Agenda 05-24-22; 8-a - Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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3 1 are now officially listed on the Federal National Register. He said they are working on new local 2 landmark properties, which will come to the Board of Commissioners for approval. He listed the 3 four properties under consideration: Harvey's Chapel AME Church and its historic cemetery 4 that is set back in the woods; Old Eno Quaker Cemetery, which is one of the few unowned 5 tracts in Orange County and is maintained by the Quaker community; Davis Cotton Gin and 6 Press, which is a rare surviving community cotton gin; and the David Faucette House, one of 7 the best preserved antebellum houses in Orange County. He provided an update on the book 8 project that the commission has been working on for several years. He said the book text is 9 complete and it has been sent to their book advisor. He said they have pushed back the 10 release date many times, but once they have the completed text, they have a contract to print 11 the book. He said they reviewed outside agency funding applications from the Burwell School 12 and from the museum. He said the applications they reviewed were some of the best they have 13 received from these agencies. He said the dendrochronology project received a private grant 14 and they will locate pieces of wood in historic structures to date using dendrochronology. He 15 said they are working on a concept for a county historical marker project. He said the easiest 16 way to accomplish the project is to make virtual markers that can be found using GPS. He said 17 this will cost less than the physical markers. He said that it will be easy to use in the car or at 18 home. He said they are Working to preserve endangered rural historic resources in the county, 19 in particular historic buildings and black burial grounds. He said they want to extend small 20 grants to owners so they can keep up historic sites on their properties. He said they want to 21 research, map, and protect historic black burial grounds. He said they have been planning for 22 the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America. He said they want to 23 improve the diversity of the commission. 24 Commissioner Greene said thanked them for the work. She said she is interested in the 25 county's historic marker program. She asked with the digital marker, how people will know about 26 the virtual marker project. 27 Art Menius said they would need to use the app to locate the properties. He said people 28 can see a property and use GPS to look up the facts about the property. 29 Commissioner Greene said it would be important to use the visitor's center to promote 30 this. 31 Art Menius said that once the app is up and working then they will fully promote it. 32 Chair Price asked about the publication date of the book. 33 Art Menius said 2023. 34 Chair Price asked about Ridge Road School and asked if any of the community 35 members were working on the application. 36 Peter Sandbeck said yes. He said the community is very engaged with the research. 37 He said the community wants to pursue the National Register designation and will consider the 38 county landmark designation later. He said they are contemplating the future of their church 39 and school. 40 Chair Price said she had a conversation with some of the folks at the National Register 41 and they are working hard to preserve black schoolhouses. She said there are grant funds to 42 help preserve black schools. She said the building needs some work. 43 Peter Sandbeck said there is a lot still at the school, such as desks, books, and 44 partitions. He said that once they are on the Historic Register, there will be additional funds for 45 restoration that become available with that designation. He said that the county will pay for the 46 Historic Register designation. 47 Commissioner Richards asked if the commission is optimistic about receiving foundation 48 funding for projects. 49 Peter Sandbeck said there are two avenues. He said one is locating abandoned 50 cemeteries that many people have forgotten about, and they are not even on genealogical 51 maps. He said the state Historic Preservation Office has a federally funded grant program and