HPC agenda 102799 - Laserfiche WebLink

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sometime in the next few months . This would be to discuss alternatives for preserving their joint heritage , including keeping St . Mary ' s Road a quiet , two lane corridor. Area newcomers were also at the service, and are interested in working with the community to find a solution to potential problems of over- development in the area. Not everyone agrees as to the best course of action, but they are willing to work out their differences . Area residents would like to be able to debate the merits of various options . Some of the options mentioned were as follows : 1 ) To work with an area farmland trust or similar organization that gives tax credits or other incentives for not developing agricultural lands . 2) To agree to include their lands in a National Register of Historic Places Rural Historic District. 3 ) To help St. Mary' s Road be designated as a scenic corridor. 4) To emphasize the importance of protecting the graves of their ancestors . It would be best if the Orange County Planning Department could work with these area residents by providing informed speakers for a community meeting . Area residents would attend this meeting, as the St . Mary' s Chapel and St. Mary' s School have formed a focal point for the community for many, many years . For example , in the 1950s ten rural communities were asked to spearhead local agricultural conservation efforts . The St. Marys Grange , recognized as an integral part of the rural community, was chosen to be part of that program (Lefler and Wager 1953 : 260-26 1 ) . Members of the Grange also " helped preserve the school as a community center earlier this century, and helped to restore and preserve the St. Mary' s Chapel. Some of those same individuals attended the recent Homecoming service . Conclusions The architectural assessment of the historic properties in the project corridor has been completed (Henry 1999) . One of the major recommendations is that the County "actively pursue the nomination of the St. Mary ' s Road Historic District to the National Register and/or as an Orange County landmark" (Henry 1999 : 29) . This is strongly supported by the archaeologists . The preliminary archaeological assessment of the St . Mary ' s Road Corridor has also been completed. The next step is for Orange County to apply for funds under the Certified Local Government program during the next funding cycle to hire archaeologists to undertake an intensive, systematic survey of a selected sample of the project area . This research, as outlined by category above , will result in adding depth and breadth to the proposed National Register district . This next phase of the archaeological part of the project will entail building on the existing body of historic research through additional deed and census research. Fieldwork will follow, consisting of shovel testing and excavation of several test units at historic properties such as the Wilson-Norman tavern site, the Few ' s tavern site ( if deemed part of the study area, also could include Ayr Mount outbuilding survey) , Berry' s Private Mill, Sunnyside Plantation, the Hill Farm, the Walker Farm, the Caine Roberts farm, and the Anderson ' s cabin site . A systematic survey will also be undertaken at Lockhill Farm to locate the potential site of the Lockhart ancestral farmstead along Finches Branch, and to relocate the cemetery site on Lockhill Farm The farmstead and road remnant at the 52