Delaware County Public History Feasibility Study and Implementation Plan
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Note: Some text updated in 2021 in brackets [ ] Delaware County Public History Feasibility Study and Implementation Plan for the Delaware County Planning Department A report By Heritage Consulting Inc. 422 South Camac Street Philadelphia, PA 19147 215 546 1988 [email protected] June 2010 This Project was financed in part by grants from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community and Economic Development. The Community Revitalization Assistance Program provided one grant funding this project. In addition, the preparation of this report was financed in part through a Land Use Planning and Technical Assistance Grant from the Department of Community and Economic Development, as administered by the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services. This project was funded in part with funding from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, P.L. 93-383, as amended. Table of Contents Message from the Delaware County Planning Department Executive Summary Introduction, Purpose, and Response Rate 7 SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, & Threats) Analysis 8 Recommendations 12 Action Plan 13 Conclusion 14 Introduction Purpose 17 Existing Conditions 18 Overview of Report 19 Section 1: Feasibility Study Methodology Participants 21 Research Conducted about School Districts in Delaware County 22 Procedure and Measurement 23 Research, Analysis, and Recommendations 24 The Role of Public History in the Revitalization of Delaware County Communities Soft Benefit 25 Hard Benefit 29 Connecting Public History to Revitalization 31 Conclusion 32 Summary of Findings from the Surveys and the On-Site Visits and Interviews Participation in Surveys 34 Survey Highlights-Historic Sites and Organizations 34 Survey Highlights -Historic Architectural Review Boards (HARBS) 46 Survey Highlights- Historical Commissions 47 Highlights From One-on-One Interview 48 Focus Group Results Major Findings of the Focus Groups 53 Delaware County Public History Feasibility Study and Implementation Plan, Page 3, Heritage Consulting Inc. Training Events and Workshops 54 Collaboration Needs 56 Other Needs 59 Section 2: Implementation Plan Local Historic Resources in Local School Curriculum How School Districts are Organized in Delaware County 60 Impact of State Mandates on Local School Districts’ History Curricula 61 Pennsylvania Standards for History 61 Current Situation of Historic Sites 62 Findings 63 Recommendations 65 Upgrade Interpretation and New Stories for Delaware County Existing Conditions 67 Interpretation 70 Improving Interpretation and Visitation 72 Theme Tours for Delaware County, a Pilot Project 79 Demonstration Program 80 Recommendations Existing Conditions 81 Recommendations 82 Information Sharing between historical organizations 83 Collaboration 83 Technical Assistance 83 Collections Management 84 Interpretation Update 84 School Tours 85 Tourism 85 Capital Repair 86 Implementation 87 Action Plan 87 Action Items Completed During the Project 87 Short Term Recommendations 1-2 Years 89 Mid-Term Recommendations 3-5 Years 104 Long Term Recommendations 5-10 Years 111 Conclusion 117 Delaware County Public History Feasibility Study and Implementation Plan, Page 4, Heritage Consulting Inc. Appendix Materials A. Cover letters and Survey Forms B. Survey Statistical Results C. Public Meetings PowerPoint Presentations D. Historic Themes from Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Blue Markers and National Register Properties in Delaware County E. 400 years of Delaware County History graphic F. Example Theme Tours, half-day and one two-day G. Implementation Plan Activity Matrix and Cover Memo H. Likely Funding Sources for Implementation Plan Programming I. Delaware County Public History Fast Facts J. Overview of Recommendations for Delaware County Public History Feasibility Study and Implementation Plan K. Training and Technical Assistance Needs of Delaware County History Organizations L. Historic Preservation Toolkit: The Delaware County Public History Study and Implementation Plan Article by Jill N. Hall M. Acknowledgements and credits Delaware County Public History Feasibility Study and Implementation Plan, Page 5, Heritage Consulting Inc. Message from the Delaware County Planning Department It is with great pleasure that Delaware County Planning Department offer this report, which highlights a year-long, incredibly ambitious Public History Project for Delaware County. From beginning to end, the project has had many unforeseen successes. First of all, it is remarkable that the State Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) had the foresight to see the connection between community economic development and public history. In awarding a grant to us for the Public History Feasibility Study and Implementation Plan, DCED acknowledged the vital connection between public history and revitalizing our communities. Secondly, this Project’s intent was to collect data as to the successes and challenges of the varied entities whose missions are to promote our shared county heritage. It was assumed that many of the organizations would participate, but we never envisioned the extent of participation or enthusiasm of the varied countywide, municipally-scaled, or site specific historic sites. Over 80% of the historical organizations contacted participated in the surveying activities, and even more attended the public meetings held periodically throughout the year. (Normally, a 33% response rate is the expected response in studies). Lastly, what emerged was a strong message; there is a tremendous amount of dedicated people in this county, mostly volunteers, who work hard to share with the public the many historical narratives of Delaware County. Despite the joint successes achieved in every corner of the county, witnessed in the many historic buildings overseen, programs offered, and schoolchildren reached, the need for more technical information and organizational management skills of non-profits is greater than ever in order to keep these amazing places and groups vital. A common thread running throughout the year was the desire for more cooperation amongst the historical organizations, to build on each other’s strengths and share the search for answers to common challenges. We at the Planning Department want to offer big thanks to Heritage Consulting Inc. for the immense task of collecting so much useful data, as well as devising from all the information collected an Implementation Plan that will serve well the many countywide, municipal-based, and individual historical groups. We want to acknowledge efforts of the Project managers, Beverlee Barnes and Jill Hall, who worked diligently with the consultant throughout the entire Project to ensure the Project’s success. We also want to acknowledge other staff members who were instrumental in the success of the Project, including Alan Higgins and Rachelle Green of the Preservation Section for their valuable feedback throughout the process, and Anne Wolfe, the copy editor, for her expertise and effort in finalizing the final product. We also want to acknowledge the grantors, DCED, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and County Council for supporting our request for funding. Most of all we want to thank the many individuals who participated in the study and meetings. It is really because of all of you involved in public history in the county that we can move forward with a clear understanding of the strengths and challenges we now face with a more informed perspective. Delaware County Public History Feasibility Study and Implementation Plan, Page 6, Heritage Consulting Inc. Executive Summary Delaware County has many wonderful historic sites and organizations dedicated to the history of the county operating throughout the region. These vary from groups whose focus is countywide like the Delaware County Historical Society, to groups operating on a municipal-scale like historical commissions, Historical Architectural Review Boards (HARBs), historical societies, and to historic sites that keep alive the story of one family, individual or building. Even though all these groups strive to achieve their varying missions ranging from promoting historical research to historic preservation, many of the organizations, especially municipal scaled or smaller site- specific organizations, need some improvements or guidance. Many of these organizations share common problems but do not have the expertise or funds to fix them. The purpose of the Delaware County Public History Feasibility Study and Implementation Plan is to improve the effectiveness and impact of the more than 80 historical organizations throughout the county. The goals of the year-long project are: Determine how best to remedy the underutilized nature of historic organizations throughout the county; Address how the historical organizations can better cooperate and coordinate efforts to present a more inclusive interpretation of our history that reflects all periods, peoples, and geographic portions of the county; Better preserve our irreplaceable public history resources; Make history available to the public as an educational tool with better efficiency and success; Help foster revitalization. Heritage Consulting Inc. surveyed 80 historical organizations in Delaware County as part of the Delaware County Public History Feasibility Study and Implementation Plan in fall 2009. Rather than focus on the more developed organizations that have sophisticated