HomeMy WebLinkAboutHPC Minutes 082416 Attachment 1
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Orange County
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Approved Meeting Summary
August 24th, 2016
Old Orange County Courthouse
106 East King Street, Hillsborough
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MEMBERS PRESENT: Bob Ireland (Vice-Chair), Jaime Grant, Allie Mead, Art Menius, Tom Loter and
Grace White
MEMBERS ABSENT: Susan Ballard
STAFF PRESENT: Peter Sandbeck
GUESTS: None
ITEM #1: CALL TO ORDER
Vice Chair Ireland called the meeting to order at 7:13 pm.
ITEM #2: CHANGES OR ADDITIONS TO AGENDA: Staff asked to add a short overview about the
Gosling House, an early log house; also an update of work at Blackwood Farm. Staff
suggested we tour of the Norwood-Jones Law Office tonight given the good weather.
ITEM #3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES (July 27th): White noted that she was shown as being
present but was not; also on page 2, item 6-e, change African to Africa. Menius moved to
accept the minutes as amended; seconded by Loter; motion passed.
ITEM #4: ITEMS FOR DECISION: None
ITEM #5: DISCUSSION ITEMS
a. Book Next Steps:
Staff handed out a one-pager providing an overview of current and future phases/steps.
Our consultants are working on a draft essay as the final piece of their work on our most
recent CLG grant-funded survey of the Town ETJ. Staff noted that Stephanie Trueblood
will be leaving her post as Town HDC staffer to become more of a project manager; some
work will be needed to coordinate with the Town HDC and the new staff person about
book project. Staff walked members through the handout. As we move forward, staff
wants to post all of our material on a shared drive system, perhaps run by the County or
host it on Google Drive. Discussion followed about the essay, including the first Indian or
Native American section. There is an essay by Dr. Steve Davis and Patricia Samford, and
the work by Trawick Ward; staff will share with book committee. Our goal is to have the
book printed and ready to distribute in fall of 2019. The Alliance continues to be willing to
serve as a financial agent to help with grant seeking and later with sales of books.
b. Updates to list of properties/sites to be included in book (presentation):
Staff provided a PowerPoint presentation to illustrate additional structures that could be
included. Members viewed 84 properties at the last meeting; of those, 50 were
residences, and 34 were schools, churches, barns etc. All will be posted on our shared
site, by township and location. For example there is the Sanders Riley House in Cedar
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Grove Township, notable as a log house from 1834 but the family has an 1880s photo
showing it with the detached kitchen. The Lloyd-Andrews property consists of an early 19th
century log house, a fine 1920s bungalow, and a modernist house designed by a Frank
Lloyd Wright student. The Archibald Currie House in Cedar Grove Township is an eclectic
mid-19th century house, with historic photos that can add great interest. The Sykes House
on Oak Grove Church Road is a very intact 1891 typical two story farmhouse, but rises to
a higher level because a member of the family born there was recorded in the 1980s and
tells all about rural life in the first decades of the 20th century. The Brody Lloyd House is a
good example of the Bungalow style. Several modernist houses merit consideration, like
the so-called “Florida House” in Efland and some architect-designed examples like the
Williams House near Chapel Hill and the Forrest House in Efland. For an intact ranch
house, there is the Walker House on Orange Grove Rd. We can consider including one of
the geodesic dome houses. There are also country stores, churches and outbuildings.
Almost all of these will require additional photography taken when lighting is good.
c. Concept of small grant program for preserving significant structures or sites:
At an earlier meeting staff raised the question of starting a small grant program. In VA for
example, the statewide non profit partnered with a local industry to develop a mini-grant
program to stabilize historic tobacco barns. Perhaps this could be worked as a revolving
loan fund, so you would only have to ask for money one time and then reuse it.
d. Strayhorn Slave Cemetery interpretive sign text (Attachment 2):
Staff and members discussed the draft text and offered several helpful edits.
e. Preservation North Carolina annual conference in Greensboro and schedule conflict:
There is some money in the budget this year to pay for registration and possible travel
costs for members. Four already participated in the mandatory CLG training in Chapel Hill
in May, so we met that requirement. Ireland said he’d like to attend on Wednesday and
Thursday. Members will let staff know if they want to attend. This meeting will be held the
same date as our Sept. 28th meeting. We can either shift our meeting date, or cancel that
meeting. Menius moved to cancel the meeting, seconded by Grant; motion passed.
f. County Poor House Cemetery issues:
Staff provided an update on the Poor House cemetery, which is about 2 acres. It is said to
contain several hundred graves. We have funding for a new historic marker/sign. Our plan
is to conduct an archaeological survey to identify and count all burials there.
ITEM #6: UPDATES AND INFORMATION ITEMS
a. Review of the Gosling House, Eno Township:
The Gosling House is an intact mid 19th century log house, on St. Mary’s Road near St.
Mary’s Chapel. This was reviewed for possible landmark status a few years ago, and was
given a medium grade because nobody had made a site visit. It has a lot of integrity.
b. Blackwood Farm removal of aluminum siding:
Staff showed photos of the house with the siding removed, in preparation for the overall
exterior restoration work to be done next year.
c. Open Air Time for members to share information
This was skipped as the meeting had gone past 9 pm.
ITEM #7: ADJOURNMENT: Grant moved to adjourn, seconded by Loter; meeting adjourned at 9:05
pm
Meeting summary by Peter Sandbeck, DEAPR staff