Delaware releases historic preservation plan for 2018–2022

(DOVER, Del.—Aug. 23, 2018)—The Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs today released “Partners in Preservation: Planning for the Future—Delaware’s Historic Preservation Plan, 2018–2022” which provides a guide for citizens, organizations and agencies working together to preserve Delaware’s heritage for the future. Go to the following to read the full plan: https://history.delaware.gov/pdfs/2018-2022DelawareSHPOPlan.pdf. Printed copies are available on request.

Delaware’s Historic Preservation Plan, 2018–2022 cover
The plan outlines six broad goals for the next five years, and suggests specific strategies and actions that can help achieve those goals. The plan encourages advocates to be informed, share resources and take action. Notably, the plan emphasizes the importance of potential partners that could assist in this work, and encourages building on common interests among a variety of stakeholders.

The preservation plan focuses on developing tools and information needed to help guide growth and change in ways that sustain and enhance the state’s character and quality of life. In this work, the plan complements Delaware Strategies for State Policies and Spending, developed by the Delaware Office of State Planning Coordination to coordinate land-use decision-making, as well as other statewide and local planning efforts.

As a requirement for receiving Delaware’s annual portion of the federal Historic Preservation Fund, administered by the National Park Service, the division is responsible for coordinating the preparation and development of a comprehensive, statewide historic preservation plan and for updating it at regular intervals. Begun in August 2016, the new plan was written by members of the division’s State Historic Preservation Office working with consultant Heritage Strategies, and with input from preservation professionals, non-profit organizations and the public. Additional review, comment and final approval of the plan were supplied by the National Park Service, as well as the Delaware State Review Board for Historic Preservation which provides guidance and perspective on Delaware’s historic preservation issues.

The Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs is an agency of the State of Delaware. The division enhances Delaware’s quality of life by preserving the state’s unique historical heritage, fostering community stability and economic vitality and providing educational programs and assistance to the general public on Delaware history and heritage. The division’s diverse array of services includes operation of five museums which are accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, administration of the State Historic Preservation Office, conservation of the state’s archaeological and historic-objects collections, operation of a conference center and management of historic properties across the state. Primary funding for division programs and services is provided by annual appropriations from the Delaware General Assembly and grants from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, a federal agency. However, the contents and opinions expressed in the division’s programs and services do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Department of the Interior.

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Contact:
Jim Yurasek
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Phone: 302-739-7787
E-mail: Jim.Yurasek@delaware.gov
Web: http://history.delaware.gov


State Historic Preservation Office Employee, African American History Expert Makes National Trust 40-Under-40 List

DOVER, Del. – Carlton Hall, a cultural preservation specialist and historian with the Delaware State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), earned a place on the inaugural “40 Under 40” list recently unveiled by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Hall was honored for his research and presentations about Delaware listings in the Green Book, a segregation-era travel guide for African Americans created by Victor Green and published annually from 1936 through 1966. The Green Book listed hotels, restaurants, service stations, night clubs, barber shops and other establishments across the country where African Americans would be safely welcomed during the days of Jim Crow.

“This honor means a great deal to me as a practitioner in my field, and I’m privileged to represent our state as the only individual from Delaware on the list,” Hall said. “I’ve learned and continue to learn from an outstanding group of professionals in the SHPO office, and to benefit from their decades of experience in the field of historic preservation.”

Hall is a native of New Castle, a graduate of William Penn High School and now lives in Bear with his wife and three children. He earned a master’s degree in historic preservation from Delaware State University in 2013 and began his tenure at SHPO in 2015.

“We couldn’t be prouder of Carlton and the recognition he has received,” said Tim Slavin, state historic preservation officer and director of the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs. “Carlton has a long career ahead of him, and we know he will continue to distinguish himself as he works to preserve our state’s history for future generations.”

“40 Under 40: People Saving Places” is a new initiative of the non-profit National Trust for Historic Preservation, honoring individuals under the age of 40 across the United States who are working to support the mission of historic preservation through fields such as architecture, community activism and business. View the full list of honorees here.

 

The Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs is an agency of the state of Delaware. The division enhances Delaware’s quality of life by preserving the state’s unique historical heritage, fostering community stability and economic vitality and providing educational programs and assistance to the general public on Delaware history and heritage. The division’s diverse array of services includes operation of five museums which are accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, administration of the State Historic Preservation Office, conservation of the state’s archaeological and historic-objects collections, operation of a conference center and management of historic properties across the state.


Rehabilitation of keeper’s house set to begin at Fenwick Island Lighthouse

(DOVER, Del.—April 23, 2018)—Beginning this spring and continuing into the summer of 2018, the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs will be conducting rehabilitation work on the exterior of the keeper’s house of the Fenwick Island Lighthouse located at the intersection of 146th St. and West Oliver Circle in Fenwick Island, Del. The lighthouse complex is managed by the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs which leases it to the New Friends of the Fenwick Island Lighthouse.

The rehabilitation project will involve the removal of modern additions, construction of a new porch and new wooden steps and landings, replacement of existing windows, repair of miscellaneous wood trim and wood-shingle siding, exterior painting, and the re-laying of the existing brick sidewalk. Future improvement plans call for the provision of access to the first floor of the building for people with disabilities, improved pedestrian circulation on the exterior, and connectivity to the lighthouse property. Once these improvements have been completed, the building will be used by the New Friends of the Fenwick Island Lighthouse to provide information about the history of the lighthouse and the role played by the light keepers in addition to providing public access to the lighthouse.

During rehabilitation of the keeper’s house, the division will work with the construction contractor and the New Friends of the Fenwick Island Lighthouse to limit inconvenience to the public, and the lighthouse itself will remain open during its posted operating hours. Residents and visitors will see the usual presence of equipment, materials and workers on site as well as the usual noises that go with construction work during daytime hours. No weekend work is anticipated.

The Fenwick Island Lighthouse was built in 1858 to protect shipping from the Fenwick sand shoals that extend several miles out from the Delaware coast. It began service in 1859 and continued in operation without interruption for nearly 120 years until Dec. 13, 1978 when it was decommissioned by the U. S. Coast Guard. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Due to a grassroots effort, ownership of the property was transferred to the State of Delaware in 1981, and the lighthouse was re-lit in 1982 as an unofficial, private aid to navigation.

The keeper’s house, the second to be built on the property, was constructed in 1882 to relieve overcrowding in the original house. It was designed in Victorian Gothic style with gable- and rafter-end decoration typical of much coastal-area government construction in the last quarter of the 19th century.

The Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs is an agency of the State of Delaware. The division enhances Delaware’s quality of life by preserving the state’s unique historical heritage, fostering community stability and economic vitality and providing educational programs and assistance to the general public on Delaware history and heritage. The division’s diverse array of services includes operation of five museums which are accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, administration of the State Historic Preservation Office, conservation of the state’s archaeological and historic-objects collections, operation of a conference center and management of historic properties across the state. Primary funding for division programs and services is provided by annual appropriations from the Delaware General Assembly and grants from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, a federal agency. However, the contents and opinions expressed in the division’s programs and services do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Department of the Interior.

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Contact:
Jim Yurasek
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Phone: 302-739-7787
E-mail: Jim.Yurasek@delaware.gov
Web: http://history.delaware.gov


Online survey seeks public input regarding the preservation of historic places in Delaware

(DOVER, Del.—June 7, 2017)—In recent months, the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs has been working with partners from across the state on the development of Delaware’s next statewide historic preservation plan. As part of the process, the division has been gathering public input regarding issues and priorities facing historic places in the state.

Members of the public are urged to provide input for the preservation plan by taking the survey that can be accessed at the following web address: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DelawareHistoricPreservationPlanning2017.

The survey contains nine questions requiring approximately 15 minutes to complete. The deadline for completing the survey is Friday, June 30, 2017. For additional information, contact the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs’ State Historic Preservation Office at 302-736-7400.

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Contact:
Bev Laing
State Historic Preservation Office
Phone: 302-736-7437
E-mail: bev.laing@delaware.gov
Web: http://history.delaware.gov/preservation/index.shtml

Jim Yurasek
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Phone: 302-736-7413
E-mail: Jim.Yurasek@delaware.gov
Web: http://history.delaware.gov


Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs to hold public meetings seeking input for Delaware’s 2018–2022 state historic preservation plan

(DOVER, Del.—Feb. 24, 2017)—In order to solicit information for use in drafting Delaware’s 2018–2022 statewide historic preservation plan, the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs will be holding five public meetings at locations across the state in March 2017. All meetings are free and open to the public. For directions and other information, call the division at 302-736-7400. In the event of inclement weather, notice of cancellation will be announced via local radio stations.

Public meetings will be held on the following dates:

Those interested in Delaware’s historic buildings, communities and sites are invited to attend these public meetings in order to share their thoughts on the future of historic preservation in the state. Public input will be incorporated into the updated historic preservation plan which is scheduled to be released in January 2018. For background information, individuals may review the goals and objectives identified in the last planning process by accessing Delaware’s current historic preservation plan.

Written comments may also be submitted to the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, 21 The Green, Dover, DE 19901; or via e-mail at preservationplan@delaware.gov.

While the Delaware historic preservation plan is extremely useful for the division, it is not a blueprint for state government alone. Rather, it includes goals and strategies that benefit preservation advocates across Delaware. The plan provides all Delawareans who are passionate about historic preservation with a framework for effective decision-making; for coordinating statewide preservation activities; and for communicating statewide preservation policy, goals and values to the preservation constituency, decision-makers and interested and affected parties across the state.

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Contact:
Jim Yurasek
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Phone: 302-736-7413
E-mail: Jim.Yurasek@delaware.gov
Web: http://history.delaware.gov