HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 05-07-2013 - 4f 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: May 7, 2013
Action Agenda
Item No. 4-f
SUBJECT: National Historic Preservation Month
DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
and Recreation (DEAPR)
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Proclamation Rich Shaw, 245-2514
Peter Sandbeck, 245-2517
PURPOSE: To consider proclaiming May as National Historic Preservation Month in Orange
County.
BACKGROUND: The National Trust for Historic Preservation is celebrating May as National
Historic Preservation Month. This year's theme is "See! Save! Celebrate!"
Since 2005, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has celebrated May as National Historic
Preservation Month, encouraging communities large and small to celebrate their rich, diverse
heritage, and draw more Americans into the growing national preservation movement.
Each May, the Orange County Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) asks the Board of
County Commissioners to adopt a resolution declaring May to be National Historic Preservation
Month as a means of publicizing and promoting the many ongoing preservation efforts
throughout the County.
Orange County has many historic treasures — and May is a particularly good month to celebrate
them. Special places like Ayr Mount, the Burwell School, the Horace Williams House, the
Historic Occoneechee Speedway Trail, the Forest Theater, the Margaret Lane Cemetery, the
Orange County Museum, and the Old Orange County Courthouse are waiting for residents and
visitors to visit and see what riches they have to offer.
National Preservation Month offers an opportunity for Orange County and local partners to
reach out to a growing audience of neighbors, tourists, students and preservationists by
promoting historic places in the community, and encouraging newcomers to learn more about
local preservation programs.
Orange County's current historic preservation activities include the following:
• Implementing a project to share Orange County's wealth of historic building inventory
data by posting this information on the County's property web site, ARIES.
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• Partnering with the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough and Preservation Chapel Hill to
establish an annual symposium about Orange County's historic resources;
• Setting up a booth at the Town of Hillsborough's Last Friday's event on May 31 to
highlight the HPC's preservation activities as well as to provide exhibits and activities;
• Carrying out cultural and archaeological surveys for County construction projects in
areas with sensitive historic and archaeological resources;
• Demonstrating a commitment to historic resource stewardship by recognizing that many
of the historic farm buildings at county park sites are irreplaceable assets and
maintaining those buildings for future use;
• Including a chapter on cultural and historic resources in the 2030 Comprehensive Plan.
• Programs to reach out to local property owners and interested citizens to promote the
awareness of the county's rich historic agricultural heritage, including its farmsteads,
barns, outbuildings and historic open farmlands.
These examples represent a sample of the County's efforts to promote the importance of
cultural heritage and to use history as well as preservation for local economic development,
such as tourism, coalition building and making Orange County a destination.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the proclamation
for the month of May as National Historic Preservation Month with the theme, "See! Save!
Celebrate!" and joins with the Board to extend an invitation to the public to support the
preservation of the County's irreplaceable historic resources.
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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTH
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, Orange County can be proud of its long history of recognizing and protecting its rich
historic and archaeological resources through the dedicated efforts of individuals, non-profit groups, local
governments and County government; and
WHEREAS, Orange County continues to pursue partnership opportunities to preserve these important
and often irreplaceable resources, to seek new and innovative ways to make local history engaging to the
public, and to encourage others to do the same; and
WHEREAS, historic preservation is an effective tool for managing growth, revitalizing neighborhoods,
fostering local pride and maintaining community character while enhancing livability; and
WHEREAS, historic preservation is relevant for communities across the nation, both urban and rural, and
for Americans of all ages, all walks of life and all ethnic and cultural backgrounds; and
WHEREAS, Orange County has demonstrated its commitment to historic preservation by using the
restored Alexander Dickson House in Hillsborough as a visitor center, conserving historic farmsteads at
future County parks, preserving the historic Old County Courthouse, and designating important properties
with historic and architectural significance as local landmarks; and
WHEREAS, "See! Save! Celebrate!" is the theme for National Historic Preservation Month 2013,
cosponsored by the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough, Preservation Chapel Hill, the Orange County
Historic Preservation Commission and the National Trust for Historic Preservation;
NOW THEREFORE,we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, do hereby proclaim May 2013 as
National Historic Preservation Month and call upon the people of Orange County to join their fellow
residents across the United States in recognizing and participating in this special observance.
This the 71' day of May, 2013.
Barry Jacobs, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
ATTEST:
Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board