i)18 z. � R:'r�. � ♦. � 0 1 1946 e z n v •'K7(/ ^(100 IiKa a---� – �'�_ wr�o COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA DIVISION OF MINERAL RESOURCES 5362 1/ NW /41 12130" WINCHESTER 4 ael.�fWlNCHESTER) Ml TO INTERCHANGE 80'44 101 t b - - 3) 75 o p INTE`RCHANG�- 0 a/ 79 r Ir Wj 730 / f.5 1 f / Bartonvill� l^ .ng a i 64. 1 / F •� i 7>9 aJ1 ar - y-, - 1 %,• • J / n � - . L1 I o -- �ia� (gyp '- • I 73 ti- � J 7 •� ° 7 ephen City (BM 7 3-1 Ii + - Radio Facil4y, - x WT� rr s ! NTE •1 H� Y •AIY� •� �. 1 �•. - Sha e A 77� L •4 * , R �.�'fix. IBM 41 k .a. + ( --ter "�nsF ;,�F. t . I - 4 •!t J 'T 140 d- f •' Lei 77� L •4 * , R �.�'fix. IBM 41 k .a. + ( --ter "�nsF ;,�F. t . DIVISION OT_ HISTORIC LANDMARI' i, SURVEY FORM y. Negative no(s). 9612 Historic name Cary's Bro 1c Redoubt Common name Carysbrook Redoubt County/Town/City Rural Bounty Street address or route number off of Rt. 642 USGS Quad Stephens City Date or period c. Fall of 1864 Original owner Architect/builder/craftsmen Union army Original use redoubt Present owner Source of name Present owner address Source of date historical information Stories Present use none Foundation and wall const'n Acreage earth Roof type State condition of structure and environs overgrown State potential threats to structure property has just been purchased by a developer. Note any archaeological interest This Civil War redoubt has the potential of yielding quite a bit of historical information tu�ui� archaei investi�v�lShoesttgateYorosll nn�lr'yes ❑ no bdIf yes, maybe as part of a multiple nominati Architectural description (Note significant features of plan, structural system and interior and exterior decoration, taking care to point out aspects not visible or clear from photographs. Explain nature and period of all alterations and additions. List any outbuildings and their approximate ages, cemeteries, etc.) This Civil War redoubt is located NW of the house Carysbrook (34-319). It is in very good condition although it is overgrown. It appears that it is in its complete form. The Carysbrook- redoubt was probably built during the fall of 1864 after Sheridan had secured this portion of the Valley. It was built by Union soldiers and is just one of several entrenchments and fortifications built of earth in the area. It appears to be one of the best preserved ones. one can assume that the Union army camped in 1864. This means that there is the potential (See attached map) I merior inspected? this area and occupied it during this period in for quite a bit of archaeological investigatio. I listorical significance (Chain of title; individuals, families, events, etc., zissexiated witIII lie property.) - -. 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F. \h'a�' r�ho��A s t,�n._v LLE - 3:-L AID z .v �V 0 •.+.r '_�'-� 19.?.'i ra-+a-vrl.rc > ::.'.v� rzcv„' .n 0 ..ui r.Y' - - - � _ 1 r z - -"JG6 l-_Nr__ [K10 COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA DIVISION OF MINERAL RESOURCES 5362 11 NW 741 u WINCHESTER 4 MI )(WINCHESTER) X,> MI. TO INTERCHANGE 80'44 10' 2 6 A' l' r ' �INTERCHANG 79 • ,�. � -, , ` � � __ o, -� �o°�� Qui - ��, — _ - i, {I _ 730 Cem • 96 Bartoni•ill � - • / ' `• C, � 1 � - %11 - ✓rte 5 / ring 1(� /X �� /� � � � Adz _ `� �'• � _ "Jo 7. � I , V 4 p o O / Imo. \ \ — � • 1 / -- • 1 720 / l I ephen City IBM 7 lj% ,�,,Ls ./ Radio fi's%' ❑ FauliS� i �� 5�5 V. If ♦� � � - !� l � rte' ��• ` IIJ 1..{a I �• • _ - -� AB 1, I ♦ /� ��.� fry 0 �' ' � � . • � � `� _ � � �. ♦ �r '•psi♦ •!�' � •l' �� ,�� r 'r24 v INTE H f I{ C 'Op `00 % /, f�� /.' \ �, u • •792• Q 4 -�• �0O. - �`- FREDERICK COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE POLICY PLAN HISTORY SECTION 1990 ROUGH DRAFT HISTORY For 12,000 years a sparse population of Indians lived in this area, but many more traveled through on the Indian Path from New York and Pennsylvania to winter in Georgia and South Carolina. The first Europeans to come through the Shenandoah Valley were Jesuit missionaries in 1632, and details of this wilderness area were first shown on a map by a Frenchman, Samuel de Champlain. English ownership of Frederick County was originally by the Virginia Company but was taken over by the Crown in 1624. In 1649, Charles II granted seven royalist supporters the land "bounded by and within the heads" of the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers. By 1681, Thomas, the Second Lord Culpeper, owned most of this original land grant. After he died in 1689, his daughter married Thomas, the Fifth Lord Fairfax, and later, their son Thomas, the Sixth Lord Fairfax, inherited the whole landgrant. By the 1650's various traders, trappers, and explorers were coming to the Shenandoah Valley. Dr. John Lederer from Hamburg Germany documented his visit to the Valley in 1670 in his diary. English colonel, Cadwallader Jones, explored the central Valley in 1673, and in 1716, Governor Alexander Spotswood and his fifty "Knights of the Golden Horseshoe" crossed into the Valley through Swift Run Gap and returned with glowing accounts. Englishmen settled the piedmont, then pushed west by foot and horse through passes in the Blue Ridge, and many more German and Scotch -Irish settlers came down the valleys from Philadelphia and Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Some of the earliest settlers were Quakers who built the Hopewell Friends Meeting House which still stands near Clearbrook. These settlers were attracted by the fertile soils and the abundant forest and water resources. The Government of Colonial Virginia wanted this wilderness settled as quickly as possible, as a buffer against Indians, but Robert "King" Carter, Lord Fairfax's agent, was settling Fairfax's land slowly in large plantations. The government of Virginia had chartered counties in the landgrant as settlement spread up the Northern Neck and west through the land grant. Virginia began to 2 argue that Fairfax's landgrant ended at the Blue Ridge, and began granting up to 1,000 acres each to settler families west of the Blue Ridge. Virginia gave particular developers the right to recruit settlers and sell them up to 1,000 acres per family within a general "grant" area. Each parcel would revert to Virginia unless settled with a house and orchard within two years. Abraham Hollingsworth settled near the site of Abrams Delight in about 1729. Owen Thomas and Jeremiah Smith came to Back Creek in 1730 and settled on 806 acres granted in Thomas' name. Smith left and returned with a wife before 1741. His log cabin is now part of a house west of Back Creek and south of Route 50. In 1732, Jost Hite settled 16 families on his 5,000 acre "grant" and built Hite's fort at Bartonville. The Indian Path became the Great Wagon Road and Indians were dispossessed westward by treaty and force of arms. Frederick County was created from western Orange County by the House of Burgesses on December 21, 1738 and was named after the Prince of Wales. James Wood, County Surveyor for Orange County, platted a town at the County seat, which he named Winchester, after his birthplace. It consisted of 26 half -acre lots and three streets within 1300 acres, which he claimed as wilderness land owned by Virginia. Those streets are now Loudoun, Boscawen and Cameron Streets. County government in Virginia was originally by self-perpetuating courts. Frederick County's Court was proclaimed and organized in 1743, and its officials took their oaths of office on November 11 of that year. It first met at the surveying office of its clerk, James Wood, at the site on which he later built Glen Burnie. By 1743, the Frederick County court admitted that Lord Fairfax's land included the County. At the age of 16, George Washington was a member of a surveying party that came to Frederick County for Lord Fairfax in 1748. In 1749, Lord Fairfax moved to Frederick County and built his home, Greenway Court, at White Post. He accepted Wood's 1,300 acre claim and other additional lots at Winchester. Eventually, eleven other counties would be created from the 3,824 square miles included in the original Frederick County. 3 George Washington was associated with Winchester and Frederick County between the years of 1748 and 1765. Early during those years he maintained a surveying office in Winchester. During the French and Indian War, he was given a Commission and later made Commander in Chief of the colonial forces with headquarters in Winchester. Washington held his first elective offices representing Frederick County, having been elected to the house of Burgesses in 1758 and 1761. Winchester played an important part in the American Revolution. Local riflemen under the command of Daniel Morgan were among the first to join the fight. During the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries life in the current Frederick County area centered around small family farms. Local farms tended to be smaller than farms to the east. During this period wheat production became the center of the local economy, along with cattle production. In 1820, there were fifty flour mills in Frederick County along with numerous sawmills, tanneries, and other business activities. Economic life was centered around Winchester and other local towns including Stephens City, Middletown, Kernstown, and Gainesboro. There were a large number and diversity of craftsmen and merchants in these towns. The strongest influence on the local economy was the Great Wagon Road, which later became Route 11 south and which carried settlers and travelers from Philadelphia, south through the Valley and to the west. Activity associated with this road made Winchester one of the largest towns in western Virginia. Frederick County played a significant part in the Civil War. The northern Shenandoah Valley supplied food, livestock, horses, and soldiers to the southern cause. The Valley was also important because of its strategic location in relation to Washington D.C. The town of Winchester changed hands in the war about 70 times, an average of once every three weeks for four years. Major local battles included the First Battle of Kernstown in March of 1862, during which General Stonewall Jackson suffered his only tactical defeat during the Valley Campaign but did succeed in keeping Union troops in the Valley from leaving to reinforce McClellan on the peninsula. In May of 1862, Jackson's army defeated the Union troops at the First Battle of Winchester. 4 In the Second Battle of Winchester in 1863, confederate troops successfully attacked and defeated Union troops occupying forts on the western side of Winchester. Union troops were again defeated at the second battle of Kernstown in 1864. At the Third Battle of Winchester General Philip Sheridan's Union troops successfully attacked confederate troops at Winchester. With the high numbers of losses on both sides, a new war of attrition was to begin in the Valley from which the southern forces would never recover. For three weeks in 1864, Sheridan's troops undertook the infamous "Burning" to end Confederate strength in the Valley. Union troops burned 2,000 barns, 120 mills, and a half a million bushels of grain and confiscated 50,000 head of livestock in the Valley. Virginia's richest valley was left desolate. In October of 1864, Jubal Early's Confederate troops were entrenched south of Cedar Creek. The Union troops were encamped just north of Cedar Creek. A surprise attack by the Confederates drove the Union troops to the north. General Sheridan rallied his troops and attacked, driving the Confederates back across Cedar Creek. This victory helped boost Union morale and helped President Lincoln win reelection. After the war, old economic activities resumed and new activities began. New businesses included a tannery, dairying, farm machinery, and shipping. A variety of agricultural activities continued. Fruit growing and processing became particularly important early in the twentieth century. Economic activities continued to diversify in the twentieth century to include a number of manufacturing activities including plastics, automotive products, containers and other products. Activities continued to be based on the accessibility of the area and on north -south travel along the route that was once the Great Wagon Road and is now Route it and Interstate 81. Historic Preservation There are a number of historic sites in Frederick County. The following sites are listed on both the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register: Belle Grove Hopewell Friends Meeting House 5 Monte Vista Springdale House and Mill Complex Willa Cather House (birthplace) St. Thomas Episcopal Church (Middletown) There are a number of other historic sites in the County. There are also several Civil War battlefield sites that played an important role in that conflict. The Civil War Sites include the following: Battlefields: First and Second Battles of Third Battle of Winchester First and Second Battles of Cedar Creek Fortifications: Star Fort Collier Redoubt Parkins Mill Battery Entrenchments• Nineteenth Corps Line 1864 - 1865 Winter Line Winchester Kernstown There is a need to locate and document all historic structures and sites in the County so that as the County develops methods can be applied to these areas of significance in an effort to protect, enhance and preserve them. In 1988, acting on behalf of the Frederick County Board of Supervisors, the Winchester -Frederick County Historical Society applied for and received an $18,000.00 Threatened Properties Matching Grant from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR). The Board of Supervisors contributed $15,000.00 and the Historical Society donated $3,000.00 for a combined budget of $36,000.00 for the survey. Over 750 properties were documented in this phase of the survey. A second Threatened Properties Matching Grant was received, and phase two of the survey work began in June of 1990. C: The area covered in phase one of the survey is show in figure (mapl). The results of this inventory will be an indispensable foundation for an effective preservation program within the County, providing vital information to aid in the planning process. In 1989 the Board of Supervisors established the Historic Resources Advisory Board (HRAB), to provide detailed information on historic resources to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors. The HRAB is charged with the following: Developing standards and criteria to be utilized in evaluating which sites are of significance. Using the standards, select particular sites and geographic areas which would be recommended to the Board of Supervisors for recognition as historically significant and historic districts, respectively. Develop recommendations on additional methods to be used to preserve historic resources. Review particular development proposals. Develop recommendations on the use of historic resources in association with tourism, economic development and education. Historic sites should not be singled out on the basis of arbitrary decisions, but on established criteria and documentation. Currently, the HRAB is compiling a list of potentially significant sites from those surveyed, based on established criteria. The list is a first step, and consists of those sites which the HBAB will evaluate against more detailed standards in order to begin recommending sites for recognition as locally significant. Of the areas surveyed to date, those sites which are seen as the most significant are shown in figure (map 10). In addition to individual properties, several areas of the County have been identified as having potential for historic districts. These areas are shown in figure (maple). 7 {BATTLEFIELD MAPI Zoning or other regulatory methods can be used to help protect the most important resources. In addition, incentives allowed by law for the rehabilitation, adaptive reuse or restoration of historic structures should be considered. Care should be taken in the design and provision of streets and utilities in historic areas to maintain the historical integrity and character of historic areas. The protection of historic areas should be carefully considered in establishing new roads. Land use patterns should be planned that are harmonious with the historic environment. Historic preservation can play an important role in economic development. Tourism is an important local industry. The possibility of improving the attractiveness of the area to tourists should be considered in a systematic manner. The protection of historic resources will play an important role in this effort. Historic Preservation Policy A number of historic preservation issues have been identified, including the following: The need to identify, document and designate historic sites, structures and landscapes The need to protect and promote the economic and cultural importance of historic resources The need to develop methods to protect historic resources. The following are policies for historic preservation. Goal - Protect the historic resources in Frederick County. Strategy 1 - Inventory and designate historic sites and districts in the County. Strategy 2 - Study and adopt methods to preserve historic resources. Strategy 3 - Incorporate historic resources in efforts to promote tourism. 2 Strategy 4 - Carefully consider the impacts of land use, development and facility decisions on historic resources. Strategy 5 - Develop a comprehensive approach to historic preservation which will result in a system of sites and battlefields dedicated or protected in a coordinated fashion. Strategy 6 - Establish an historic resources education program aimed at increasing the publics awareness of the abundance of significant historic sites in the County. Implementation Methods: 1. Undertake a complete investigation, documentation, evaluation, and recognition of historic sites. Recognize sites with a process of plaques and signs. Identify those which may be eligible for the State and National register and assist in the preparation and submission of nominations. 2. Continue to use the Historic Resources Advisory Committee to assist the County with information and recommendations on historic resources. Carefully consider the impacts of decisions concerning land use, roads, utilities, and facilities on historic resources. 3. Develop techniques for protecting and enhancing historic resources including the designations of historic districts, zoning methods, impact analysis, and voluntary methods such as conservation easements and tax incentives for rehabilitation efforts. Strong support should be given to private initiatives such as voluntary compliance with the Secretary of the Interiors Standards for Rehabilitation. 4. Develop clear standards for the creation and regulation of historic districts which provide fair and effective means of protection as well as give design guidance. 5. Include concerns for historic preservation and tourism in economic development strategies. Promote the concept of a Historic Weekend to consisting of reenactments, tours, exhibits and other activities. Maintain a list and map of historic sites throughout the County. Develop brochures which 10 list sites of interest and show locations. 5. Use the dedication of land and historic districts to develop a comprehensive system for historic site preservation. Utilize the system of battlefield memorials and districts to promote education and tourism. Designate areas to be dedicated in the Comprehensive Plan. 6. Develop a series of educational slide presentations, and lectures to promote historic preservation. Create a document to guide builders and others interested in preservation regulations. 11 Administrative Procedures. - Content of report(s) and materials to be submitted with application for certificate of appropriateness. - Schedule for hearing of Design Review Board. * Bylaws for DRB - Procedures for appeal of DRB determination to the Board of Supervisor. Draft outline Statement of Purpose. The Historic Area District (HA) is Intended to effect and accomplish the protection, enhancement, and perpetuation of especially noteworthy examples, or elements, of the County's cultural, social, economic, religious, political, or architectural history in order to: a. Foster civic pride and preserve an appreciation for the historic values on which the County and the Nation were founded; b. Maintain and improve property values; c. Protect and enhance the County's attractiveness to tourists and visitors; d. Provide for the education and general welfare of the people of the County; and e. Otherwise accomplish the general intent of this ordinance. Procedures for establishing District Boundaries. - HRAB would make recommendations to Board of Supervisors of areas for adoption as historic districts. * Begin with information from Maral's work, designate potential areas in Comprehensive Plan. - Would include procedures for bodies involved to follow. Criteria for determining historic significance. - Develop criteria to include architectural style, as well as historic and cultural significance. * May flow from guidelines developed for determining local significance. District Regulations. - What activities will be regulated. * demolition * construction or reconstruction * alterations * relocation - Any regulations normally covered in the will be different under the HA overlay regulations, lot size etc.). - Include guidelines for determining proposals submitted for certificate of underlying zone which (ie. setbacks, Height appropriateness of appropriateness. HISTORIC AREA OVERLAY DISTRICT DISCUSSION OF PROCESS AND DRAFT OUTLINE overlay Concent• An Historic Area Overlay District would supplement the existing zoning of an area where it was enacted. Uses permitted, lot size regulations and required setbacks could remain the same as permitted by the underlying zoning. Method of Implementation: Sites of historic significance, along with land closely related to and bearing upon the character of those sites, as recommended by the HRAB, and designated by the Board of Supervisors, would be established as Historic Area districts. Boundaries of the site would be established prior to the time of recommendation of the district by the HRAB and would be included in their recommendation to the Board of Supervisors. Once established, the boundaries could be amended through the same process used to established the district initially. Administration of the District: Once a district is established, regulations pertaining to the district would be administered by the Zoning Administrator. When activities controlled by the regulations were proposed, a permit application for the activity would be forwarded to a Design Review Board established by the Board of Supervisors. The Design Review Board would evaluate the application for its appropriateness. The Review Board would utilize established guidelines for appropriateness to make their determination. Activities which might require a permit from the Design Review Board would be such things as construction, reconstruction or exterior alterations, demolition or relocation of any structures or landmarks within the established district(s). 11( /e.' y/d3lFo FOUNDATION ENGINEERING OF VIRGINIA, Consulting Geotechnical Engineers & Geologists 11 WAREHOUSE ROAD HARRISONBURG, VA 22801 Telephone: (703) 434-4135 Mr. Stephen Owen Assistant County Administrator County of Frederick 9 Court Square P. 0. Box 601 Winchester, VA 22601 RE: Cursory Structural Evaluation Shawneeland Lodge Shawneeland Subdivision Frederick County, Virginia FEV Project No.: S-336 Dear Steve: 2050 GARBER ROAD WINCHESTER, VA 22601 Telephone: (703) 667-9300 April 18, 1990 In response to your request, we have completed a cursory structural evaluation of the Shawneeland Lodge located near the entrance to the Shawneeland Subdivision immediately downstream of the existing Cherokee Dam. The purpose of our inspection was to determine by visual means, the relative structural condition of the lodge facility and provide conclusions regarding the feasibility of renovating the facility to meet current BOCA requirements. Our initial site inspection on April 3, 1990, revealed that the partial basement underlying the original log cabin which comprises the center of the lodge facility was flooded to a depth of approximately three (3) feet. Therefore, a second inspection was made on April 4, 1990 after the basement area had been dewatered and the permanent drain serving a natural spring had been unclogged. This report highlights the combined observations and conclusions collected during those inspections. SOIL BORINGS AND GEOLOGIC AND SOILS AND CONSTRUCTION FOUNDATION INVESTIGATIONS GROUNDWATER STUDIES MATERIALS TESTING TESTING AND INSPECTION Mr. Stephen Owen RF: 5-336 April 18, 1990 Page 2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION The existing Shawneeland Lodge or Tecumsah Lodge as it was ori gi nal 1 y called was constructed around an old log cabin which dates to 1750 according to a historical record displayed in the main lobby of the lodge_ The actual sequence of construction that has occurred since the construction of the original log cabin is a mystery. However, it appears that the two (2) story log cabin included at least two (2) additions, both of which utilized hand hewn timbers and field stone foundations. The original log cabin was purposefully constructed over an active spring which still maintains a flow on the order of 100 gallons per minute. The spring enters the partial basement in the southwest corner and exists along the east wall where it is intercepted by a clay pipe and diverted to an existing pond via a 4 " PVC pipe. A concrete and brick lined trough has been constructed along the south foundation wall to channel flows through the basement. This channel and the concrete floor were obviously added long after the construction of the original log cabin. A massive stone fireplace dominates the center of the original log cabin. It appears that the log cabin was expanded to the north completely encircling the fireplace and chimney. This expansion consisted of hand hewn, rough cut timbers ranging from oak to pine. There is evidence to indicate that a porch once covered the front of the house. This porch and its structural members had been removed to accommodate future construction. A small addition had been constructed on the rear of the log cabin to provide a covered stairwell • to the basement and second floor. This addition was later expanded to accommodate a bathroom on the second floor. We suspect that the next major addition to the log cabin was a two (2) story structure approximately 36' by 451, which currently houses the kitchen and several of the guest bedrooms. This segment of the existing lodge has been designated as area 4 on the attached sketch. This structure consists of a wood frame and shingled roof. No records are available to support the actual date of construction. However, it appears that this portion of the lodge was constructed in the late 30's or 40's. Mr. Stephen Owen RE: S-336 April 18, 1990 Page 3 Since the construction of the above two (2) story addition, the lodge has undergone numerous alterations and renovations. These have included the construction of a single story wrap-around addition with a flat roof designated as segment 2 on the attached sketch. This area which is approximately 20 feet in width was apparently constructed on what used to be a concrete patio. A new patio or porch area consisting of brick pavers was constructed in front of this wrap-around addition. This single story addition was constructed with exterior masonry walls, slab--on--grade and a flat built-up roof. The roof has experienced severe deterioration from wet rot. Other additions along the back of the structures have been added at some point in time to augment the space requirements of the old lodge. It appears that two (2) of these additions designated 5 and 6 on the attached sketch were constructed on past patio sites. SITE OBSERVATIONS The existing lodge is located in a geological area with many active springs. The presence of a dam approximately 200 yards upgradi ent from the lodge has enhanced the recharge of these spri ngs . The spring activity behind and under the existing lodge have created saturated subsurface conditions and moisture problems in areas which are not well ventilated. The existing basement area is a prime example of structural deterioration caused by high moisture contents. This problem will persist unless an extensive surface and subsurface drainage system is implemented to direct water away from the lodge. The following discussion describes our observations relative to the apparent structural conditions of the lodge at the time of our site inspections. For discussion purposes, we have subdivided the building into seven (7) segments with similar structural character! st! cs . These segments are highlighted on the attached sketch. SEGMENT 1: This area represents the existing open patio which fronts the entire lodge. The patio consists of brick pavers placed on a sand base. Minor subsidence in isolated areas has caused some deterioration of the paver surface. The entire patio is bordered Mr. Stephen Owen RE: S-336 April 18, 1990 Page 4 by a stone wall. Minor remedial repairs would be required to restore this area. SEGMENT 2: This segment encapsulates the single story wrap-around area which was most probably added In the mid 50's or early 60's. The structural components include masonry load bearing walls, concrete slab -on -grade and a flat built-up roof. The roof has experienced severe deterioration from moisture and would require complete replacement. The walls and slab -oh -grade appears to be in good condition. Several of the chimneys or range vents associated with this segment do not meet current code requirements and will require demolition. SEGMENT 3: The log cabin is located within this area. This portion of the lodge has been modified drastically to incorporate a bar, bathrooms and additional bed -rooms. It is difficult to determine how much of the original log cabin still remains intact. The original log roof rafters have almost been completely replaced by rough cut 2 by 8's and 1 x 12 pine boards. This relatively new roof appears to be in good condition. The walls of the log cabin have been removed in places to accommodate the various addi ti ons . For the most part, the original logs have been covered by stucco on the exterior and panelling and/or wall board on the interior. We inspected the hand hewn logs in several isolated areas by removing the panelling or wall board. Generally, the logs appeared to be in rel a ti vel y good condition for a structure constructed in 1750. Several of the logs appeared to have incurred some insect damage. The timber joists supporting the second floor appeared to be in excellent condition. However, the rough cut logs supporting the first floor are in very poor condition, especially those overlying the basement. These timbers have incurred severe wet rot and insect damage. In their present condition, they represent a potential safety hazard. The floor timbers within the low crawl space located to the north of the fire place have also suffered some deterioration from insect damage and will require replacement if the log cabin is restored. Mr. Stephen Owen RL: S-336 April 18, 1990 Page 5 In general, the overall restoration of the log cabin will require a great deal of effort and financial investment to meet current code requirements. SEGMENT 4: This two (2) story -structure appears to be in relatively good condition. Generally, the entire structure is constructed of wood except for possibly the foundation. We were not able to find an entrance into the crawl space. The minor structural deficiencies created by recent vandalism could be easily repaired. However, these repairs do not include cosmetic repairs to windows, doors, walls, etc. These types of repairs could be quite costly. Also, plumbing, mechanical and el ectri cal items would require complete renovation to meet current code requirements. SEGMENT 5: This area is basically a large, open room with exposed ceiling beams supporting a shed type roof. The floor appears to be a slab -on -grade that was once used as an open patio. Generally, this area which includes a fireplace appears to be in very good condition, structurally, especially the ceiling beams. SEGMENT 6: This two (2) story addition was added on the site of a previous open patio. It generally consists of a wood frame with a gable roof. Except for vandalized damaged windows and some siding deterioration, this addition appears to be in good condition. It is currently being used as a storage area for boxes of paper and books. This concentrated loading had deflected the floor approximately 1 inch. The long-term effect of this deflection can not be evaluated without a detailed structural analysis. SEGMENT 7: This two (2) story structure was obviously added to provide access to the second floor of the log cabin and to the basement of the log cabin. The stairwells associated with this segment have incurred severe deterioration caused by moisture. The foundations which consist of field stone have also deteriorated causing deflection of the walls. This addition is not worth saving and should be demolished. CONCLUSIONS Based on our visual examination of the lodge facility, we conclude that extensive renovation efforts would be required to restore and upgrade the existing building and its additions to Mr. Stephen Owen RE: S-336 April 18, 1990 Page 6 conform to current BOCA structural requirements. This renovation does not include the additional renovation required in areas related to architectural, e1 ectri cal , plumbing and mechanical systems. We can only estimate, based on our past experience, that costs in the range of $282,000 to $752,000 should be anticipated if a complete renovation is considered. These costs are based on a total area of 9,400 square feet and a restoration/renovation cost of $30 to $80 per square foot. These costs are not unrealistic due to the nature of the construction and what would actually be required to renovate the structures to meet current standards. In our opinion, it would be more feasible to demolish the existing lodge to remove a potential safety hazard. After further study, it may prove desireabl e to save and restore a portion of the log cabin and the existing spring as a focal point for a future recreation area. LIMITATIONS This report has been prepared by Foundation Engineering of Virginia (FEV) for the excl usi ve use of Frederick County for specific application to the evaluation of the Shawneel and Lodge. We have inspected the building described in this report in accordance with our understanding of the nature and scope of the assignment. The intent of this report is to fairly present our professional opinion as to the condition of the structure based on the information provided to us and visual observations. Unless otherwise stated, we have reported only those items usually inspected. It is not always possible or feasible to remove portions of construction in order to expose concealed and, thus, not apparent conditions. Therefore, this report does not constitute a representation of such conditions and should not be viewed as such. It does, however, reflect our professional opinion as stated in the report as qualified by the above. Mr_ Stephen Owen RE: 5-330 April 18, 1990 Page 7 We trust this information will satisfy your needs at this time. If you have any questions or require further information, please feel free to call. Sincerely, TION ENGINEERING OF VIRGINIA Harvey Strawsnyder,vJr.;' P.E. Vice Ptel3ident Enclosures S-336 SEGMENT DESCRIPTION 1 Open porch area. Appears to be brick pavers placed on sand base. Area enclosed by a stone wall . Minor subsidence exists near steps. 2 Single story with flat shed roof. This area was apparently the last major addition to the lodge and constructed over the original porch area. It basically consists of a slab -on -grade masonry exterior bearing walls and a flat built up roof on wood rafters. The roof is leaking badly and has deteriorated. 3 This area represents the original log cabin which may have been constructed in two (2) or possibly three (3) phases. This structure has been drastically modified as a result of the construction of segments 2 and 4. The roof framing of this structure has almost been completely replaced by new wood members. The original log cabin included a partial basement., first and second floors and a large stone chimney. A spring currently flows through the basement. Wet rot has severely deteriorated the first floor support members. Basement drainage has caused partial deterioration of first members underlain by a small crawl space. The exterior hand hewn logs appear to be in reasonably good condition, considering they were placed in 1 750 . 4 This area includes a two (2) story structure which utilizes a wood structural frame, shingle roof and a crawl space. There was no access to the crawl space. The roof appeared to be in good condition except for minor leakage and deterioration of the shingles. Recent vandalism has damaged several of the second floor interior walls. 5 This single story addition was apparently added after area 4. It utilizes a flat shed roof and a s1 ab -on -grade. The exposed cei 1 i ng/roof beams appear to be in excellent condition. This area may have been once utilized as a patio prior to covering. Page 2 SEGMENT DESCRIPTION 6 This area is similar to area 5, except a second story was added. The first floor is a slab -on -grade and appears to have been used as a patio at one time. Except for the deteriorated shingles, this portion of the structure appeared to be in good condi ti on. 7 The age of this portion of the lodge appears to be .somewhere between the log cabin and area 4. Basically, this area was added to accommodate a stairwell and bathroom area to serve the log cabin. The foundation and wood support walls for this area are in very poor condition. . In fact, the foundations exposed within the basement stairwell are sloughing and causing severe deterioration of the wall supports. FOUNDATION ''NGINEERING OF VIII" -""'NIA Consulting oeotechnical Engineers & Geologists FEV 11 WAREHOUSE ROAD 2050 GARBER ROAD HARRISONBURG, VA 22801 WINCHESTER, VA 22601 Telephone: (703) 434-4135 Telephone: (703) 667-9300 E THE GOLDSMITH "~ . COUNTRY '. ti 114[ 01 lEl[I [[L4iN11N'11A1[t 1943 11110 �. � �" wy Sfnnt In1YiY Iflnlnrl niWll 11 111 Ilio � yW Irl N.hb M111 91 W414111-4 rW j HISTORICAL MARKERS: planning local programs By Raymond F. Pisney Executive Director Woodrow Wilson Birthplace Foundation, Inc. Choosing Markers More than one-third of the local historical societies and area preservation agencies in the United States use markers of one sort or another to interpret history and historic places to residents of their communities and to visitors from elsewhere. This widespread use of historical markers demonstrates their effectiveness as part of the total interpretive effort. A comprehensive program of inter- pretation designed to communicate history to many audiences involves using the his- torical environment itself (building interiors, exteriors, the surroundings) , oral interpreters, exhibits, audio -visuals, publications, and historical markers. Currently, most statewide marker programs are already organized and fully operational, but new local programs seem to be springing up daily. The decision to develop a marking pro- gram should not be taken lightly, and local organizations contemplating such a program should consider the varied possibilities in using markers at their properties and sites. In studying the project, the agency should first make basic decisions about whether markers are really needed, what purposes they will serve, what form they will take, and how they may be paid for. A major consideration should be whether markers will enhance or have a detrimental effect on the total program; there may be instances when staff and money diverted to plaques could cripple other programs that might be doing the job of interpretation quite effectively. Some advantages to using well-planned historical markers are that they provide simplified interpretation and furnish essen- tial knowledge in capsule form—they are quickly read and understood; they may be used for both on-site and off-site interpreta- tion; and they require no full-time inter- pretive personnel. Some disadvantages are that they require a continuing program of maintenance and repair; being inanimate, they can be readily ignored or missed completely; they are easily vandalized, thereby reducing the program's impact and effectiveness; they are not an effective substitute for the three- dimensional historical environment itself— they can only supplement it; and, placed in the wrong spot, markers can cause real confusion to residents and travelers alike. More and more local agencies, however, count the advantages of a properly planned marker program as greater than the disad- vantages. Getting under Way Once the decision is made to use histori- cal markers as part of the interpretation Program, the agency staff should prepare a carefully written report recording in de- tail the organization's reasons for the under- taking. That will help staff and advisers, later on, to develop necessary procedures and anticipate problems. Clear, definite authority is a must for an orderly and reputable marker program. After an organization decides to undertake such a program, one of the first steps is to obtain official sanction. Both privately financed organizations and those supported by public funds need proper legal authori- zation to put a historical marker program into effect. Such authorization can be pro- vided for a private agency by its trustees. Legislative or executive action can clear the way for a state program; city or county government programs may be sanctioned by the city council or county commissioners. It is important to have the legal authoriza- tion formalized, as well as absolutely cor- rect, because the marking designation and attendant certification could have conse- quences later in protecting a landmark threatened by a project involving the use of federal funds. To maintain high standards of objectivity and quality and to protect its reputation, the society or agency should establish a formal advisory committee. Part of the work of that committee will be to study subjects proposed for markers and to approve or deny each proposal received. The commit- tee should include prominent local authori- ties knowledgeable in as many aspects of history, architecture, and archaeology as Possible. Often, community college faculty members will serve as advisers; local law- yers, businessmen, and professional people with specialized information on the area and its history are excellent choices and help to provide balance and objectivity. Clear-cut criteria should be established to help the advisory committee in authoriz- ing markers and composing inscriptions for them. Reviewing the primary objectives of a marking program often helps here: markers should inform interested visitors about places or events that are architec- turally or historically important, and, with- out editorializing or expressing interpreta- tions that could be erroneous, thev should encourage people to visit the sites men- tioned. Subjects for Markers What subjects qualify for markers? Suit- able rnies should help to give a halancrcl. caimprehensive coverage to tine hntcm cd a 1( ality or region, and they shield aptx-Al to the histone sense: of the general public. Do chumhes, schcx)ls, C14legm c o)mmcretal buildings, and all historic houses merit markers? What about battlefields, court- houses, Indian sites? Cities and towns? Many organizations find it advisable to delete some subject areas altogether and to limit many others to specific time periods. Markers for churches, houses, and colleges are often limited to structures founded before some agreed-upon date. Inclusion of towns and cities per se could run the num- ber of sites marked into astronomical figures. Most marking programs do not include them. Battlefields and Indian sites are often selected or amitted according to order of significance. Often, too, these properties come within a state or national marking program. And although local topics may be of substantial importance, genealogical or family markers should be discouraged. Research and Authentication All subjects chosen for marking, whatever their category, should be authentic, all facts concerning them well documented. A criteria checklist should be prepared for the advisory committee's use in evaluating the historical significance of a subject, its de- sign and architectural values, environmental character, and present or future use. Mem- bers of each organization will also develop procedures of their own that experience has shown will work in their community. Re- search to determine the validity and sig- nificance of all subjects proposed for markers should begin with receipt of the proposal. Many organizations ask that re- quests for markers be accompanied by whatever historical information the sponsors have for the subject. That information should be thoroughly researched by staff people—ideally, by a staff historian, or perhaps by historians on the advisory committee. Once it has been verified in contemporary documents, the subject should be reviewed and approved or disapproved by the committee. Organizations with a quality marking program will not consider putting up a historical marker for any subject unless primary source material can be found for each statement used. Facts must be verified in original manuscripts and records. If the proposed subject is found to be authentic, text for the marker can be composed from the research material. Marker Types Five basic kinds of historical markers are used today, with many subtypes and variants within those general categories. Most local societies and agencies usually choose from one or more of the following marker types. Designation plaques and seals. In this category are medallions, plaques, seals, and signs used to designate important buildings in cities where surveys of historic places have been conducted or where area preser- vation is undertaken as a community activ- ity. These markers are comparatively small, though size varies for all the different types of markers. Designation plaques often meas- ure 10 to 15 inches in diameter or a com- parable size in rectangular shape. A vast array of them is used; plaques or seals often emphasize the importance of a prop- erty. They are put up to strengthen public recognition of a building or site in the hope that some degree of guardianship may result; they are also used to indicate the protection afforded a historic place by a local preservation ordinance or by state protective legislation. The National Park Services bronze plaques designating Na- tional Historic Landmarks are in this category. Historic tour and trail markers. These markers, very distinctive, without texts, are used to point out places of historical or architectural importance along a pre- arranged route. They draw attention through use of outstanding designs and colors. They are effective for walking tours through preservation districts, in urban core areas, and in historic neighborhoods, and for driving tours through urban or rural areas of special significance. Area map markers. Fairly new in type and use are area map markers. After World War II, many people wanted to visit histori- cal attractions, and the area map marker was developed to help inform travelers of the most interesting places to visit in a par- ticular area. Since the map marker is usu- ally quite large and typically carries a good bit of descriptive text, maps, and other illus- trations, it must be located in a special park setting, on a historic site, or in a rest stop along a highway. It cannot be read at a glance. Sometimes smaller individual markers with short inscriptions are located at sites referred to on the area map marker and key -coded to the primary marker. Interpretive markers. While all historical markers interpret history to some degree, the interpretive marker is designed primarily to tell the story of a single important site or event or part of a longer story. These markers are found at historic overlooks, buildings, battlefields, and other locations. Often they provide the only available inter- pretation for a historic place, but sometimes they are used to supplement guided tours, exhibits, audiovisuals, and printed materials. Highway historical markers. These mark- ers along thoroughfares refer to nearby historic places. They have evolved over the past five decades into established programs all over the country, most especially those of state historical organizations, but today many local societies as well sponsor high- way marking programs. Some organizations emphasize brevity of text and large lettering that motorists may be able to read at regu- lar driving speeds; others put more exten- sive information on their markers and place them at tum -off points, counting on motor- ists to stop. Editorial Policy and Format How much can—or should—be said on a historical marker depends on the kind of marker needed. Historic tour and trail guide- posts merely point the visitor in the right direction, using no text at all. Designation plaques and seals are comparatively small and carry little information except the name of the structure honored and perhaps the reason for its selection. Area map markers and interpretive markers are necessarily individualistic, and each one is different from all others in those categories, its size and text depending on its subject, location, and the budget of the sponsoring organi- zation. Among highway historical markers there is some similarity in over-all size and amount of text. E tJ 88 MOUNT VERNON ESTATE TWO MILES 1b THE 10T, TIN 01110111111 k014vE WAS BW IN 1741 Ni LAWRENCE Y&x8t1ICTCM CLORGE 1l4111141NOTON 01101 INT'i P01181110M 111 170 FR0M WERE 14 �M OUT, 1N APRIL. 1776, TO TAKE Hit o ` At 14 Til[ OOwnarMfIL 0011104E11, x rAKOEMUR;4.i710.HERETIIRmnow Ti s: ARMY AN KIM HE NM ON OMMUP OL � PRESBYTE'R1 } . nA:ETING HOUSE rOMB OF UNKNOWN faOLDIE! OF AMERICAN REVOLUTIOM Highway markers were first put up by the Commonwealth of Virginia during the late 1920s. z, South Carolina's George Washington Trail uses a variety of markers to guide mo- torists to points of interest. The American Automobile Association erected directional markers during the early day of the automobile. �° BATTLE OF ECHOE aavwo�".°v m nsa. s w q'r��. «iw,�.°ttr�� iia •w�u„ .,, wok » zz- `Z4= Area map markers are usually larger than other types and are located in waysides or parks. 'ill lj v �o F n. i 0 l* A dedication ceremony can be used to Local societies can involve youth organi- draw public attention to a historic site, zations in the work of marker programs. as well as to the marker program. Markers that are planted along the highway like a row of cornstalks are visually offensive, resembling "tombstones on posts," and do not stimulate motorists' curiosity. An area map marker, offering this diverse information in an attractive format, would be preferable. Inscriptions for such historical markers are difficult things. Good ones are the prod- uct of long study and careful thought, much condensing and rewriting. Content must be limited to accurate, factual, con- cise statements that do not ordinarily edi- torialize or express judgments, and marker size puts definite limits on the number of letter -spaces to use in wording those state- ments. Conversely, on area map markers, where space is less of a problem, there are limits to the amount of text that visitors will read. In writing the text for a historical marker, it is easy—and erroneous—to assume that vis- itors already know as much as local people about background events at the site men- tioned. And it is tempting to use superlatives —"first," "bravest," "earliest," "most patri- otic," and so on. Almost always, such state- ments can and will be contradicted. The title or caption on a marker should lead directly into the text and be an integral part of the total message; words and phrases should not be repeated, and a succinct style should be used to stay within the rigid limitations of over-all space and length of line. Abbreviating linear measurement, direc- tion, irecttion, and military or other titles—mi., ft., NE, SW, Brig. Gen.—saves some space; but most other kinds of abbreviations should be avoided. Size of type must be considered, also, especially for highway historical markers. The message must be immediate, to the point, and easily read by motorists. Type size for the text may vary with the length of the inscription. Type I inch or IN' inches high is most commonly used; occasionally, a brief text will be seen in 2 -inch -high type, but usually the smaller type is used, to accommodate a longer text. Marker titles (or captions) are usually in capital letters a half-inch taller than text type. A marker with a text area of 30 by 42 inches—a size widely used—can carry a maximum of 14 lines of text in inch -high letters, with 43 to 45 letter -spaces per line, with space at the top for a 1 -line caption. A marker of the same size can carry a maximum of 11 lines in 1 ?z -inch type, with 33 to 35 letter - spaces per line and a 1 -line caption. Marker industry leaders say that one of the most important needs in preparation of marker specifications is complete accuracy in copy for the text and title, especially for cast -metal markers, because, once the copy is cast, it can't be corrected; it must be redone, at substantially increased cost. It is very important that all marker copy be carefully checked for accuracy before it is sent to the supplier. Design and Fabrication It may be desirable, in the long run, to hire a professional designer to prepare the layout and design for the markers; in many instances, designs prepared by willing local amateurs result in cluttered, confusing, in- effectual markers. Organizations in urban areas should con- sult local sign codes to be sure that the sizes, shapes, and colors planned for the markers are appropriate and legal. Histori- cal societies planning to place markers along highway rights-of-way should consult state and local traffic safety engineers to be sure that the markers are constructed and placed according to legal requirements. - When design and layout are ready, when copy for text and title have been double- checked for accuracy and a firm quotation on price has been obtained from the sup- plier, the marker can be ordered. The supplier works with either the original or clear copies of layout, design, and copy. He will send back brown paper proofs or pola- roid photographs for any corrections and for approval. The proofs usually indicate the final layout as it will appear on the marker, showing arrangement of letters, punctua- tion, and other features in actual size. After corrected copy is authorized and returned to the manufacturer, further changes are made only at extra charge, unless they in- volve errors made by the manufacturer. Costs, Sizes, and Materials The basic cost of a marker program will depend on the kinds and sizes of markers used, the materials they are made of, and the amount of text they carry. Costs per sign can range from a few dollars for a 24 - by -24 -inch lettered plywood square to thou- sands for the kind of reflectorized metal signs seen along interstate highways. The best way to obtain exact cost figures is to decide on the type of marker needed, prepare an individual proposal, and get in touch with a reputable supplier. Most man- ufacturers prefer to consider the specific proposal and then make a quotation. The following companies all meet the require- ments of a quality marking program: Sewah Studios, Marietta, Ohio 45750; 0 1,ake Shore Markers, Erie, Pennsylvania 16512; :Michaels Art Bronze Company, Cov- ington,, Kentucky 41011; Salt Lake Stamp Company, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101; %Veltman Products Company, Cleveland, Ohio 44101; Memorial Bronze, Division of Jas. H. Matthews & Co., Pittsburgh, Penn- "Ivania 15219; International Bronze Tablet Company, New York, New York 10001. Markers can be made of wood, plastics, ceramics, and metal; all four substances can be used satisfactorily outdoors. Each has pros and cons, and the ultimate choice will he governed by the goals that the organiza- tion wants to achieve and the money avail- able for the program. Some materials lend themselves readily to graphic presentations. For instance, alu- minum can be etched to show views of a building, site, or street scene from a century ago, giving the opportunity to compare the historic scene with the present. Wood is often used because it is compatible with the exteriors of older buildings. Ceramics are not used widely in the United States, but their possibilities are virtually unlimited. And plastics can be used in places where colors might be helpful or where markers might be handled excessively. There is great variation in size, shape, and design among designation markers. Some local societies use plywood for them. A 4 -by -8 -foot sheet of ;-inch exterior plywood, costing between $25 and $30, can provide eight 24 -by -24 -inch markers, at something like $4 apiece. Marine plywood, somewhat more expensive, can be used, for a cost of something like $8 per marker of comparable size. Historic tour and trail markers are also often made of plywood. A ceramic plaque the size of a dinner plate can be prepared by a local potter for $10 to $15, depending upon colors, textures, message, and other factors. A designation plaque 10 to 15 inches in diameter in cast aluminum can cost approx- imately $75 to $100. Etched aluminum will cost approximately $75, again depending upon the size selected, and cast bronze will cost a little more, perhaps from $110 to $135 for a plaque of typical size. Plastic markers, depending upon size and colors, may range from $50 to several hundred dollars each. Highway historical markers also vary in size from state to state. Ohio markers are panels of 42 by 45'2 inches; North Carolina and Virginia use markers approxi- mately 3'2 feet square; Idaho uses 4 -by -8 - foot panels; Tennessee state historical mark- ers are the size that the marker industry calls the most commonly used and most economical. They are cast aluminum, with space for text and title measuring 30 by 42 inches, plus 2%- to 3 -inch margins at sides and bottom, with a circular state -flag design in the irregular top. Approximate cost of a typical highway marker in cast aluminum in the popular size—called "30 by 42," though over-all size is somewhat larger—is approximately $400, including marker post and shipping. The cost of aluminum has increased con- siderably during the past several years, but its long-term permanency and ability to withstand abuse are important assets, and aluminum alloy is generally considered the most satisfactory metal for historical mark- ers. It is noncorrosive, takes a baked - enamel finish well, and its life expectancy before refinishing is needed is 25 to 30 years. Most state and many local programs now use plaques cast of aluminum alloy, using pure aluminum, virgin stock (listed by the Aluminum Company of America as No. 43—or equal), with no remelt or junk aluminum permitted. Placement Markers should be placed where they can be seen to greatest—and safest—advantage. Distance between them and the historic places they represent should be limited. Plaques put directly on buildings encourage people to seek admission there. In design- ing, making, and placing the marker, great care should be taken not to mar the his- torical environment of a site or the authen- ticity of any nearby structure. In some in- stances, it may be desirable to affix plaques to brick walls, fences, gates, or posts in front of buildings, instead of directly on the buildings. A detached location nearer the visitor's view also gives the marker greater visibility. It is always advisable to have owners of historic houses or sites authorize the placing of markers themselves. It is also necessary to find out, before arranging to have a marker put up, whether the owners will welcome public visitation or consider it a nuisance. In highway marking, the sponsors should keep in mind that the markers themselves, incorrectly placed, can be traffic hazards. State and local traffic and highway safety engineers should be asked to work with the agency in planning marker locations consistent with public safety. Markers should not block the driver's view; they should be placed where motorists can safely stop or pull off the road to read them. Blind curves, steep hills, ends of bridges, or nar- row road shoulders are no places for histori- cal markers. Motorists should be able to see clearly and safely for 300 feet in both directions from a marker location. Safety engineers again can advise as to placement and height for markers, usually about 7 feet in rural areas and 10 feet in urban locations. Many state agencies have agree- ments with their highway departments for use of the rest areas on interstate highways for area map markers, where appropriate, for major historic sites nearby. Funding The ability of a historical society or agency to finance a marking program must be given serious thought. Potential funds might come from organization membership, private companies, local government, or foundations. Community service organiza- tions, such as Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, Ruri- tans, and others are good sources of financial support, as are patriotic organizations such as the Daughters of the American Revolu- tion, the Colonial Dames, and the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Funds are needed, not only for the mark- ers themselves, but to provide for marker publications and maintenance. Lack of pub- lished information and unkempt appearance of markers detract from the program's ef- fectiveness. Published guides containing full texts and locations of markers placed along highways, in urban areas, and on histori- cally and archtecturally significant buildings should be part of the marker program. They TECHNICAL LEAFLET 104 Technical Leaflets are published by the American Association for State and Local His- tory for the purpose of bringing useful infor- mation to persons working in the state and local history movement. The series does not follow the same categories month after month, since the selection of subject matter is based upon varied inquiries received by the Asso- ciation's home office. The leaflets, which are might seem added expense, but they can actually expand the over-all interpretive program and help to gain further public support for the work of the organization. Marker maintenance is a continuing and considerable problem. If it is not planned for from the beginning, its lack weakens the impact of the program. Some societies have cooperative agreements with owners of historic houses or local public works departments to wash and paint, but that is not always enough. All organizations con- sidering a marker program should keep in mind the need for maintenance and the costs involved at the very outset; neglected markers in bad repair are no asset. Dedications After markers are fabricated and put in place, a dedication ceremony is useful to draw public attention to the historical sub- ject being designated and to the existence of the marker program as well. The occasion attracts news coverage and provides an op- portunity to acquaint the public with the other programs and projects sponsored by the local historical organization. Raymond F. Pisney is executive direc- tor of the Woodrow Wilson Birthplace Foundation, Inc., in Staunton, Va., and president of the Virginia History and Museums Federation. He holds a master's degree from the University of Delaware and has served on the administrative staffs of Mount Vernon and the North Carolina Department of Archives and History. He is the author or editor of seven books, including Tombstones on Posts? A Preview to Historical Marking and Historical Markers: A Bibliography. detachable from the magazine, are copyrighted © and should be catalogued as part of HISTORY NEWS. American Association for State and Local History Technical Leaflet 104, HISTORY NEWS, Vol. 33, No. 3, March, 1978. Historical Mark- ers: planning local programs. Reprints are available for $.50 each. For information on bulk rates, write to the Associ- ation at 1400 Eighth Avenue, South, Nashville, Tennessee 37203. 0 0 r 6chnical Technical Information Service American Association for State and Local History 'Establishing a Plaque Program: Bringing Local History to the Community by Richard Bamberger Local and state historical societies almost always are searching for new and innovative ways to enhance the historical awareness of members of their communities. Plaque programs provide one of the most effective and least expensive ways of bringing history "to the streets." A plaque program, organized and administered by a historical society, involves the recognition and landmarking of local historic proper- ties through the use of plaques typically purchased by the owners of these properties. In recent years, an increasing number of historical societies have established such programs, often as a means of enhancing community outreach and historical awareness. Program Start -Up In establishing a plaque program a historical soci- ety must: a) determine the goals and objectives of the program; b) select the type of program most likely to permit the fulfillment of these objectives; and c) set the criteria for inclusion in the plaque program. Richard Bamberger is the founder and director of the Erie Landmark Company, Rockville, Maryland established in 1986. Establishing Program Goals and Objectives Historical societies tend to organize plaque pro- grams for any number of reasons, but most typically, these reasons include: • Membership. Plaque programs allow a historical society a means by which it can expand its outreach and membership. For building and home owners who may not be members of or active in a historical soci- ety but who are, nevertheless, interested in local his- tory and historic preservation, participation in a plaque program often serves as the first step toward more active involvement. • Education. Marking a substantial number of buildings in a given district or a neighborhood pro- vides a graphic image of the history of that area. As such, the historical society may find itself bet- ter able to bring history directly to those it was previously unable to reach—uninvolved residents, visitors, or tourists. • Preservation and Rehabilitation. Although a plaque program itself does not necessarily imply the recognition of buildings as historic sites, the guide- lines by which a building is accepted into the pro- gram may serve to encourage building owners to rehabilitate and maintain their historic structures. • Fund Raising. A plaque program has the poten- tial to be a fund raiser for the sponsoring organiza- tion. Some dealers are even willing to sell plaques to historical societies at wholesale prices. The histor- ical society may, in turn, either pass these discounts on to the building owner or use the discount for their own fund raising purposes. Certainly, these are not the only reasons histori- cal societies establish plaque programs. Whatever the reason, it is crucial that the objectives of the pro- gram be established ahead of time and that there be a consensus reached on the objectives. Ideally, the form which the program takes should be depen- dent entirely upon the goals selected. Selecting Appropriate Program Form In determining the type of program able to meet the objectives set out for it, the historical society must make two basic decisions. First, on the basis of the program objectives, the historical society must choose between two overall types of programs, interpretive and recognition. An interpretive pro- gram involves the landmarking of historic sites using markers with customized wording describing the specific structure or district. For example, as shown in Fig. 1, such plaques may provide a bit of the history of a specific site. If the primary program objective is community education, this type of pro- gram would be most appropriate. Furthermore, a plaque program of this sort can be used as a basis for a walking tour. Roadside markers are a special type of interpre- tive markers. Larger (and more expensive) than the usual interpretive plaque, roadside markers permit the communication of more detailed information. Typically, these are mounted on a post adjacent to the historic site, unlike plaques, which are mounted on the wall of a building. (See Fig. 2.) If the objective of the program is either outreach and membership or preservation and rehabilitation, a recognition program may be more suitable. Recog- nition plaques also tend to be less expensive since they have little or no customized wording. The National Register plaque (see Fig. 3), used for recog- nition, usually is inscribed with the following word- ing; "This property has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior." A more sophisticated (and expensive) plaque includes the name of the building, restorer, construction date, or reference number (such as indicating a description in a guide Fig. 1. This interpretive marker uses customized wording. Photograph courtesy of Erie Landmark Company, Rock- ville, Maryland. book) printed either below or above the standard wording. Secondly, the historical society must decide whether or not it wants a consistent plaque format or whether the selection of the format will be left up to the individual purchaser. If one of the objec- tives of the program is to increase community aware- ness of the activities of the historical society, then it may be important that all plaques ordered through the program are of a consistent format. Typically, it is in the historical society's interest to ensure that, regardless of whether the program is of the interpretive or recognition type, all plaques have some sort of logo or the name of the historical society placed at the top or bottom of each plaque. (See Figs. 4 and 5.) Some historical societies, how- ever, go beyond this and determine exact plaque specifications, i.e., the material used, shape of the plaques, and wording permitted. For the historical society adopting a program with a set plaque format, i.e., with more than just the name of the historical society at the top or bottom, there are a number of alternatives regarding the �i 0 0 0 Fig. 2. Mounted adjacent to historic League Park, this attractive marker provides detailed information on the Tbxas Sesquicentennial Project and the site. Photograph courtesy of OMC Industries, Inc., Bryan, Texas. manner in which the plaque is fabricated and its shape and size: 1. Mode of Fabrication: Plaques are fabricated in one of three ways: metal casting, wood processing, or metal processing. • Metal Casting. Plaques fabricated in this method are usually made from either bronze, aluminum, or iron. All three must be cast in a foundry; however, not all foundries are alike. Depending on the equip- ment and casting process used by a foundry, the price of a cast plaque can vary greatly. Furthermore, there are advantages and disadvantages for each Fig. Smith -Cornell, Inc. offered the first National Reg- ister plaque in 1975. O1dStandard© shown here, is one of sevefal variations. Photograph courtesy of Smith -Corner Inc., Auburn, Indiana. type;of material. Iron, while the least expensive, is heavy and has an uninteresting natural color. Alu- mmum, while typically priced in the middle range, looks less expensive and may corrode over time. Bro4ze, while the most expensive, looks more dig- nified and lasts longer. • Wood Processing. Plaques fabricated out of wood may-: either be carved or painted. Many historical societies have chosen wooden plaques as the most appropriate for those neighborhoods with a large proportion of wood frame houses. Furthermore, these plaques often can be obtained locally. However, while these plaques are among the least expensive, they -tend to weather poorly and typically must be replaced every two to five years, depending on the environment. s • Metal Processing. Plaques processed onto metal, as opposed to plaques cast out of metal, are the least exp *sive. For the historical society considering this mode of fabrication, there are two choices, metal photo and screen processing. In the case of the former, text and photograph are embedded in photo- sen4itized aluminum. In the case of the latter, text and photo are essentially painted onto the surface of the metal. Metal photo offers a number of advan- tage�s it is the least expensive to produce and provides the clearest image reproduction (see Fig. 6), which is ideal if the historical society wishes to incorporate into the plaque an old fashioned -looking, tintype photo of a structure that once stood on a sitenHowever, these plaques can be damaged if van- dalsl use a sharp object, and they can only be THIS PROPEFLTY HAS BEEN 'PLACED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLAC.E'S f BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOP, Fig. Smith -Cornell, Inc. offered the first National Reg- ister plaque in 1975. O1dStandard© shown here, is one of sevefal variations. Photograph courtesy of Smith -Corner Inc., Auburn, Indiana. type;of material. Iron, while the least expensive, is heavy and has an uninteresting natural color. Alu- mmum, while typically priced in the middle range, looks less expensive and may corrode over time. Bro4ze, while the most expensive, looks more dig- nified and lasts longer. • Wood Processing. Plaques fabricated out of wood may-: either be carved or painted. Many historical societies have chosen wooden plaques as the most appropriate for those neighborhoods with a large proportion of wood frame houses. Furthermore, these plaques often can be obtained locally. However, while these plaques are among the least expensive, they -tend to weather poorly and typically must be replaced every two to five years, depending on the environment. s • Metal Processing. Plaques processed onto metal, as opposed to plaques cast out of metal, are the least exp *sive. For the historical society considering this mode of fabrication, there are two choices, metal photo and screen processing. In the case of the former, text and photograph are embedded in photo- sen4itized aluminum. In the case of the latter, text and photo are essentially painted onto the surface of the metal. Metal photo offers a number of advan- tage�s it is the least expensive to produce and provides the clearest image reproduction (see Fig. 6), which is ideal if the historical society wishes to incorporate into the plaque an old fashioned -looking, tintype photo of a structure that once stood on a sitenHowever, these plaques can be damaged if van- dalsl use a sharp object, and they can only be Fig. 4. This easement marker is used by the L'Enfant Trust, Washington, D.C. Photograph courtesy of Erie Landmark Company, Rockville, Maryland Fig. 5. By placing its name at the bottom of the plaque, Historic Albany Foundation increases public awareness of its activities. Photograph courtesy of Erie Landmark Company, Rockville, Maryland. reproduced in a limited number of colors (silver and black) when used outdoors. Screen -processed plaques are nominally less expensive than metal photo and can produce text and illustration in color. However, because screen printing involves surface paint, it is susceptible to weathering and vandalism. There are more sophisticated methods of fabricat- ing interpretive markers, such as fiber glass laminates, but these belong more in the realm of museum displays rather than to that of building markers. 2. Shape and Size: Depending upon the type of plaque (cast metal, processed wood, processed metal) desired, historical societies should be able to find a manufacturer able to provide a plaque of nearly any shape or size, For instance, cast metal plaques range mmm® ��.. The Stroiaserot-lye's Company.-BuildIn. iyf Fig. 6. Artwork for this anodized aluminum marker was done by the Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation (CHAP) in Baltimore, Maryland Metal processing offers high impact photographic and textual interpretation. Photograph courtesy of Smith -Corner Inc, Auburn, Indiana. in size from twenty-four square inches to twelve square feet. Clearly, the price of the plaque depends to a great extent upon the size ordered. With respect to plaque shapes, while historical societies using processed metal usually are limited to a square or rectangular shape, in theory, no such limitations exist with respect to processed wood or cast metal. Wood can be cut into any shape. However, the more complex the shape, the higher the price. A number of mass-produced standard shapes, suitable for historic sites — squares, rectangles, ovals, and "colonials"—are available primarily through local sign shops. Finally, cast metal plaques can be made in virtually any shape since they are cast from reus- able patterns. However, the more complex the shape, the more difficult to finish the edges of the plaque and, thus, the higher the price. While these steps may make the process of setting up the program seem quite complex, most plaque producers will be able to provide advice and assistance, hence greatly simplifying the decision-making process. 0 9 6 0 0 Running Stage In actually implementing a plaque program a historical society must: a) find a producer able to manufacture the type of plaque(s) selected; b) pub- licize the program; and c) set up an application, selection, and order processing system. Each of these steps is described in more detail below. Finding a Producer Depending on the type of plaque desired, histori- cal societies may be best off working with either a local or a national producer. Wooden and screen - printed metal plaques are available generally through local sign shops, which means there are clear advantages of working with a local producer who can offer personalized service. Metal -photo and cast metal plaques are less likely to be produced locally, and therefore, when ordered through a local sign shop, are priced in such a way to cover the costs of the "middle -man." It is possible, however, to order these types of plaques directly from a limited num- ber of manufacturers who specialize in historic plaques. These manufacturers typically advertise in relevant periodicals, and some offer discounts to historical societies. Additionally, some state agen- cies keep information about these manufacturers on file. Despite the order of presentation above, it may be helpful to first find a manufacturer to help you through the decisions incorporated through the start-up phase. The supplier should be selected on the basis of prior experience and reputation. Fur- thermore, for the historical society implementing a plaque program, the key is to find a producer who is able to meet the basic criteria already established and who will work with you in making the other decisions required for a successful program. In selecting a manufacturer, the historical society must be aware that plaque prices vary by producer, and it most definitely pays to shop around. Publicizing the Program In general, a plaque program is, over a period of years, self -promoting in that as plaques are placed, they generate public interest, often becoming a "tra- dition" in themselves. The methods for publicizing a plaque program, to a large degree, are dependent upon the goals of the programs. For groups whose objective is to recognize and to coordinate restora- tion activities by its members, publicity can be accomplished through internal organizational com- munications, e.g., newsletters and meetings. For groups using the program as a fund raiser, to stimulate community awareness or to create a walk- ing tour, a minimal amount of promotional work is desirable and not difficult to accomplish. Often historical societies try to publicize their plaque pro- grams using the local media, such as community newspapers and radio. Such publicity efforts may be facilitated greatly if the historical society already has mounted one or two plaques on well-known properties. A second method by which the histori- cal society may accomplish its publicity objectives is through the use of direct mail. A simple direct mail flyer addressed to owners of historic properties often incorporates a photo of a typical plaque, an order form for a plaque, and in some cases, an appli- cation form (see section on program participation and participant selection below). An example of such a flyer is presented in Fig. 7. Annual or semi-annual award dinners or events may be used to publicize a program recognizing significant restoration efforts in the community. Establishing Application, Selection, and Ordering System Eligibility criteria for program participation allow the historical society to influence and to direct com- munity norms regarding the proper care and main- tenance of historic properties. Examples of such criteria are: a) age of the structure; b) inclusion on a historic properties survey (see section below); and c) rehabilitation technique, i.e., the degree to which architectural integrity guidelines are followed. The type of application process used by the historical society depends on the nature of the criteria estab- lished for program participation. That is, those plaque programs for which stringent eligibility criteria exist are likely to have a more detailed appli- cation process than those with few criteria. Application forms often accompany program pub- licity materials distributed by the historical society to potential participants. In situations in which information about all properties that might be included in the program are readily available to the historical society, such as properties listed on the National Register, the application form need only request such basic information as the name and address of the property, name and address of property owner, and date on which the property was placed on the Register or recorded in local histori- cal records. In those cases in which such informa- Historic Albany Foundation's HISTORIC BUILDING PLAQUES Our plaques are requested for buildings in the City of Albany Cleat retain their original character, are in a good state of preseruation and contribute to the historical or architectural nature of their neighborhood. After careful research, the date of construction, first owner, occupation and other pertinent information concerning the origin of a building are obtained and included with the 6" x 10" cast aluminum plaque which is custom made for each order. For more information and cost, please contact HISTORIC ALBANY FOUNDATION 44 Central Avenue • Albany, New York 12206 • 4630622 Fig. 7. Flyer publicizing the plaque program of Albany, New York. Courtesy of Historic Albany Foundation, Albany, New York. tion is not readily available or in which the eligibility criteria set by the historical society demand further information (for instance, the source of information pertaining to historical significance of the property, listing of structural changes to property), the appli- cation form should incorporate questions pertain- ing to these issues. Of course, it is in the historical society's interest to keep its requests for informa- tion realistic and the application form as simple as possible. In many cases the application form doubles as an order form. That is, rather than processing the appli- cation and then beginning the ordering process, the historical society requires payment and shipping information on some portion of the application form. Fig 8. shows an example of a combined (simple) application and order form. The nature of the ordering process itself depends on the system worked out between the historical society and the plaque supplier. Some suppliers will request that all plaque orders be processed centrally .FIOPSTEADING PROGRAMJ� V 1701 ,� HISTORIC DISTRICT HOUSE TOU', 11rGkir 1�gwbufglZ Preservation Associatiorl, Derl�careJ In Inc nn L y e Newburgl� 87 Liberty StreetNewbu ah - New York 12550 H 14 569 688o 165-68817 Customized plaques such es the one below, are now available for Newburgh'a historic buildings. This bronze plaque is on display presently at NPA Hesdnuarters for inspection. Orders can be placed in person or by Ina il. PRICE: S 80.00 per plaque for NPA _nb,,a `y 35.00 per plaque for r. - 575.00per plaque for mam6',s -1-ing 3 or more. Please make checks payable to i,euburgh Preservation A...,ociation. DESIC14 YOUR PLAQUE ON THE FIICI, IL pals S. -EST aa...s..+.r:..........e Actual site 0„ oval 10"W r_ 7"11 A NONPROFIT CORPORATION CHARTERED BY TLE SIATE OF NDN YORK Fig. 8. Sample plaque program application. Courtesy of Newburgh Preservation Association, Newburgh, New York. and that plaques be shipped to the historical soci- ety. In such cases, the historical society processes all payments and is made responsible for the final distribution of the plaques. In other cases, the sup- plier may be willing to accept orders directly from individual participants (using the historical society's order form), and ship directly to the participant. Delivery times vary greatly among suppliers, rang- ing from two weeks to three months; therefore, it is recommended strongly that plaques to be presented at some special event be ordered well in advance. Other Issues Legal Restrictions There are no federal regulations governing the placing of historical markers although there is a common misconception that properties listed on the National Register should be marked with a uniform text. In fact, nothing seems to mandate this text other than tradition. Local and state regulations W-1 • LI may cover the placing of roadside markers and larger, free-standing plaques that may in some fash- ion disrupt the smooth flow of traffic on roadways. Mounting (and the problems of theft) One of the questions that most frequently arises concerns the danger of theft or vandalism. Surpris- ingly, it is often the smaller, less urban communi- ties that suffer from this problem. Zb some extent, the type of plaque (material) influences the fre- quency and type of damage that may occur. Wooden plaques are more likely to be defaced but rarely sto- len, whereas bronze plaques virtually are indestruc- tible, yet appear to be the most attractive to thieves. Should theft be a concern, the two best precautions are placing the plaque in a location that makes it difficult to be reached and using commercially avail- able epoxies to adhere the plaque, making it extremely resistant to removal. Plaques are either front mounted (holes drilled through the front of the plaque and screwed into anchors placed in the mounting surface) or rear mounted (welded studs onto the back of the plaque that are pushed into holes drilled in the mounting surface). By filling the drilled holes with epoxy, the screw or stud virtually is unremovable. Historic Building Surveys and Plaque Programs Some historical societies have ongoing research programs investigating the historical value of local buildings and structures. For such historical socie- ties, one option to consider is the incorporation of a plaque program into these ongoing research efforts. There are two advantages for tying these programs together. First, a plaque program can help cover research expenses, giving the building owner the feeling that they are getting a tangible product in return for their donation. A second advantage is that a building owner's awareness of the historical society's ongoing research efforts is increased. Conclusion As historical societies continue to enhance their efforts to inform community members about the historic importance of their neighborhoods, it is likely that, in the future, an increasing number will be considering plaque programs as highly visible, administratively simple, cost-effective approaches to community education and historic preservation. Plaque programs offer the leadership of historical societies an innovative way to make local history accessible to all members of the community. Besides enhancing the educational goals of historical socie- ties, such programs often facilitate the meeting of other group objectives such as membership expan- sion, community rehabilitation, and fund raising. While this leaflet provides specific steps leading to the planning and implementation of a successful plaque program, additional information may be obtained from historical societies with plaque pro- gram experience or from suppliers specializing in historic landmarks. AASLH II Rchnical Leaflets are issued by the American Association for State and Local History. Providing the historical agency and museum field with detailed, up-to-date technical advice, the leaflets and reports are available through History News maga- zine to AASLH members or through the AASLH Press catalogue to any interested buyer. Copyright © 1989 by the American Association for State and Local History. Technical Leaflets should be cata- logued as part of History News. American Association for State and Local History Technical Leaflet 168, "Establishing a Plaque Pro- gram: Bringing Local History to the Community," History News, Volume 44, Number 3, May/June 1989. Reprints are available from the American Associ- ation for State and Local History, 172 Second Ave- nue North, Nashville, Tennessee 37201. American Association for State and Local History endorses no particular product or service. CA,ST PLAgUE P.1, , 10GR'AMS FOR COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION BRONZE, BRASS, ALUMINUM Plaques, Letters and Custom Logos • PERSONALIZED SERVICE • ASSISTANCE IN DESIGNING PROGRAMS • CONVENIENT LEADTIMES • INDUSTRY LEADING QUALITY Call or write for Catalog: P.O. Box 3188 Bryan, Texas 77805 • METAL PHOTO PLAQUES • CAST ENGRAVED PLAQUES • TRADITIONAL CAST PLAQUES • CUSTOM LOGOS (409) 779-1400 (National) 1-800-847-5756 (In Texas) 1-800-392-3318 Ext. No. 326 OMC INDUSTRIES, INC. Landmarks Erie Landmark Co. offers custom - lettered bronze markersfor indoor - outdoor use Standard size oval, rectangle 7" x 10.. ............... $90.00 j(plus S2 25 for shipping and handling) IpIus MD stale sales lax where applicable) • National Register Plaques • All Sizes from Medallions to Roadside Markers • Graphics & Logos Reproduced . Metal Photo Images Call or send for FREE brochure: Erie Landmark Company Suite 211 90 West Montgomery Ave. Rockville, Maryland 20850 Tel: (301) 460-9575 Toll free: (800) 874-7848 Sahslacnon quaranlled wee Please allow 6 10 8 ks (or delivery READER SERVICE CARD x19 READER SERVICE CARD - 6 • PA 49 Ly 1990 Y =� i AMERICAN , 1 1 PLANNNG i ._-.- ..--------._ASSOCIA JON In the Courts: Religion Versus Historic Preservation Planners who are involved in historic preservation need to be aware of two recent court decisions in New York and Washington affecting the landmark designation of churches. In both cases, church officials fought the designation of their own buildings. The crux of their argument was that the financial impact of landmark designation renders church officials unable to fulfill their religious mission and, therefore, violates the First Amendment right to freedom of religion. Hard Times for City Churches In recent years, a number of factors have forced church officials from most denominations to find new ways to raise money and, if possible, to capitalize on the property they already own. Many city parishes have dwindled in size as their members move to the suburbs, taking with them their contributions to the collection basket. Time has also taken an exacting toll on older churches and their accessory buildings. It has become increasingly expensive to repair and maintain them. Because many churches are located on prime urban real estate, the idea of selling all or part of that land has become a great temptation for the officials facing these financial pressures. These problems, which are further exacerbated by the dire financial straits of many of the urban parishes, presbyteries, and other church districts, put church leaders in the position of having to fight historic landmark designation of their churches. The problem of landmark status, from the churches' point of view, is that it prohibits the building's owner from altering the exterior of the church, its accessory structures, or the land that it's on. And, as a recent article in Planning magazine points out, many church leaders feel that landmark laws unfairly affect denominations that build large, ornate houses of worship (e.g., Catholics and Episcopalians.) St. Bart's Claims It's Failing in Its Mission St. Bartholomew's Episcopalian Church in New York sits on a very expensive chunk of land a few blocks from Grand Central Station. Although the church and its accessory structures had been "landmarked" in 1967, church officials had in recent years made several attempts to get permission to build an office skyscraper adjacent to the church on the site of its community house. They argued that its mission of providing food, shelter, and community outreach services, and the cost of regular maintenance and repair had become so expensive that the extra revenue from selling the land was necessary. In the complaint in Rector, Wardens, and Members of Vestr-v of' St. Bartholomew's Church v. City of New York, the church contended that its inability to carry out its mission was the result of its landmark designation and, therefore, that designation constituted a violation of the First Amendment right to freedom of religion. The New York Federal District Court ruled against the St. Mars• of the Angels Catholic• Church in Chicago is one of inam historic, churches that is facing demolition. church, stating that it "rejects plaintiffs contention that the landmark laws unconstitutionally interfere with the free exercise of the religious beliefs of any church that is designated a landmark." The court also negated the church's other claim that the landmark status constituted a taking without just compensation. In responding to this point, the court pointed to the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Penn Central v. Cite of New York , which stated that, although the landmarks law effectively prevents the owners of historic structures from exploiting the air rights above their buildings, the right to develop land is only one property right held by an, owner. Washington Court Ignores New York Ruling Preservationists were very happy with the decision in the St. Bart's case, but their relief was short-lived. In March, the Supreme Court of Washington ruled in First Covenant Church of Seattle v. Ciry of Seattle that the city had violated the church's First Amendment rights by designating as a landmark the exterior of First Covenant Church. This decision was the first of its kind in the nation because the designation applied only to the church's exterior. The St. Bart's cas, plied to the church's entire structure and the land that it owns. The Washington court's ruling challenged both the constitutionality of the city's landmark preservation ordinance and the specific ordinance that designated First Covenant. When the landmarks ordinance was drafted, a paragraph was included that was intended to protect the ordinance from First Amendment challenges. The paragraph stated, "nothing herein shall prevent any alteration of the exterior when such alterations are necessitated by changes in liturgy." But the Washington court ruled that this language was impermissibly vague. These decisions are being made at a trying time for many religious institutions, but what seems like an opportune time for preservationists. Preservationists argue that the nation is at a watershed of church preservation. Many of them are more than 50 years old and are in need of substantial repairs. Preservationists contend that it is the responsibility of this generation to preserve all historic buildings, including churches, for future generations. Ironically, it is the church parishioners that promote landmark designation. Preservationists also point to churches as community and neighborhood stabilizers. Church officials, on the other hand, argue that church buildings serve only as the means of congregating to worship and should not be treated as architectural artifacts. Chicago Churches in the Hot Seat Nowhere is this conflict between officials and parishioners and preservationists more apparent than in Chicago, where the Catholic archdiocese announced it will close more than 30 of its parishes. Preservationists and parishioners have been fighting for several years to save one of the churches, St. Mary of the Angels, from demolition. A 1987 change in the city's landmark preservation ordinance in effect exempted all religious properties from designation. The change stemmed from the landmark nomination of Fourth Presbyterian Church, which is situated on Chicago's pricey North Michigan Avenue. Church leaders fought long and hard to avoid designation, and, when the landmark ordinance went before the city council, they were successful in convincing their alderman to include the exemption for religious properties. The revised ordinance now reads, "No building that is owned by a religious organization and is used primarily as a place for the conduct of religious ceremonies shall be designated as a historic landmark without the consent of its owner." This essentially gave the Catholic archdiocese and the organizations of other denominations carte blanche in deciding which churches to close and demolish. In late May, the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and several concerned neighbors filed a complaint in federal district court challenging the ordinance. The complaint challenged the section of the ordinance that "gives religious organizations that own buildings used primarily as a place for conducting religious ceremonies, and only such organizations , the unilateral power to veto the landmarking of such buildings and to exempt themselves from the otherwise neutral application of the landmark designation process." (Emphasis added.) As Tim Turner, Midwest Regional Director of the National Trust points out, "Requiring consent of the owner only for religious properties means the entire process has been abrogated. What we're attempting to do through filing this complaint is to level the playing field for all property owners that are facing designation—religious and otherwise." Preservation Groups to W, With Churches In the face of all this legal turmoil, two national organizations have launched programs to bring religious leaders and the preservation community together. A $1.5 million project called "Inspired Partnerships" headed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation aims to provide low-cost or free consultation and eventually low-interest loans and grants to deteriorating churches needing help with repairs, maintenance, and fiscal management. The first phase of the program will focus on Chicago, where the Trust plans to help at least 20 churches over the next few years. Program administrators stress that Inspired Partnerships was not designed to bail out the financially troubled Catholic archdiocese of Chicago, but that some of the Catholic churches that face imminent closure will probably be in the program. A similar program, Partners for Sacred Places, has been started by the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions. The program's three objectives include: creating an information clearinghouse for clergy, laypeople, denominational offices, and preservation organizations; providing technical assistance in the form of consulting and workshops; and launching an educational campaign to raise the consciousness of the public on the value of preserving historic churches. The Jekyll -and -Hyde nature of the decisions in the St. Bart's and First Covenant cases, coupled with the ongoing controversy in Chicago, indicate that much more discussion and probably many more legal challenges will arise before church officials and preservationists reach a common ground. Efforts by the National Trust and the Alliance are an encouraging first step in that direction. M. M. Virginia Citizens Support State -Mandated Planning Seventy-nine percent of the Virginia residents recently surveyed by the Piedmont Environmental Council agreed that the state should adopt a comprehensive land -use policy and decision-making system. The survey also indicated that Virginians believe such a policy should be implemented locally; 80 percent of those polled said that localities should have more authority to manage growth. The survey was done through telephone interviews with over 800 Virginia residents. The respondents were also asked to rate the state's performance in protecting the environment. Thirty-four percent said it's excellent or good, while 58 percent think it's fair or poor. Most of those who rated it poor reside in the urban or rapidly urbanizing counties near Washington, D.C. Virginians also acknowledged that they would be willing to pay to improve their quality of life. Sixty-six percent said they would be willing to pay higher taxes to preserve open space and recreational opportunities, and 81 percent approved of higher taxes to protect air, water, and other natural resources. The development industry took a beating in the survey results. Over 50 percent point to increased residential development as the reason for higher property taxes, and 51 percent believe that developers pay less than their fair share of the local tax burden. Respondents also indicated that a limit should be placed on the amount developers can contribute to state and local politicians' campaign funds, claiming that politicians are too easily influenced by such contributions. Despite this, only about 34 percent said they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supports greater growth Hugh C. Miller, Director COMMONWEALTH ®f VIRGINIA Department of IListoric Resources July 30, 1990 Program on "Conservation Easements and Historic Preservation - A Primer on the Law" Richmond, Virginia, September 24 Ladies and Gentlemen: �� 568 ��'�� I co AUG 12 REL.,F-IVD _ FREDERICK COUNTY, Admiiildwtora Offk a.. BY� ILI 221 Governor Street Richmond, Virginia 23219 Telephone (804) 786-3143 TDD: 804-786-4276 On Monday, September 24, the Virginia Committee on Continuing Legal Education is sponsoring an all -day program on this topic. The program will include a discussion of conservation easements and their role in protecting historic properties and sites and preserving open spaces. The morning session will focus on conservation easements. The speakers will address the estate and tax planning aspects of the easements and their impacts on development. The afternoon session will address the criteria and process for registration of an historic landmark on the federal register and its designation as such by the State. We will also consider the consequences of designation in terms of land use planning, government grants and highway construction. Finally, we will conclude by examining the various aspects of the creation of historic districts. The speakers are excellent and I urge any of you who are interested in long-term preservation of historic properties and open space in Virginia to consider attending this meeting. Very truly yo s, George C. reeman, Jr., Chair Virginia Board of Historic Resources GCF/jbk k.-. 0-liservation i -a s e ra-.ouf),� n t s t, d, Ani. Historic F'rese,-.rvat-iion A Primmer On The 1_44 N;V In cooperation with the Department of Historic Resources of the Commonwealth of Virginia and Preservation Alliance of Virginia 6 MCLS CREDITS $125 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1990 THE JEFFERSON SHERATON HOTEL RICHMOND, VIRGINIA This program provides a pruner on the law governing the principal means for preserving historically significant property and the impact of the several methods. It will provide a basic practice in the area. Registration 5:30 a.m. MORNING SESSION 9:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m Conservation Easements 9:00 Introduction to the Topic George C. Freeman, Jr., Moderator Hunton & Williams Richmond 9:15 Conservation Easements - The Basics Addison B. Thompson Tuckahoe Plantation Richmond 10:05 Break 10:20 Estate and Tax Planning Aspects of Conservation Easements Frank A. Thomas, III Shackelford, Honenberger, Thomas & Willis Orange 11:10 The Impact on Development Daniel D. Smith Jordan, Coyne, Savits & Lopata Leesburg 12:00 Question and Answer Period 12:15 Lunch in the Rotunda -13 R0( RA1�4- AFTERNOON SESSION 1:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Historic Preservation 1:30 Introduction to the Topic George C. Freeman, Jr., Moderator 1:45 Criteria and Process for Registration (National and State) Julie L. Vosmik Virginia Department of Historic Resources Richmond 2:35 Break 2:50 Consequences of Designation (Land Use, Government, Holder and Potential Donee) Virginia E. McConnell Virginia Department of Historic Resources Richmond 3:40 Historic Districts Oliver A. Pollard Alexandria City Attorney's Office Alexandria 4:30 Question and Answer Period 4:45 Adjournment Mail cher' ind registration form to: Committee on C itinuing Legal Education, Scl—i of Law, University of Virginia, Charlom—elle, Virginia 22901, Telephone (804) 924-3416 or (800) 223-2167. REGISTRATION ■ s "Conservation Easements and Historic Preservation - A Pricier on the Law" ❑ Please register me for the program @ $125* ❑ I am unable to attend but wish to purchase the written materials, which are available after September 24, 1990. Enclosed is a check for $31.35. Please print: Name Address T *(The registration fee of $125 includes both sessions of the program, written materials, lunch in the Rotunda Room at the Jefferson Hotel and refreshment breaks.) WRF 17r ICEN MATERIALS Each person attending this program will receive free of charge a bound pamphlet containing outlines of the lec- tures. The outlines are prepared in considerable detail and contain citations to pertinent cases, statutes and regulations. The aim of the pamphlet is to eliminate ex- tensive notetaking and to provide a valuable future reference. If you are unable to attend this program but would like to purchase the written materials please see the appropriate space on the registration form.