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<br /> <br /> 1 <br />Orange County <br />HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION <br /> <br />Approved Meeting Summary <br /> <br />June 22nd, 2022 <br />Bonnie Davis Center, 1020 US 70 West, Hillsborough <br /> <br />___________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />MEMBERS PRESENT: Tom Loter, Cecelia Moore, Paul Noe, Steve Peck <br /> <br />MEMBERS ABSENT: None <br /> <br />STAFF PRESENT: Peter Sandbeck GUESTS: Todd Dickinson, Art Menius <br /> <br /> <br />ITEM #1: CALL TO ORDER <br />The meeting was called to order at 6:36 pm. <br /> <br />ITEM #2: CHANGES OR ADDITIONS TO AG ENDA: None <br /> <br />ITEM #3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES for March 23, 2022 (Attachment 1): Moore moved to <br />approve the minutes; seconded by Noe; motion approved. <br /> <br />ITEM #4: TEMS FOR DECISION: <br />a. Ridge Road School: approval for staff to proceed to hire a consultant for the <br />National Register Nomination Process: Staff provided an overview of the historical and <br />architectural significance of the school and shared a PowerPoint with exterior and interior <br />photos. Research indicates it was built sometime in 1932, after the Board of Ed voted on <br />May 30 of that year to approve an amount of $500 as their contribution toward the building <br />of the school, as noted in those meeting minutes: “Delegates from the Sunnyside district, <br />colored, and the Ridge Road district, colored, appeared before the board in the interest of <br />their new building. Both districts agreed to furnish some rough lumber, labor, and hauling. <br />The Board promised the people that it would build these houses….” The building <br />possesses a great deal of architectural integrity, retaining its original siding, doors, coat <br />rooms, and foundations, along with beaded board walls and ceilings on the interior. The <br />original moveable panel still remains in place in the internal partition walls that separates <br />the two classrooms. Some early or original school furnishings still remain inside. The large <br />original wood windows were replaced with smaller wood windows, probably in the 1950s <br />or 1960s but the original window size is clearly shown by the patched areas of the siding. <br />The building and site are owned by the Jones Grove Baptist Church, which dates back to <br />1926 on the adjoining lot. According to oral tradition, this school was built on or near the <br />site of an older Black school that was in poor condition. Members discussed the story of <br />the church and expressed their support. At this stage, the church congregation does not <br />wish to propose this for a landmark, due to the requirement for HPC review of any <br />proposed work. Peck moved to direct staff to proceed with the National Register project, <br />seconded by Moore. Discussion followed and motion approved. <br /> <br /> <br />ITEM #5: DISCUSSION ITEMS <br /> <br />a. Oaks Community Rural Historic District Project—next steps: Staff would like to get a <br />sense of the feeling of the HPC as to their interest in moving this project forward as a <br />potential National Register Rural Historic District. Staff shared a map showing the