HISTORIC PROPERTIES COMMISSION 1961 ‐ 1972 ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS 1961 – 1967 ▫ Improved City Cemetery and repaired Jacob Johnson monument ▫ Established Capital City Trail in collaboration with Woman’s Club ▫ Published brochures ▫ Laid foundation for interest and education regarding early post office building, Richard B. Haywood House, Mordecai House ▫ Marked historic sites, including Henry Clay Oak and sites in Governorʹs Mansion area June 1967 ▫ Instrumental in passing local legislation granting City of Raleigh’s historic sites commission additional powers ▫ City acquired Mordecai House ▫ Mordecai property turned over to commission to develop and supervise as historic park (first example in state) December 1967 ▫ Partnered with Junior League of Raleigh to publish the book North Carolinaʹs Capital, Raleigh June 1968 ▫ Moved 1842 Anson County kitchen to Mordecai Square, placing it on approximate site of former Mordecai House kitchen August 1968 ▫ City Council approved Mordecai development concept November 1968 ▫ City purchased White‐Holman House property; commission requested to work on solution for preserving house itself; section of property utilized as connector street March 1969 ▫ Supervised excavation of Joel Lane gravesite April 1969 ▫ Collaborated with City to request funds for HUD grant to develop Mordecai Square June 1969 ▫ Lease signed for White‐Holman House September 1969 ▫ Blount Street preservation in full swing May 1970 ▫ Received $29,750 HUD grant for Mordecai development June 1970 ▫ Two ʺPACEʺ students inventoried Mordecai Book collection November 1970 ▫ Hugh Morson Plaque dedication at Federal Building 2.5 April 1971 ▫ Appreciation dinner for community members who made contributions to historic preservation ‐ Desmond Guiness, guest speaker May 1971 ▫ Parks and Recreation assumed management of City Cemetery March 1972 ▫ Mordecai Square Historical Society formed under auspices of Raleigh Historic Sites Commission April 1972 ▫ Mordecai House opened to public September 1972 ▫ Early Post Office moved to Mordecai Square 2.6 1973 ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS February 1973 ▫ The Wake County Bar Association approved fundraising drive for $18,000 to move and restore Badger‐Iredell Law Office ▫ Commission resolved to find ways to protect the Lewis‐Smith House and Seaboard Building, both proposed to be destroyed by the city’s ʺCapital Planʺ March 1973 ▫ Commission representatives appointed to address Wake County Delegation regarding Lewis‐Smith House and Seaboard Building ▫ Voted to cosponsor a tour of Raleigh and Wake County for the County and Local Historians Association April 1973 ▫ Commission representatives contacted Wake delegation regarding Lewis‐Smith and Seaboard ▫ Commission voted to ask City Council to reevaluate the proposed North‐South Expressway through Oakwood May 1973 ▫ Arranged presentation on the Lewis‐Smith House and Seaboard Building for the Capital Area Planning Commission June 1973 ▫ Landscaping plan presented for Mordecai Square; committee appointed to serve on landscaping project ▫ 27 plaques installed on historic properties July 1973 ▫ State offered to preserve Lewis‐Smith House through relocation to Blount Street ▫ Public hearing held July 11 to reestablish the commission as the “Raleigh Historic Properties and Districts Commissionʺ ▫ City appropriated funds to buy lot on New Bern Avenue for White‐Holman House relocation August 1973 ▫ Actions of the Raleigh Historic Sites Commission ratified and confirmed as actions of the (new) Raleigh Historic Properties and Districts Commission September 1973 ▫ State presented plans to adapt Andrews‐London House; stated that if purchased, the Merrimon House “will be saved” ▫ Appointed committee to work with Downtown Revitalization Committee October 1973 ▫ Badger‐Iredell Law Office moved to Mordecai Park on October 17 2.7 1974 ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS January 1974 ▫ Mr. Jesse Page named architect for the dependencies on Mordecai Square with the exception of post office and law office ▫ Commission studied feasibility of reserving a room in the Olivia Raney Library for books, maps, and manuscripts as well as a proper place in the Civic Center for Raleigh’s historic artifacts ▫ Guidelines Committee provided copies of 2 ordinances and Criteria for Evaluation at its first meeting ▫ Approved hiring of curator for Mordecai Historic Park ▫ Andrew Johnson Birthplace closed and stripped for research purposes February 1974 ▫ Observed public hearing on utilizing Civic Center space for a revolving exhibit featuring history periods of Wake County ▫ N.C. Historical Commission met to consider proposed 1974‐1975 Capital Improvement Budget’s effect on the Seaboard Coast Line Office Building, affording the commission an opportunity to comment on its proposed demolition ▫ Approved Andrew Johnson Birthplace contracts, which included removal of furniture, photographic record of exterior and interior, and architectural research March 1974 ▫ Interior of Andrew Johnson Birthplace photographed prior to house’s relocation to Park (interior articles packed and stored) ▫ Approved loan agreement with Archives and History for Allen Kitchen restoration ▫ Accepted plans for Mordecai Garden’s April 7 ribbon‐cutting ceremony; approved designation of garden ʺEllen Mordecai Gardenʺ April 1974 ▫ Needlework Exhibition netted approximately $8,600 for Mordecai Square Historical Society May 1974 ▫ Mr. Al Honeycutt conducted preliminary architectural research on Andrew Johnson Birthplace; Garden Opening held May 5 ▫ Formal dedication of Allen Kitchen May 19 ▫ 9,000 visitors to Mordecai over 2‐year period ▫ 1865 Harper’s Weekly picture of Andrew Johnson birthplace discovered during research ▫ Endorsed through resolution a rezoning proposal to support Historic Oakwood 2.8 June 1974 ▫ Lewis‐Smith House moved from Wilmington Street to Blount Street ▫ Archives and History recommended that B. Moore Parker House be saved; commission moved to designate as Raleigh Historic Site and National Register property ▫ Approved resolution to State Planning Commission strongly urging the relocation of North Carolina Museum of Art to State Building Complex area July 1974 ▫ Mr. Tom Parramore, Architectural Research Historian, authorized research on Andrew Johnson Birthplace ▫ Mr. Ed Turberg from Archives and History researched outbuildings at Mordecai Historic Park ▫ Commission presented specifications for outside lighting on Mordecai Square September 1974 ▫ Resolution to Department of Administration recommended locating a permanent visitorʹs center in an historic structure ▫ Approved appointment of commission member to Wake County Bicentennial Program ▫ Dr. Sarah Lemmon presented the commission with Vol. 2 of the Oakwood Study (completed under direction of Department of History and Political Science and Department of Sociology at Meredith College) November 1974 ▫ Department of Cultural Resources identified Andrews‐London House as potential Blount Street Visitor’s Center; commission approved through resolution ▫ Historic Preservation Society of North Carolina passed resolution to save Seaboard Office Building; sent resolution to Governor and State Planning Commission ▫ Sites Research Committee observed status of Sion Rogers House on East Lenior Street 2.9 1975 ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS January 1975 ▫ Hired research historian to document the Andrew Johnson Birthplace prior to restoration ▫ Started intern program with Meredith College February 1975 ▫ Collaborated with Planning Department and Archives and History to designate the Oakwood Historic District March 1975 ▫ Wake County Bar Association received $5,000 from the Bicentennial Commission for the Badger‐Iredell Law Office ▫ Commission received a $3500 legacy from William Henley Deitrick April 1975 ▫ City condemned and acquired a lot on New Bern Avenue for White‐Holman House relocation ▫ Established committee to plan development of State Mall area May 1975 ▫ Voted to speak at State Capital Planning Commission for preservation of Seaboard Building June 1975 ▫ Started restoration of 1847 Post Office ▫ City Council designated Oakwood Historic District ▫ Blount Street Committee worked with State consulting architect to devise a preservation proposal for Blount Street July 1975 ▫ Andrew Johnson Birthplace moved to Mordecai Square; Bar Association raised $16,000 for restoration of Law Office; commission requested study in order to designate Blount Street Historic District August 1975 ▫ Badger‐Iredell Law Office relocated to Mordecai Square ▫ State agreed to stay all demolition in proposed Blount Street Historic District until study completed; approved proposed Blount Street and Capitol Area Historic Districts for presentation to City Council September 1975 ▫ State agreed to obtain cost‐estimate for Seaboard Building relocation October 1975 ▫ State Capital Planning Commission approved Seaboard Building preservation 2.10 ▫ Blount Street and Capitol Area Historic Districts plans presented to State Planning Commission November 1975 ▫ Mordecai House restoration received award from the N.C. Chapter of the American Institute of Architects December, 1975 ▫ State began restoration of Merrimon House and purchased the Jordan House 2.11 1976 ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS January 1976 ▫ Hearing on Blount Street and Capitol Area Historic Districts held by City Council March 1976 ▫ Received legacy of $5,439.14 from the estate of William Henley Deitrick ▫ Commission sponsored a display at ʺSalute to Raleighʺ at North Hills Mall May 1976 ▫ City Council designated