|
|
Quarterly Newsletter, December 2019
|
VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT of HISTORIC RESOURCES
|
|
|
|
*Battlefield Grants Announced for 2019 *New Listings on Virginia Landmarks Register *Forthcoming New Historical Markers *Windsor Castle, Tax Credit Project Profile *More on Betsy Project *A Guidebook to Virginia's African American Historical Markers *Rosenwalds listed in Va. *2019 Virginia Battlefield Grants *Announcements & Calendar of Events
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We've had a very successful 2019 at DHR, and our autumn quarter, highlighted below, shows how productive DHR staff has been. We remain thankful for your public support and interest in our mission to care for Virginia's historic legacy.
|
A Happy New Year to each of you
from all of us at DHR.
|
(Photo:
New Year's Day, Marjory Collins, 1943)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
VLR listings in the counties of Albemarle (2), Caroline (2), Culpeper, Cumberland, Henrico, Highland, Pulaski, Spotsylvania, Southampton, and Sussex; and the cites of Danville, Franklin, Norfolk, and Petersburg.
|
|
16 Sites Listed on the
Virginia Landmarks Register
—Sites associated with the history of African Americans, colonial era, Civil War, education, railroads, and 20th-century architecture, industry and civic planning—
|
|
Among the places added to the Virginia Landmarks Register this quarter (Oct.-Dec.) are courthouse village buildings in Southampton and Caroline counties associated with racial events in 1831 and 1958 of national consequence, particularly across Virginia and the rest of the South.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New markers cover topics in the counties of Amherst, Bath, Bedford, Hanover, Nottoway, Rockingham, and Smyth; and the cities of Danville, Petersburg, Portsmouth, Roanoke, Virginia Beach, and Winchester
|
|
|
|
13 New State Historical Highway Markers Approved
(Text of each sign below.)
|
|
Topics covered in recently approved and forthcoming state historical markers include a Revolutionary War militia force that dogged British troops under Gen. Benedict Arnold, the educational and political achievements of an enslaved family that escaped to Union lines during the Civil War, and a black baseball player who became a decorated World War I soldier. The martial theme extended as well to the origins of the Virginia Tech "fight song," “Tech Triumph.” Read more . . .
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tea plant (Camellia sinensis) from Köhler’s Medicinal Plants, 1897. (Wikimedia)
|
|
|
Spotlight on DHR Collections:
|
High Tea on the High Seas
|
In the 18th century, tea was already a very important part of British society and daily life, even during life aboard a collier (coal transport ship). When Betsy was intentionally sunk prior to the Battle of Yorktown in 1781, she took with her at least two wonderful examples of seafaring china cupboards. Fast forward to the project underway at DHR and researchers are learning more about a china cupboard and its manufacturing. For the first time in the history of the Betsy project Read more . . .
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Windsor Castle, ca. 1915.
|
|
|
Rehabilitation Tax Credits, Project Profile:
|
Windsor Castle
|
Windsor Castle is a modest 18th-century manor house integral to the agricultural complex of buildings that stretch in parallel rows toward the Pagan River within Windsor Castle Park. The property includes a tenant house, granaries, smokehouse, log corncrib, kitchen, smokehouse and stable, representing multiple building campaigns in the 18th and 19th centuries. Read more . . .
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Governor Announces Publication of
|
A Guidebook to Virginia’s African American Historical Markers
In early November, Governor Ralph Northam, DHR Director Julie V. Langan, and chair of the Virginia Board of Historic Resources, Dr. Colita N. Fairfax, along with DHR staff, officials, community leaders, and invited guests, celebrated the launch of A Guidebook to Virginia's African American Historical Markers during an evening event hosted by the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia (www.blackhistorymuseum.org) in Richmond.
|
Top Photo: DHR Director Julie V. Langan holds aloft a copy of the book as she addresses guests while Gov. Northam looks on.
|
Middle: Dr. Colita Fairfax makes a point during her remarks about the book's significance, while the Governor and Adele Johnson, Executive Director of the Black History Museum, listen.
|
|
Bottom: Attendees at the November 6 event in Richmond.
|
|
|
|
|
|
A Slideshow of Schools Listed on the VLR and National Register
|
As of this writing, DHR, in collaboration with various community partners, has listed 24 Rosenwald schools on the Virginia Landmarks Register and National Register of Historic Places. Most recently, in December (2019) the Board of Historic Resources listed Pine Grove School in Cumberland County on the VLR. That nomination soon will be forwarded to the National Park Service for listing on the NRHP. Check out our recent slideshow of the schools (scroll down at the link to view the slideshow).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
VBPF targeted tracts are in the counties of Hanover, Henrico, Prince William, Shenandoah, and Spotsylvania.
|
|
|
2019 Virginia Battlefield Preservation Fund:
|
|
DHR has designated four nonprofits to receive grants from the 2019 VBPF. These grants will support conservation of 398 acres affiliated with six Civil War battles: Bristow Station, Cold Harbor, Fisher’s Hill, New Market Heights, Port Republic, and Spotsylvania Court House. The American Battlefield Trust, Central Virginia Battlefield Trust, Potomac Conservancy, and the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation will use VBPF grants to leverage private matching donations to preserve land tracts associated with those battlefields.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Announcements:
- The National Park Service (NPS) recently notified DHR that we will receive $4.7M in disaster funding related to Hurricanes Michael and Florence. These funds will be used to record historic resources, prepare disaster preparedness plans and undertake projects to make historic areas more resilient in the 52 qualifying Virginia localities. https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/-47-8-million-in-assistance-to-communities-impacted-by-hurricanes-florence-michael-and-typhoon-yutu.htm
- DHR is happy to report that Governor Northam's recently released budget proposal includes a number of DHR's agency item requests as well as a couple of surprises that together total about 1.5M over the two year biennium. This link takes you to the Natural Resources section of the Governor's budget and further details.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
