Clemson University TigerPrints All Theses Theses 5-2008 Moving Historic Buildings: A Study of What Makes Good Preservation Practices When Dealing with Historically Significant Buildings and Structures Xana Peltola Clemson University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_theses Part of the Historic Preservation and Conservation Commons Recommended Citation Peltola, Xana, "Moving Historic Buildings: A Study of What Makes Good Preservation Practices When Dealing with Historically Significant Buildings and Structures" (2008). All Theses. 352. https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_theses/352 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses at TigerPrints. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Theses by an authorized administrator of TigerPrints. For more information, please contact [email protected]. MOVING HISTORIC BUILDINGS: A STUDY OF WHAT MAKES GOOD PRESERVATION PRACTICES WHEN DEALING WITH HISTORICALY SIGNIFICANT BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES A Thesis Presented to the Graduate Schools of Clemson University and The College of Charleston In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science Historic Preservation by Xana Colleen Peltola May 2008 Accepted by: Jennifer McStotts, Committee Chair Robert D. Russell, Jr. Jonathan Poston Ashley Robbins ABSTRACT When relocating in order to preserve an historic property, there must be certain protocols in place to ensure that the historic significance is retained. Historic preservationists are not only attempting to successfully relocate a building but also to follow good preservation ethics in order to respect the current and potential site as well as the structure itself. In addition to examining how historic structures have been moved in the past and the guidelines that the National Register has developed regarding the process by which historic structures should be relocated, two case studies will also be examined. The first is Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and its keepers‘ dwellings relocated by the National Park Service, and the second is the relocation of four late eighteenth and early nineteenth century houses in Charleston, South Carolina by the Historic Charleston Foundation. Each relocation is unique in character and sometimes in method; however, there are ethical and unethical practices when relocating for the sake of preservation. Based on the two case studies in addition to traditional relocation methods and practices, recommendations are offered for standards of ethical practices for relocating historic buildings for preservation purposes. ii DEDICATION I would like to dedicate this thesis to those who helped, encouraged and reassured me as I pursued this lengthy endeavor. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of my thesis advisor, Jennifer McStotts. Throughout the months of preparation, research and the writing of this paper she was a constant source of help and support. Thank you for your time, your respect, and most importantly, your encouragement. I would also like to recognize the help of Karen Edmunds. Mrs. Edmunds was a wonderful help and a cheerful supporter and I greatly appreciate all that she has done for me. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page TITLE PAGE .................................................................................................................... i ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................... ii DEDICATION ................................................................................................................ iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .............................................................................................. iv LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................... vii CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................... 1 II. GENERAL RELOCATION METHODS ............................................... 6 History ......................................................................................... 6 Methods ..................................................................................... 10 Regulations ............................................................................... 16 Theory ...................................................................................... 19 III. RELOCATION OF CAPE HATTERAS BY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE .................................................... 24 Location of Cape Hatteras ..................................................... 24 History ...................................................................................... 26 Threats to Lighthouse ............................................................. 32 Controversy Surrounding Historic Structure Relocation ................................................... 37 The Relocation of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and Keepers‟ Quarters ........................... 48 IV. RELOCATION OF MIDDLESEX PROPERTIES BY HISTORIC CHARLESTON FOUNDATION ............................... 68 Location Background of Charleston: Ansonborough ............................................................. 69 Attempt to Revitalize Ansonborough by Historic Charleston Foundation ........................... 70 Historic Charleston Foundation‟s v Revolving Fund ........................................................... 72 Reasons for Choosing Ansonborough for the First Revolving Fund Project ................................................................ 73 Urban Renewal as a Means of Neighborhood Revitalization ..................................... 74 Relocation as a Means of Preservation ................................. 84 IV. ANALYSIS AND COMPARISON ..................................................... 115 Relocation of Hatteras Lighthouse and Keeper‟s Dwellings by the National Park Service ............................................... 115 Relocation of Three Houses by Historic Charleston Foundation ............................................. 118 Comparison of Case Studies ................................................ 123 V. CONCLUSION ................................................................................... 129 APPENDIX Foreign Relocation Policy ............................................................................. 133 VISUAL ARCHIVED DOCUMENTS ...................................................................... 135 BIBLIOGRAPHY ....................................................................................................... 136 vi LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. ―The Brighton Beach Hotel, Brooklyn, N.Y., being moved away from beach front‖ http://memory.loc.gov/ (accessed: March 20, 2008). ....................................... 23 2. General view looking southeast showing entry elevation of lighthouse, fencing, oil house to left and path from keeper‘s cottage and parking lot. Historic American Buildings Survey Photograph ........................................................................... 55 3. View looking up at top portion of the tower, closer range. Historic American Buildings Survey Photograph ............................................. 56 4. South-Southeast (Front) elevation of entry at base of light tower, with scale, horizontal view. Historic American Buildings Survey Photograph ........................................................................... 57 5. Satellite Image provided by Google Earth. This image is not to scale. Drawn by Xana Peltola ......................................... 58 6. Perspective View of Southeast (Front) and Southwest, with Principal Keepers‘ Dwelling in Background HABS NC, 28-BUXT, 1-A-1. Historic American Buildings Photograph ........................... 59 7. Perspective view of southeast (Front) and southwest, with principal keepers‘ dwelling in background HABS NC, 28-BUXT, 1-A-1. Historic American Buildings Survey ................................. 60 8. Perspective view of northwest rear and northeast side 9. [...] HABS NC, 28-BUXT, 1-A-8. Historic American Buildings Survey Photograph ............................................................................................ 61 9. Southwest side elevation, with scale HABS NC, 28-BUXT, 1-A-7. Historic American Buildings Survey Photograph ................................ 62 10. Southeast (front) elev. HABS NC, 28- Buxt, 1-B-1. Historic American Buildings Survey Photograph .......................................................... 63 11. Perspective View of Southeast (front) and Southwest Side HABS NC, 28-BUXT, 1-B-5. Historic American vii Buildings Survey Photograph ........................................................................... 64 12. Northeast elev. HABS NC, 28- BUXT, 1-B-4. Historic American Buildings Survey Photograph .......................................................... 65 13. View of Keeper‘s Cottages from Gallery at Top of Tower. Historic American Buildings Survey Photograph ............................................. 66 14. View Surrounding Area (including proposed new site for lighthouse) Looking Southwest from Gallery at Top of Tower. Historic American Buildings Survey Photograph ........................... 67 15. Modern day photograph of Gaillard Municipal Auditorium. This photograph was taken by Xana Peltola on October 22, 2007 ................. 102 16. Aerial photograph (looking north) depicting cleared auditorium area prior to construction. Used with permission