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79 <br /> b. New Discoveries in the Woods: Staff presented a PowerPoint to share highlights of a <br /> recent tour he took with Judge Beverly Scarlett, where she showed him a cemetery <br /> containing burials of the enslaved workers associated with Hardscrabble Plantation, the <br /> seat of the prominent Cain family, who also built the fine house Sans Souci in <br /> Hillsborough. Members viewed photos of the house, then views of the cemetery, which <br /> was identified during a property survey. The owner, Jim Parlsey, agreed to donate the <br /> cemetery to a new non-profit group called Indigenous Memories, formed by Judge Scarlett <br /> and her sister. More research is needed on the enslaved population there. From <br /> preliminary assessments, there are at least 50-75 burials there. Staff then went on a tour <br /> with Judge Scarlet to view several very interesting rock piles or mounds located on her <br /> farm nearby off of Terry Road. One site exhibited five piles or mounds of rocks arranged <br /> in a rough circle, while another is freestanding and high, perhaps six feet. The theory is <br /> that these may be associated with Indian ceremonial activities or perhaps burials, <br /> although there is no definite proof. This area of the county has traditionally been the home <br /> of the Maroons, a term used to describe the mixed race Indian and Black people who lived <br /> in their own community here. Judge Scarlett hired Shawn Patch, a respected professional <br /> archaeologist with New South Associates in Greensboro, who came to assess the rock <br /> piles. He is doing research and will present his findings or opinions at a later date. Staff <br /> also toured the Ray slave cemetery, located nearby off the driveway of the gravel road <br /> leading to the late Peter Kramer's farm, on the north side of Lipscomb Grove Church Rd. <br /> Peck noted that there is now a much greater interest within the Black community to search <br /> for their enslaved ancestors, leading to a growing number of new discoveries of just such <br /> sites as these. We should expect to see many more cemeteries being discovered or <br /> perhaps just revealed as they were never lost, just not discussed. Judge Scarlett's <br /> leadership and willingness to take action and talk about these sites will be a great asset to <br /> this effort. Staff noted that he has received multiple inquiries from county residents who <br /> are discovering such cemeteries or are interested in their preservation. All agreed that the <br /> HPC can certainly take on an important role in this effort. <br /> c. Stra horn House in Carrboro: potential for HPC involvement in a National Re ister <br /> nomination: Staff reviewed the recent history of this important historic property built by <br /> formerly enslaved members of the Strayhom family, located in Carrboro. Preservation <br /> Chapel Hill received a recent Covington Foundation grant to help with some needed <br /> restoration work to the floor system. They are hoping to raise funds to help match the <br /> grant. The house is protected by a Preservation Easement held by Preservation Chapel <br /> Hill, implemented while Ernie Dollar was the director there. There has been an interest in <br /> placing this on the National Register for some years, and it is already on the State Study <br /> List as being eligible. Staff would like to get a general sense of the pleasure of the group <br /> to see if there is interest in having the HPC help with this effort, perhaps with funding <br /> assistance or administration of the effort. Members were in favor and agreed that this is a <br /> good project to pursue if needed. <br /> d. Updatinq our HPC ordinance to reflect changes made by the General Assembly: <br /> Staff just wanted to note that this is a project that will be in the works this coming year, to <br /> review and fine-tune our ordinance, working with the county attorney's staff. Our last <br /> s <br /> update was in 2013. <br /> e. News and updates from the Preservation NC Annual Meeting: Staff provided an <br /> overview of the various programs and topics covered at the meeting held in Winston- <br /> Salem last week, including sessions on the preservation of the burial grounds of the <br /> enslaved in Forsyth County, and a very impressive and informative panel about <br /> preserving and revitalizing Black neighborhoods that were destroyed or impacted by <br /> highways and urban renewal, with panelists including city council members and local <br /> preservation leaders, discussing the longterm damage these projects caused and are still <br /> causing, through the destruction of close-knot communities. <br /> 2 <br />