The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation is seeking nominations to its 2010 Most Endangered Historic Properties List. Nomination forms may be obtained through the Trust’s website.

The on-going threats to historic properties statewide include demolition, neglect, incompatible development and insensitive alteration. These types of threats and many others impact resources across Washington that all contribute to the heritage and vitality of our state, enhancing the quality of life in small towns, large cities and across rural areas. Inclusion in the Most Endangered List can be an important initial step in advocacy campaigns designed to bring attention to significant historic resources.

Properties selected for inclusion in the list will receive support and technical assistance from the Trust who will support efforts to remove any threats facing the historic resource while also working to raise awareness of preservation in general. Through proactive partnering with local organizations and concerned citizens, the Trust’s Most Endangered List program has resulted in many high profile success stories across Washington since its establishment in 1992.

Several case studies demonstrate the effectiveness of inclusion in our Most Endangered List. A year ago, several structures comprising the Sand Point Naval Station at Seattle’s Magnusson Park faced uncertain futures due primarily to deferred maintenance and neglect. With cooperation from several stakeholders, including local preservation advocates, Seattle’s Parks and Recreation Department, and the University of Washington, Sand Point has been recommended for listing as a historic district in the National Register of Historic Places.

In University Place, grassroots efforts aimed at preserving the Curran House, a mid-century modern residence designed by a noted Tacoma architect, hit a snag when city officials questioned the value of retaining the house. Set amid an apple orchard, the site serves as a city park and plays host to picnics, community events and family gatherings. With a sense of doggedness and determination on the part of advocates, and after inclusion in the Washington Trust’s Most Endangered List, the University Place City Council passed a resolution supporting preservation of the Curran House. More good news followed with the announcement that the Curran House received a Pierce County grant of $30,000 to address much needed maintenance issues.

The statewide listing in 2006 of Washington’s Historic Barns resulted in a legislative effort to address the unique threats facing these iconic structures. Passed in 2007, the Heritage Barn Preservation Initiative established the Heritage Barn Register while setting aside funding to provide stabilization and rehabilitation grants to assist barn owners with preservation projects. Created as a program within the Washington State Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation, the initiative has resulted in 408 barns being designated as official Washington State Heritage Barns. Moreover, through the grant program, 31 barns across the state have received funds to assist with rehabilitation projects. The Washington Trust rallied a diverse collection of agricultural-related and heritage-minded advocacy groups to support this legislation – a loose knit coalition that has kept up momentum and remains committed to historic barns.

These are but a few of the many preservation successes in which the Washington Trust has played a role. We encourage communities to take action when the historic fabric of their neighborhoods, main streets and rural landscapes are threatened, and we offer our support with preservation efforts aimed at removing these threats.

Nominations to the Trust’s 2010 Most Endangered Historic Properties List are due on Monday, March 15, 2010. The 2010 List will be announced at a press conference in May as part of the Washington Trust’s Preservation Month programming. For more information on the Most Endangered Historic Properties List, including a nomination form, please visit the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation website.

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For more information on each of the nominated properties, simply click the picture to move through the gallery.

Quincy Cemetery – Washington Heritage Register

Stewart-Brew House, Puyallup, Washington Heritage Register

Hartline School, Hartline – National Register/WHR

Historic Theaters of Washington State – Multiple Property Documentation, NR

Blue Mouse Theatre, Tacoma – National Register/WHR

Faculty Club, University of Washington – National Register/WHR

Sandpoint Naval Air Station – National Register/WHR

York Historic District, Bellingham, WA – National Register/WHR

South Hill Historic District, Bellingham, WA – National Register/WHR

Cissna Cottages Historic District, Bellingham – National Register/WHR

House Bill 2704 has been voted out of the General Appropriations committee and forwarded to the House Rules committee.  This is the bill to move the Main Street Program from Commerce to the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation.

The next step is to have the Bill pulled by a member of the Rules committee for a vote on the House floor. The Rules committee’s next meeting is Tuesday February 9 and all bills must be out of the house of origin by February 16th so this really needs to happen next week.

“The Power of Snoqualmie Falls,” which aired on KCTS Monday night, bested talk show queen Oprah Winfrey in the 9 p.m. time slot. It also beat out new episodes of NBC’s “Heroes” and the CW’s “Life Unexpected.”

According to KCTS, the film’s ratings match the best ratings the station gets for shows like “Frontline” and “Nova.” While the strong lead-in of “Antiques Roadshow” at 8 p.m. got the ratings off to a good start, the film actually showed a significant gain in viewership throughout the hour.

If you weren’t able to watch the broadcast, you can view the two-minute trailer or the full film here.

Our 2010 Preserving Your Old House program uses Historic Seattle’s newly purchased building, Washington Hall, as a “get dirty” space to demonstrate how to repair plaster work, refinish wood work and paint, and repair windows. 

 On March 13, Historic Seattle presents Steve Irish of Lux Interiors, who  has undertaken plaster repair and plaster restoration in the Seattle area for twenty years and is an expert on repairing lath and plaster in older buildings. During this overview, he will cover a variety of plaster issues, such as cracks, holes, veneer de-lamination, damaged moldings, texture matches and re-plastering from the studs up.

 Future demonstrations will focus on preparation of surfaces and painting and on wood window repair. For more information consult Historic Seattle’s website. 

What:      “How To” Demonstrations at Washington Hall

Plasterwork: Steve Irish

When:     March 13, 2010 (Saturday) 10:00 am to 12:00 p.m.

Where:    Washington Hall, 153 14^th Avenue (one block north of E.Yesler at E. Fir Street)

 Cost:      $10 general public, $8 Historic Seattle members; $5 students

Register at www.historicseattle.org or call (206) 622-6952

House, Lake Forest Park

House, Spokane

House, Shelton

House, Cashmere

House in Longview

Lubeck House, Seattle

In the early part of the 19th Century, Californians sought to define an indigenous style of architecture by fusing local Spanish-influences with Colonial designs from the east coast.  Their search eventually led to the later emergence of one of California’s few native architectural styles, the Monterey Style, which became popular between 1930-1950.  

Some early literature refers to the style as Mediterranean, but today most historians call the designs Monterey, named after the California city where the style is most prevalent.   The Monterey Style makes a subtle and brief appearance in the Pacific Northwest mainly in the 1930s and 1940s.   Used primarily for residential properties, Monterey style homes are typically two stories in height with shallow pitched side gable roofs, and a second story cantilevered covered balcony.  Roofs are generally covered with clay tiles or asphalt shingles and exterior wall surfaces can be finished in brick, stucco or clapboard reflecting the fusion of Anglo and Hispanic styles. Windows are often narrow and tall and are grouped in pairs.  Many Monterey Style homes have attached front facing garages, which indicate the growing importance of the automobile during the mid part of the 20^th century. 

The inset balcony, usually located at one end of the house above the main entrance door, is accessed only from the interior by glazed doors.  Many have ornate balusters juxtaposed against simple squared wood posts.  The balcony and a side facing gable roof gives the home a dominant rectilinear character.

Early examples of the Monterey Style tend to favor Spanish detailing such as tile roofs and carved balcony porch posts, while later examples emphasize Colonial details, such as double hung multi-light windows adorned with shutters and paneled entry doors.

by National Trust for Historic Preservation on February 2nd, 2010

Written by Pat Lally

Remember my comments in the blog I posted last week on the State of the Union? That the President’s address sets the stage for his budget? That the three-year freeze he proposed could lead to cuts? Well, the White House sent its Budget Request to Capitol Hill yesterday, as it typically does the first Monday in February. How did preservation fare? Let’s just say that it wasn’t a very good day for us.

Save America’s Treasures (SAT), the nation’s only bricks-and-mortar grant program, is proposed for elimination. Not since the 1980’s has there been such an assault on the programs that protect America’s heritage. Since 2000, SAT has been the federal government’s most successful tool to preserve the important places that tell our nation’s story. Due to the broad, bi-partisan Congressional support it has on the Hill, the program has saved over 700 of America’s most significant places in all 50 states, supporting jobs and economic development in every single project it covers. 

The elimination of SAT would represent a 25% reduction in the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), the account that funds the core activities of the national historic preservation program. How ironic just as preservationists have mounted a nationwide campaign to get the HPF fully funded. Even though it is supposed to get $150 million annually, the fund barely sees half that from Congress. If the House and Senate go along with this Budget Request, the HPF will now get only a third of what it should receive.

But here’s the biggest irony in the President’s Budget Request (and a little-known fact). Technically speaking, SAT and the other core national preservation programs under the HPF cost the American taxpayer nothing. You see, this account, by law, is funded by the revenue  received from offshore oil and gas leases on the Outer Continental Shelf. Years ago, Congress had the foresight to place historic preservation in this dedicated account along with other “conservation” activities. Their rationale was that as non-renewable resources are expended (such as fossil fuels), some of the associated revenue should help pay for the conservation and preservation of other non-renewable resources, such as sensitive ecosystems and nationally-significant buildings, collections, and objects.

Makes sense, right? Well, the problem is that both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue have budgeted much of this money for purposes other than historic preservation, and that simply has to stop. In fact, some of the other conservation activities that are funded by oil and gas leasing revenue are increased substantially in this Budget Request, just as we were slashed. It seems to me that preservationists need to make it loud and clear to their lawmakers as to why we need every penny of the $150 million that we’re supposed to get from Washington every year.

The final irony is that, among federal programs, SAT stands out as a model of efficiency and effective spending. You see, every grant recipient under this program is required to find a dollar-for-dollar, non-federal match. To date, SAT has raised more than $350 million in non-federal and private funds. As a result, SAT has been enormously successful in leveraging private-sector financing and creating  productive and sustained partnerships with large corporations, foundations, and individuals that provide matching contributions. Here is just a small glimpse into some of the places and things that SAT has helped preserve for future generations: Ellis Island, Mesa Verde National Park, Valley Forge, Thomas Edison’s Invention Factory,  and the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the “Star Spangled Banner.” 

Now, I’ve placed so much emphasis on SAT because, in the grand scheme of things, it make no sense at all to eliminate. But it is also important to know that this Budget Request would cut and eliminate  other worthy and valuable preservation programs if adopted. Preserve America, a sister program to SAT for preservation education and outreach (funded out of the National Recreation Account), would be eliminated. National Heritage Area funding would be cut by half. And lastly, for the State and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers who are the backbone of the national historic preservation program – level funding from last year. What this really means is that they will continue to be inadequately funded and often unable to keep up with their enormous workloads.

In just four weeks, preservationists will be coming to Washington to meet with their elected representatives during Historic Preservation Advocacy Week. We’ll be making a full court press on the Hill to oppose the elimination of SAT and Preserve America. We’ll also oppose other cuts to important preservation programs, and lobby for increased funding for State and Tribal Offices. In the meantime, stay tuned for our call to action to engage your Member of Congress; we need everyone to express their opposition to how this Budget Request treats critical historic preservation programs.

Pat Lally is the congressional affairs director for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Stay tuned for a behind-the-scenes look at how preservation policy is made through his weekly posts from the Hill.

The December 7, 2009 lecture by Donovan Rypkema, Historic Preservation: The Core of Sustainable Development, is now available for viewing online. Please visit Tacoma Culture’s website and click on the link, “view video.”

Additional formats, including downloadable formats, are forthcoming.

Please contact Reuben McKnight,  Historic Preservation Officer City of Tacoma, with any questions at Reuben.McKnight@ci.tacoma.wa.us.

 

Whidbey’s Photography Book Signing to Support Ebey’s Reserve in Coupeville, Saturday, February 13

 

The beautiful and favorite places of Whidbey Island are captured in a newly-released photography book, Whidbey Island, the Jewel of Puget Sound.

On February 13 from 11am-3pm at Pen Cove Gallery, photographer Denis Hill will sign and sell his book, donating the proceeds to preserving the Reserve’s rural character through the Ebey’s Forever Fund.

During this special event, $10 of each $19.95 book sold will be donated to the Ebey’s Forever Fund. The Ebey’s Forever Fund will provide direct financial assistance to owners of historic properties in their efforts to preserve the Reserve’s more than 350 nationally significant historic structures, as well as support the Trust Board’s education programs

The Penn Cove Gallery is located at 9 Front Street in Coupeville.

Attendees are invited to enjoy Valentine’s Day cookies and hot coffee.

 

APT Northwest is holding a Historic Masonry Workshop on Saturday, March 13, 2010 from 9 am to 4 pm in Astoria, Oregon at the Judge Guy Boyington Building (857 Commercial Street).  The cost is $50 which includes breakfast, lunch and snacks.  Continuing Education Units will be available.

Please RSVP by February 26th to Tyler Sprague at tylersprgue@gmail.com or by phone at 206.369.2028.

Topics include:

History and Pathologies of Masonry

Material Performance Testing

Petrographic Analysis

Repair and Replacement of Masonry and Mortar

Masonry Cleaning

Tools Used for Repairs

Afternoon Walking Tour

This morning President Obama released his FY11 proposed budget. In a year when virtually every program was considered for the chopping block, the President is proposing to maintain State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) funding at $46.5 million – this is the pool of funding from which the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation in Washington draws – and where our annual Certified Local Government pass-through funding stems. The budget also proposes to maintain Tribal Historic Preservation Office funding at $8 million. However, all is not good for the Historic Preservation Fund as the President proposes eliminating the Save Americas Treasures (SAT) and Preserve America grant programs. (All current SAT and PA grants would continue to be funded.) According to the White House, SAT program benefits are unclear, given the lack of “rigorous performance metrics and evaluation efforts.”

The chart below depicts the amounts President Obama proposed for FY10, the final FY10 appropriations, and what the President is proposing for FY11.

	FY10 Proposed Budget	FY10 Final Appropriations	FY11 Proposed Budget
Historic Pres Fund Total	$77.675	$79.5	$54.5
SHPOs	$46.5	$46.5	$46.5
THPOs	$8.0	$8.0	$8.0
Save America’s Treasures	$20.0	$25.0	$0.0
Preserve America	$3.175	3.175*	$0.0
Inventory/Survey	$0.0	$0.0	$0.0
*Funded through the Recreation and Preservation Account

Numbers are in millions

 Next Steps

During the next several weeks Congress will review the budget and hold numerous hearings with Agency officials.  Most likely, Secretary Salazar and Director Jarvis will testify before the House and Senate Interior appropriations subcommittees and Natural Resource committees. The national preservation partners will be actively working to restore the grant program funding  and appropriations will be a major focus of Advocacy Day.

The Evergreen School District’s YES TV program recently featured Clark County Historical Museum’s Artifacts Detective project created using Certified Local Government pass through money. This 5.43 minute piece demonstrates the curriculum developed between the Clark County Historical Museum and the Evergreen School District based on historic archaeological finds on the site of Vancouver’s convention center.

The grant partnered two teachers with a local archaeologist to develop the curriculum as well as put together archaeology “kits” for students in grades 4th through 12th containing non-culturally sensitive materials recovered from the convention center site.  It shows how the museum’s collection is accessible and relevant in the classroom. Janet Dondelinger, a 4th grade teacher at Pioneer Elementary and Tyler Morgan of Camas High School worked with Jessica Hale, the archaeologist from Applied Archaeological Research, Inc. on the project. 

The project was funded to Clark County through the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation’s CLG grants – our annual pass-through of 10% of our federal award each year.  Clark County partnered with the Clark County Historical Museum to complete the project.

Check out the video here.

The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) and the National Trust
for Historic Preservation are requesting nominations through March 1, 2010,
for the National Trust/ACHP Award for Federal Partnerships in Historic
Preservation.

This award honors outstanding partnerships that advance the preservation of
important historic resources. It celebrates a project or program in which a
federal agency and one or more non-federal partners have achieved an
exemplary preservation outcome. Partners may include Indian tribes and
Native Hawaiian organizations, not-for-profit organizations, individuals,
businesses, state and local governments, and other non-federal persons or
organizations.

Nominations now are being accepted with a submission postmark deadline of
March 1, 2010. Download the nomination form and view highlights of last year’s award
winner here. (Specific criteria for this award are explained on page 5 of the
nomination form. The form can be completed electronically, but must be
submitted by mail.) A jury of preservation professionals from the National
Trust and the ACHP will review the nominations.

Historic Seattle and the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation present quarterly public tours of two important Seattle historic homes, the Henry H. Dearborn House (1907) and Stimson-Green Mansion (1899-1901) at Minor Avenue and Seneca Street on First Hill. The next tour is Tuesday, February 9, 2010.

Tours provide insights into the architecture and interior design of both homes, as well as a lively look at the life and times of First Hill at the turn of the 20^th century. First Hill was the location of private clubs, important religious institutions, and swank hotels. It was also the city’s premier residential enclave from the 1890s through the first decades of the 1900s; home to mayors, judges, industrialists, timber barons, and art collectors. Of the 40 or more large and prestigious homes and gardens that once graced the neighborhood, only four remain. Two of those four are closed to the public, but the residences built for H. H. Dearborn and C. D. Stimson, which now house the respective offices of Historic Seattle and the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, afford Seattle residents an important link to their past. These tours conclude with coffee and pastries. Tour proceeds support the mission of Historic Seattle and the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, non-profit organizations dedicated to preserving historic places in Seattle and throughout the state.

What:     TOURS: Historic houses

When:    February 9, 2010 (Tuesday) 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. (approximate)

Where:   Meet at Dearborn House, 1117 Minor Avenue

 Pre-Registration required and tour may be canceled if a minimum number of participants (five) has not enrolled by the Friday prior to the tour (February 5)

 Cost:      $30 general public, $25 Historic Seattle and Washington Trust members.

Register at www.historicseattle.org or call (206) 622-6952