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Preservation Advocacy
Let your Congressional representatives know how important the Save America's Treasures program is to Oregon's preservation efforts! The following is a statement from NTHP President Richard Moe On Reduced Funding for Save America's Treasures in the President's FY06 Budget Proposal At a time when federal funds for preservation are already scarce, the Administration's drastic proposal to cut funding for Save America's Treasures (SAT) in half is extremely disappointing. SAT is the only major "bricks-and-mortar" preservation program in the nation today, and these cuts, if enacted, will represent a huge blow to scores of preservation projects and mean that more of America's heritage will almost certainly be lost. This program, by leveraging millions of additional dollars from foundations, corporations and individuals, has literally made the difference in saving hundreds of historic sites around the country. Every federal dollar granted must be matched by a non-federal dollar, thus doubling its value. The proposed $15 million cut in SAT's funding sends the wrong signal to the private sector - a signal that seriously compromises the program's goals and undermines the leveraging value of the government's role in stewardship of the places and objects that tell America's story. Maintaining SAT at the present $30 million level will be the National Trust's top priority in the 109th Congress. We and our partner SAT sites, and preservationists from all over the country, will be reaching out immediately to members of the funding committees in both chambers to urge their continued funding of the program at the $30 million level. With broad bi-partisan support in Congress and the leadership of First Ladies in both the Clinton and Bush Administrations, SAT has provided more than $218 million in federal challenge grants to 726 historic preservation projects. These funds have helped bring new life to irreplaceable historic treasures - including buildings, documents and works of art - in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Midway Islands. Each dollar from Washington is matched one-for-one by private contributions in all of these projects. SAT has also provided tremendous benefit to projects at National Park Service sites such as Ellis Island, Valley Forge, Thomas Edison's Invention Factory, Mesa Verde, Eleanor Roosevelt's Val-Kill Cottage, and Dr. Martin Luther King's Ebenezer Baptist Church. More than 19% of SAT's private funding - over $11 million - has been designated for NPS sites in dire need of these additional resources. This complements another $12 million in SAT federal challenge grants to sites in the national park system. While much has been achieved in the seven years since SAT was established, the need remains great. In just the first five years of the program, 1,648 grant applications were received, representing requests for more than $773 million in critical preservation assistance. SAT funds have made a huge difference, but without maintaining last year's funding levels it will be virtually impossible to stimulate private matching contributions of an equal share, and hard to imagine where the money would come from. Furthermore, if SAT does not maintain its current $30 million funding level, the potential for productive partnerships with faith-based organizations - partnerships in which the private sector plays an especially critical role - will be extremely limited. Thus far, almost $3 million in SAT matching grants have been awarded to projects at 11 nationally significant religious sites, including Boston's famed Old North Church, Touro Synagogue in Rhode Island and Socorro Mission in Texas. The Save America's Treasures program helps ensure that our legacy from the past will remain intact so that future generations can live with it, learn from it and be inspired by it. Its benefits are clearly visible in cities, towns and rural areas all over America. This visionary initiative must be sustained. Please visit www.saveamericastreasures.org/projsearch.htm to learn more about Save America's Treasures sites in your community. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to protecting the irreplaceable. Recipient of the National Humanities Medal, the Trust was founded in 1949 and provides leadership, education and advocacy to save America's diverse historic places and revitalize communities. Its Washington, DC headquarters staff, six regional offices and 25 historic sites work with the Trust's 200,000 members and thousands of local community groups in all 50 states. For more information, visit the Trust's web site at www.nationaltrust.org. Richard Moe, President
NEWS Benton County and Corvallis Present Preservation Awards Benton County award recipients were The Wren Community Club, and Sally Donovan and Bruce Howard of Donovan & Associates, Hood River. The Wren Community Club was honored for conservation and preservation of the Wren Community Hall. Ms. Donovan and Mr. Howard were honored for their outstanding contributions to the documentation, research and preservation of Crystal Lake Cemetery in Corvallis. The Corvallis Historic Preservation Advisory Board acknowledged contributions for a distinctive class of honorees including residential, commercial and institutional resource stewards. Both the Morse and Minnie Burnap Rental House and the F. A. and Carrie Thomas House were honored for outstanding Rescue and Restoration. OSU received an award for exemplary Adaptive Use of the John A. & A. Minnie Cramer Rental House, and The Soup Shop, located in the former College Cleaners Building was acknowledged for Adaptive Use. In a departure from traditional awards, the HPAB acknowledged property owners and businesses for their collective impact on First Street and Downtown Corvallis in preserving and promoting a Pedestrian-sensitive Revitalization District. Together, these property owners and businesses from Madison to Van Buren Avenues preserved economic vitality in the historic downtown core in a pedestrian-friendly way that none could accomplish alone. Awards were presented to Ralston & Low Motor Company Building (Fox & Firkin); the Independent Laundry Building (Great Harvest Bakery, The Chippery, and Iovino's Restaurant); the Cooperative Managers' Building (The Riverfront Danish Bakery, Harry & Annette's Fresh Fish, Sahalie Wine Cellars, The Pantry at Water Street, The Herb & Tea Shop, and Wineopolis; Corvallis-Albany Farmers' Markets; Terminal Building (Big River Restaurant & Bar, Alpine Bakery, and The Riverview Mongolian Grill); and the Rickard Garage (Abby's Furniture Warehouse & Factory). Finally, Washington Hall, the Poultry Building & Incubator House was honored for Sensitive Relocation and Restoration of Nationally Significant Resources. While moving resources is preservation of the last resort, in this case long-separated companion buildings representing the work of master architect, John Bennes, were reunited in their original relationship. National Trust for Historic Preservation Announces 2006 List of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places "The sites on this year's 11 Most Endangered list embody the
diversity and complexity of America's story, and the variety of
threats that endanger it. Ranging from flood-ravaged communities
to the staircase used by World Trade Center survivors, these places
are enormously important to our understanding of who we are as
a nation and a people." Sites on the 2006 list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places are:
Recent Most Successes: The Ennis House, the grandest of Frank Lloyd Wright's textile-block houses, was damaged by an earthquake in 1994. But after an 11 Most Endangered listing last year, the Ennis House Foundation was able to embark upon the first phase of renovation. Finça Vigía, Ernest Hemingway's beloved home in Cuba, received national attention when American preservationists ventured to the island to help their Cuban counterparts craft strategies for the restoration of the American author's estate. Ten months after being named one of the National Trust's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places last year, Congressman Frank Wolf sponsored legislation that would establish the "Journey Through Hallowed Ground" Corridor as a National Heritage Area. High resolution digital images of the sites can be obtained at www.nthp.org/11most Members Named to Advisory Council on Historic Preservation President George W. Bush recently announced his intention to appoint Missouri Governor Matt Blunt, Fresno California Mayor Alan Autry, and Mr. D. Franklin Arey, III, of Morrilton, Arkansas, to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP). The President also announced the reappointment of John L. Nau, III, of Houston, Texas, to serve a second term as chairman of the ACHP. In addition, Susan S. Barnes, of Aurora, Illinois, a historic preservation expert member of the ACHP, has been named vice chairman. PRESIDENT BUSH RECOGNIZES EXEMPLARY PRESERVATION PROJECTS On Monday, May 1st, in the White House Rose Garden, President
George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush recognized the Preserve
America Presidential Awardees. The awardees represent projects
that exemplify the Administration's preservation ideals. 2006
President Award winners included: Information provided by Preservation Action Travel Oregon Awards $100,000 in Matching Grants Statewide Travel Oregon has awarded $100,000 to 18 projects statewide. The Matching Grants Program focuses on projects that develop and improve local economies and communities by enhancing, expanding and promoting Oregon's visitor industry. Of the 67 applicant projects rated by a statewide committee, 18 projects were selected for financial awards. The Commission-approved projects are located in every region of the state, and will fulfill a wide range of local, regional, and statewide needs when completed. The 2005-06 Travel Oregon Matching Grants Program recipients include the following arts and cultural organizations: *Oregon State Parks Trust: Rich History campaign The mission of the Oregon Tourism Commission, dba Travel Oregon, is to encourage economic growth and enhance the quality of life in Oregon through strengthened economic impact statewide. More information on the matching grants is available from www.traveloregon.com. Grants Awarded to Portland Center Stage and Friends of Historic Forest Grove The National Trust for Historic Preservation Fund has awarded grants to organizations in Portland and Forest Grove, and announced that the deadline for the next rounds of grant programs is approaching. The National Trust awarded $2,500 to Portland Center Stage to develop, print and distribute a 15-page illustrated booklet detailing the history of the Portland Armory and its importance to the community. The manual will be used to train docents and the resulting research will also be incorporated into future educational pieces such as website and an online teachers' guide. Save Our History Grants Awarded The History Channel has just announced winners of its Save Our History program--a total of $250,000 awarded to 26 history organizations in partnership with schools. The winning projects can be veiwed at: www.saveourhistory.com/pres_org/recipients_2005-2006.html. Mission Mill Museum Passes Million Dollar Mark to Preserve the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill Recent gifts received by Mission Mill Museum in support of the Campaign to Save Salem's American Treasure have increased the funds raised to over one million dollars. The M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust recently awarded Mission Mill its largest grant with a $250,000 award, half is an outright campaign capital grant, and the remaining $125,000 is a challenge grant that must be matched dollar-for-dollar. Thus far, $38,500 has been raised toward meeting this match, including a $20,000 grant from the Oregon Heritage Commission, a $10,000 corporate gift from the Pendleton Woolen Mills, a $2,500 pledge from Portland General Electric, a $1,000 grant from the Pioneer Trust Bank Foundation, and a $5,000 gift from a private donor. New grant awards, corporate gifts and pledges account for $492,810, bringing the total of funds raised to $1,002,978. The campaign goal is $1,378,825. Included in the million dollar total is a $5,000 grant from The Autzen Foundation. The Meyer Memorial Trust is supporting Phase II of the project with a grant of $198,810. Phase II includes the replacement of the Mill Building's cornice, the installation of protective film on the interior side of all south-facing windows that will reduce damage from ultra-violet rays, and materials and new storage modules to refurbish two storage areas. Save America's Treasures Grants Awarded The National Park Service has announced the successful applicants for this year's Save America's Treasures grants. Awards $14.89 Million in Federal grants totaling $14.89 million are being awarded to 61 projects in 29 states and the District of Columbia. By law, each award requires a dollar-for-dollar non-Federal match. States, localities, corporations, foundations, and individuals who value America's heritage have pledged support for these important projects through financial contributions and in-kind services. For a full listing of the recipients of the awards go to www.cr.nps.gov/hps/treasures/2005grants.htm.
ADVOCACY
Call or write your senator: Senator Gordon Smith Senator Ron Wyden Call or write your representative: Rep. Earl Blumenauer Rep. Peter Defazio Rep. Darlene Hooley Rep. Greg Walden Rep. David Wu E-mail your congressional representative click here. |