HPC Meeting Summary 12132023 - Laserfiche WebLink

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b. Preservation of our two Historic Landmark cemeteries: Staff provided an overview of the current ownership and status of the Old Eno Quaker Burying Ground and the cemetery at the first site of Harvey's Chapel AME Church. Now that these are landmarks, our ordinance and state law allow the HPC to take ownership of sites like these if needed for preservation purposes. For the Quaker Burying Ground, there is no owner of record, so the first challenge is to clarify its ownership. To move it to county ownership, we will have to undertake a new updated survey and then we'd have to work with surrounding property owners to obtain quit claims deeds. Sometime in the future, we'll have to discuss the matter of providing safe access to this, probably through an easement that we'd have to purchase from one of the adjoining property owners. The Harvey's Chapel cemetery has an owner and a current survey. There is access through the adjoining county-owned land that's part of the Seven Mile Creek Preserve. The church has indicated that they'd like us to take ownership so that they can be assured that it will be preserved for the long term. We will need to pay for any survey and necessary legal work. These sites/landmarks have great significance. There is a general consensus it should be possible and appropriate to cover these costs with Lands Legacy funding as available. Discussion followed. Staff noted that the county still needs to work on a Phase I Cultural and Archeological Survey of the entire Seven Mile property. Dickinson moved to direct staff to pursue future ownership of both these cemeteries working with Lands Legacy and perhaps the Eno River Association; seconded by Whisnant; motion passed. Menius noted that Rufus Jones may have mentioned this Quaker meeting in his major book on Quakers. c. Annual Report and Work Plan for 2023: Staff referred members to the draft plan. The areas of our focus are the yellow highlighted sections that address our current accomplishments for 2023 along with our proposed activities for 2024. This needs to be updated and submitted to the County Clerk by January 19t". A number of items relate to our routine activities that don't change much from year to year. Staff walked members through the document. Discussion followed about several sections. Some type of marker program is still something that needs more work. There is the ongoing question of physical or digital markers, or some combination of both. There is a cost of around $2,000 per marker. A full-blown marker committee will be needed to handle the questions of accuracy, content and priorities. Whisnant offers to share information about some relevant digital programs, like Clio and others. Perhaps the Orange County Museum or Visitor's Bureau might be interested in this topic. There are many complex and sometimes controversial issues related to a marker program. Peck noted that one of the big projects for the upcoming 2501" anniversary is to highlight the "Race to the Dan," including highway markers for this. He is on the state committee. There may be funding associated with that program that could fund markers related to that era. In general, physical markers are costly and require maintenance and repairs on an ongoing basis, and also need a safe place for motorists to pull over. Maybe adjust wording to be more general, say "create markers or a marker program." Any such program would have to be coordinated with our municipalities. A marker program that would synergize with other HPC and local activities. The overarching interest is in having some way to tell the untold story of the underrepresented communities and their important leaders. For example, there could be a marker about the Maroon community, without being site-specific to protect the resources. d. County owned historic building updates: Staff provided a PowerPoint showing the current state of the WPA-era stone paved sidewalks at the courthouse square and the Cate Farm, which is owned by the County as part of the site for the future Twin Creeks Park, on the east side of old 86 just south Eubanks Road. At the courthouse, we are looking at getting ready to do advance planning and scoping for the bigger project, perhaps use some of the existing professional funding to do the scoping and budget development. The Cate Farm consists of a very intact complex of farm buildings mostly dating from the 1930s and 1940s, all arranged around a very intact c. 1930 Craftsman Bungalow-style house. The house and buildings were all restored and painted about 12 2