Historic Ventures Fall 2017
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Preservation Virginia Non-Profit Organization 204 W. Franklin Street U.S. Postage PAID Richmond, Virginia 23220-5012 Richmond, Virginia www.preservationvirginia.org Permit No. 1819 804.648.1889 REGISTER NOW FOR THE Virginia Preservation Conference Petersburg, Virginia — Friday, October 6, 2017 See page 3 for registration details You Keep the Connection Alive You can provide for the future of Virginia’s historic places. To give or renew your support, contact Alexis Feria at 804.648.1889, ext. 303 or donate securely online at www.bit.ly/preserveva. HISTORIC VENTURES FALL 2017 You Can Explore the Value of Partnerships at the Virginia Preservation Conference A Voice for Historic Places Since 1889 e’re excited to be co-hosting the Virginia Preservation Virginia works as a respected Preservation Conference alongside the resource, experienced advocate and creative W Virginia Department of Historic catalyst to advance solutions that keep the Resources in Petersburg, Virginia on Friday, heart and soul in Virginia’s communities. October 6. Each year, the conference brings together architects, preservationists, government BOARD OF TRUSTEES leaders and everyday citizens from across the Patricia Loughridge Genevieve P. Keller Commonwealth to explore preservation ideas PRESIDENT Charlottesville, Virginia Richmond, Virginia and initiatives. H. Pettus LeCompte Elizabeth S. Kostelny, Louis Malon and Patti Loughridge at Louis’ retirement This year, we invite you to “Explore the Value Alexander C. Graham, Jr. Richmond, Virginia VICE PRESIDENT party at the Cole Digges House. of Partnerships” happening between organizations William Luke Midlothian, Virginia Henrico, Virginia in the private and public sector that strengthen Trip Pollard Virginia’s communities. You’ll get to hear from Linda Marks VICE PRESIDENT Preservation from Where I Stand Mechanicsville, Virginia incredible guest speakers about the collaborations Richmond, Virginia reserving history requires finding responsible and appropriate solutions. and preservation programs that help revitalize and Joseph D. Cheely Gary Ometer TREASURER Richmond, Virginia None of us can be satisfied with the status quo. In the 21st century, sustain historic places of memory in Virginia. Richmond, Virginia Elizabeth S. Kostelny innovation is a necessity. Every day our staff is on the road working Register today at bit.ly/2017VPConference. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Pwith communities and their leaders across the Commonwealth to form new Anne Geddy Cross AND BOARD SECRETARY This conference is made possible thanks to the generous IMMEDIATE collaborations and partnerships. We are on the ground helping communities PAST PRESIDENT, Richmond, Virginia support from our sponsors, including the Virginia EX OFFICIO develop solutions to preserve and raise awareness of the places that let us Department for Historic Resources, The Cameron Hanover, Virginia touch the past and connect to our future. HONORARY Foundation and Davenport & Co. For a full list of our Ernest Clifford Barrett, III* TRUSTEES This issue of Historic Ventures focuses on a few of our many endeavors sponsors, please visit www.preservationvirginia.org. Washington, D.C. William G. Beville related to the James River, Petersburg, Virginia Beach and the John Marshall Petersburg, Virginia Sally Guy Brown House. You will read a developer’s perspective on the historic tax credit Alexandria, Virginia C. Hobson Goddin program and learn about Bill Kelso’s new book, “Jamestown, the Truth Richmond, Virginia Audrey Paulette Davis Revealed.” You’ll discover how crowd sourcing technology will help document Alexandria, Virginia William B. Kerkam III Virginia’s Rosenwald Schools and read stories shared by our supporters Richmond, Virginia Ken Farmer about what draws them to our work and how legacy gifts inspire and make Charlottesville, Virginia Shirley T. VanLandingham significant investments today. Lastly, we will say farewell to two preservation Petersburg, Virginia John H. Guy IV heroes—Andy Williams and George Freeman. Cape Henry Lighthouse’s Alexandria, Virginia D. Anderson Williams* Alexandria, Virginia As we go to print, communities are debating the place of Confederate Kevin R. Hardwick, Ph.D. monuments in public spaces. Violence in Charlottesville and protests in other 225th Anniversary Penn Laird, Virginia * deceased communities reflect the complexity of these issues. Perspectives differ and are n 1720, Virginia Governor, Alexander Spotswood, deeply held, but progress can only be made through open discussion. first proposed building a lighthouse at the entrance We believe that inclusive, respectful, transparent and fact-based community to the Chesapeake Bay near Cape Henry. Seven dialogues will help shape solutions that meet each community’s needs. No single I decades later on November 17, 1792, the lantern solution can be applied universally. However, by fostering unflinching at Cape Henry Lighthouse shone for the first time. examinations and honest narratives of our history, we can develop a more At 157 feet tall, it stands as a symbol of resilience comprehensive understanding of the past and how its legacies still affect us today. having been damaged and repaired during the Civil Now more than ever, Preservation Virginia believes that the resources of War and used for nearly 100 years. Although it was our past offer vital lessons to present and future generations about all facets of decommissioned in the late 19th century, Cape Henry our complex history. Through our programs, projects and advocacy efforts, we Preservation Virginia Lighthouse remains one of the oldest, most historic will continue to promote engaged discussions that recognize and understand 204 West Franklin Street lighthouses standing today. our collective history as Americans. Richmond, Virginia 23220-5012 We hope you will join us in commemorating www.preservationvirginia.org 225 years of the first federally funded public works 804.648.1889 project completed in the United States by visiting Cape Henry Lighthouse and learning about its incredible history through Daily Dune Talks, scavenger Elizabeth S. Kostelny Patricia Loughridge hunts and tours of the Lighthouse. Cockade Alley, Petersburg COVER: Old Towne Petersburg CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PRESIDENT 2 HISTORIC VENTURES 3 PRESERVATION VIRGINIA Rosenwald School Survey Launches Making the Numbers Work: reservation Virginia included Rosenwald An important component of the project will An Interview Schools on our 2013 list of Virginia’s Most be engaging preservation partners and volunteers Endangered Historic Places. Since then, we to document Rosenwald Schools in their with Dave McCormack Phave worked with individuals, groups and localities communities using an online application. Users to help them preserve these historic schools by can record preliminary survey information about etween 1997 and 2014, the Historic Rehabilitation Tax being a resource for them, giving needed advice a Rosenwald School, tag its location and upload Credit Program (HRTC) resulted in 2,350 projects and and direction toward their preservation efforts. images. This data will help Preservation Virginia $4 billion in private investment in the Commonwealth. The Rosenwald rural school building program was and DHR follow up to supplement and verify BPreservation Virginia, the Home Builders Association and a major effort conceived by Booker T. Washington survey data. the Association of Commercial Real Estate are partnering to and funded in part by Julius Rosenwald to improve Once completed, the results will be commission a deeper dive into the economic impacts of historic the quality of public education for African entered into DHR’s Virginia Cultural Resource tax credits. This updated study will go a long way in proving Americans. Between 1917 and 1932, more than Information System. Other grant funded activities the success of the historic tax credit program and its ability to 360 Rosenwald schools were built in Virginia. will include the nomination of at least three both save history and revitalize communities. Thanks to a federal grant of $50,000 from the schools to the National Register of Historic Places Recently, we sat down with Dave McCormack of Waukeshaw Underrepresented Communities grant program and the exploration of a highway marker program Development to discuss his experience with the tax credit of the National Park Service (NPS), awarded to for school sites where the structures no longer program and its importance in Virginia. the Department of Historic Resources (DHR) exist. Along the way, Preservation Virginia will in partnership with Preservation Virginia, an continue to help groups advocating on behalf of How did you learn about the HRTC program? Courtland Historic architectural survey of all Rosenwald Schools in Rosenwald Schools protect their historic resources. Going back to 2000, I was hearing people talk about tax credits. Virginia has begun. The initial phase of the project But there seemed to be a lot of misinformation out there. Rosenwald School If you know the location of a Rosenwald School in will document the condition of approximately The more I looked into it, I realized it was very different from (pictured), built in 1928 the Piedmont Region, please contact Justin Sarafin at 192 Rosenwald Schools in the Piedmont region. what the average person knows or purports to know. There’s a and located in [email protected] or 804.648.1889, Southampton County, This phase’s completion will enable future efforts disconnect between what