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Quarterly Newsletter, September 2020
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VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT of HISTORIC RESOURCES
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*New Listings on Virginia Landmarks Register *New Historical Markers *New Archaeology Reports *Other News & Announcements
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—New VLRs in the counties of Albemarle, Arlington, Campbell, Craig, Essex, Fairfax, Halifax, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, Southampton, and Washington; and the cites of Alexandria, Charlottesville, and Danville—
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15 Historic Sites
Added to the
Virginia Landmarks Register
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Approved in September for listing on the Virginia Landmarks Register is a site that traces back to Nottoway tribal reservation lands established in the colonial era; a historic district where one of the largest textile mill villages in the South evolved during the 20th century; and a rare surviving former “poor farm” established in the 1890s.
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—Markers cover topics in the counties of Bath (2), Charlotte, James City, Loudoun, and Shenandoah; and the cities of Hampton, Hopewell, Lynchburg (4), Norfolk, Richmond, and Williamsburg—
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15 Historical Highway Markers Approved
African American and women’s history in Virginia figures prominently in 15 state historical markers recently approved for placement along roads in the commonwealth including signs highlighting a “hidden figure” at NASA, two voting rights activists, and several markers about nationally known artists.
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A well preserved corduroy road in Surry Co.
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Ask an Archaeologist
—DHR archaeologist Mike Clem investigates a "corduroy" road—
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In July, I was asked to field visit what was described as a possible “corduroy road” in Surry County just south of Wakefield. The potential for finding a real, intact historic corduroy road was minimal, as most would not have survived for long due to poor preservation conditions or because they were often destroyed by subsequent road improvements.
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An archaeologist during Betsy investigations in the York River during the late 1980s.
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Spotlight on DHR Collections:
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Betsy Dining Utensils
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—DHR Chief Curator Laura Galke discusses aspects of various eating utensils—
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What do dining utensils tell us about life aboard Betsy, a 1772 British supply vessel for General Charles Cornwallis’s fleet?
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Betsy was one of several ships strategically scuttled during the Battle of Yorktown in 1781. During underwater excavations in the 1980s, under the direction of Dr. John Broadwater, archaeologists recovered a number of utensils from Betsy including forks, knives, and spoons, all made from a variety of materials and in an assortment of styles.
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How to Complete a PIF
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DHR register program staff created this 7+ minute video about the importance of the PIF and what DHR looks for when evaluating a property using the PIF. If you want some tips or just familiarize yourself with the form before beginning, this video is a great place to start.
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Jarratt House, Petersburg.
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DHR Awards Historic Preservation Funds for Projects in 10 CLGs
The pass-through federal funds will support preservation projects in Alexandria, Cape Charles (Northampton Co.), Charlottesville, Clarke Co., Danville, Fairfax Co., Fairfax (City), Petersburg, Middleburg (Loudoun Co.), and Virginia Beach.
Read about the projects.
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New Archaeology Reports Online:
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Welcome to a New DHR staff member:
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Timothy (Tim) Roberts joined DHR in August as our new Project Review Archaeologist in the Review and Compliance Division. Tim completed his undergraduate degree in anthropology at Florida State University, and earned a master’s degree in anthropology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
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He has since conducted investigations throughout the Southeast and Middle Atlantic, portions of the Northeast and the Upper Midwest, and in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and overseas in Hungary and Russia. Tim has experienced the gamut of cultural resource management roles from volunteering and shovel bumming to business capture, administration, and state and federal regulatory review. A sensitivity to challenges faced by stewards on both sides of the compliance desk guides his relationship-focused approach to consultation with a central respect for our responsibility to the public, resources, and the law. Tim enjoys paddling, fishing, and an occasional hand-rolled cigar. Prior to DHR, he most recently served as Director of Operations for Cultural Resource Analysts, Inc.’s Richmond office.
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Other Announcements:
- DHR's new board members: Gov. Northam announced in early September the appointment of W. Tucker Lemon of Roanoke to the Virginia Board of Historic Resources. Lemon is President of Martin, Hopkins & Lemon, P.C., a Roanoke law firm. Most recently, he concluded his term as Chair of the Board of Directors at the Virginia Humanities Foundation. The Governor also reappointed Dr. Colita Nichols Fairfax of Norfolk to the VBHR. A Professor at Norfolk State University, Dr. Fairfax is Chair of the VBHR. She earned her PhD in African American Studies at Temple University.
DHR's Director Julie V. Langan has also appointed John P. Mullen of Alexandria and Carol Shull of Arlington to DHR's State Review Board. Mullen currently serves as Principal Archeologist and Assistant Manager at Thunderbird Archeology and has nearly 30 years of archaeological research experience in Virginia and the Middle Atlantic region. He earned his M.A. in Anthropology from the Catholic University of America, and is currently the Membership Secretary for the Middle Atlantic Archaeology Conference and President of the Friends of Fairfax County Archaeology and Cultural Resources (FOFA).
Shull, a retired Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places and manager of the National Historic Landmarks program for the National Park Service, serves on the executive committee of the board of Preservation Action. She is a former board member now a Fellow of the United States Committee of the International Council of Monuments and Sites (US/ICOMOS), a member of the Keepers Preservation Education Fund grantee selection advisory committee, and on the board of directors of the Julius Rosenwald & Rosenwald Schools National Historical Park Campaign and of the National Preservation Institute. She received an M.A. in United States history from the University of Texas at Austin.
- DHR is recruiting for three positions.
- Watch our homepage for an announcement soon of awards from this year's Virginia Battlefield Preservation Fund.
- October is Virginia Archaeology Month. Check our homepage for a forthcoming Calendar of Events. The theme of this year's poster is "Women of Courage."
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