Agenda - 05-18-2021; 8-a - Minutes

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7 1 Haywood Rhodes said staff put a lot of effort into virtual resources, and it is hoped that 2 this can continue to allow further reach into the community. 3 4 Art Menius presented the Historic Preservation Commission's work plan. He said the big 5 project in 2020 was the historic book, for which all 225 entries have been written. 6 7 Commissioner Dorosin rejoined the meeting at 8:11 p.m. 8 9 Art Menius said the commission needs to raise $35,000 to print and deliver the book. 10 Art Menius said the commission got two new national Historic Register properties. He 11 said both are important mid century properties, a time period which is now 60-70 years ago. He 12 said the first was Cedar Grove School, which opened in 1951 and was a historically black 13 school. He said the second property was Schley Grange Hall, which won a Sears and Roebuck 14 competition as the best grange in the nation. He said locally Harvey's Chapel AME church's 15 cemetery was added. He said this cemetery is deep in the woods, and was lost for many years, 16 as roads were not maintained for historically black communities in the 1930s. He said the Old 17 Eno Quaker Cemetery was also added, which was started in 1760s. He said the final local 18 property is the David Fawcett house on the Eno River. 19 Art Menius said the commission's main goals for this year are raising funds for the book, 20 as well as a historic marker program, which will help bring in more diversity. He said many 21 properties important to African American heritage no longer extant. He said the marker program 22 will tell the story, even without the property present. He said the commission wants to add more 23 diversity in its historic marker program. 24 Art Menius said the commission will be looking at courthouse square, and the old 25 courthouse in particular. 26 Art Menius said the commission will participate in the 250th anniversary of the 27 Revolutionary War. 28 Commissioner Greene thanked the commission for the historic marker program. She 29 asked if more details could be provided about the old courthouse program. 30 Peter Sandbeck, Cultural Resources Coordinator, said the project was formed in 31 response to county's long range CIP project to do restoration at the old courthouse. He said 32 part of the need is to learn about the physical evolution. He said such a project requires going 33 through minutes, courthouse records, newspapers, etc. He said this led to a larger examination 34 of the history of the county through the courthouse, and an in-depth social history needs to be 35 completed. He said it will be important to secure the ideal research team. 36 Commissioner Greene said the Register of Deeds will be able to help. 37 Chair Price said she is looking forward to the book. She said there are stories in the 38 community about the courthouse. 39 40 Cecilia Redding introduced the Agricultural Preservation Board's mission and objectives. 41 Peter Sandbeck said the board reviewed 12 farms, and added over 1000 acres. He said 42 133 farms are now enrolled, totaling 16,500 acres protected from development. He said this 43 maintains the land in farm use, and is a voluntary program. 44 45 Commissioner McKee joined the meeting at 8:22 p.m. 46 47 Peter Sandbeck said there has been remarkable growth in 10 years, and he wants to 48 keep the momentum going. He said there has been a lot of administrative work on the transfer 49 of lands, as people can move in and out of the program.