My final grade

What do I deserve in this class?? Hmm... This has been an interesting class, especially as far as blogs go b/c I've never really posted them before. Now, I'm actually starting to use the one I have on my myspace account. I didn't post enough blog entries, but I honestly got bogged down with ideas. I felt like I was just copying news strories. But I think the entries I did make were useful to me, if no one else. I think my articles will be fine once I get them to you! I have to get the coding right--that's been the biggest challenge so far. I'm not so HTML savvy. I can make a webpage, but for some reason I'm not good with codes. So I am thinking a B, considering my blog. Hopefully, my articles are better!!

So one of my main issues with Statesboro is the city's lack of interest in neighborhood preservation. Many of the older neighborhoods surrounding the dowtown area are rich with culture, particularly African American culture, and the vernacular homes are priceless. Larger cities such as Augusta and Macon are currently working to preserve such neighborhoods. The city of Augusta and the city's historic preservation division, http://www.augustaga.gov/departments/planning_zoning/hist_prev_about.asp, are setting wonderful examples for smaller towns to emulate. Historic Augusta, Inc, http://www.historicaugusta.org/, is another partner organization that has worked to preserve communities surrounding the heart of the city, largely focusing on saving African America neighborhoods, such as Bethlehem and the Laney-Walker District. I think this is a very important aspect of Bullochy County's history that currently seems to be largely overlooked. I know Bulloch County has a historical society, but I was unable to find a website for them.

One reason I dedicated my blog to historic preservation is because I hope to attend the University of Georgia's School of Environental Design next fall. The school offers a Masters degree in Historic Preservation http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/programs/historic_perservation.html, and focuses on elements such as city planning and green design for restoration students. The city provides an excellent lab for students in this field, as many of the buildings on campus have been fully restored from their original framework. Athens also provides good examples for students working towards the city planning aspect of historical preservation. Of course, the city is a member of the Main Street organization, as several organizations work together in preservation and landscaping efforts throughout campus and the town. Just in case anyone reading this is interested, the following link is a listing of courses and requirements, http://www.sed.uga.edu/courses/mhp.htm.

Historical Preservation is not limited to the restoration of buildings. According to the National Trust of Historical Preservation, www.preservationnation.org, entire neighborhoods, landscapes, rural buildings, cemetaries, and artifacts are all elements of preservaton. Antiquing is perhaps the most broad, most popular form of historical preservation. Magazines, countless books, television shows, organizations, websites, and businesses are dedicated to this popular fascination. The Antiques Road Show is a good example of this trend.

So this entry is dedicated to researching your home to discover its historical worth. The Atlanta Journal Constituton ran a feature article on the subject earlier this month, and it was loaded with good tips and information. While the article was geared toward Atlantians, there are good sources that can be used statewide. Of course, the best way to discover the history of your house is to know the people who lived in it previously. The article discusses several different ways to research old homeowners, but the library and state archives are always the most credible sources.The state archive website, www.sos.ga.gov/archives, is a good source for census information and files on neighborhoods. The Library of Congress, www.loc.gov, is another source to find information on neighborhoods. And, of course, utilizing local preservation organizations and the state's site, www.gashpo.org, should bring results. The article with all of this information was written to help citizens in Atlanta get a tax credit on historic homes, and can be found at http://www.ajc.com/living/content/living/homeandgarden/stories/2008/04/21/hghistory_0421.html.

I found a really interesting article that relates to neighborhood preservation. An HGTV contest has led to the creation of a park on a vacant lot in West Baltimore. Located in an area known for past violence, the vacant lot selected has been kept clean for 20 years by the woman who lives next door. She had names of victims of local crime listed on the lot. The lot will serve as a memorial garden for these victims and will include stepping stones inscribed with inspirational quotes such as the following for Mahatma Ghandi: "Be the change that you wish to see in the world." I thought this was a awonderful concept, particularly adding the quotes. This article appeared in the Baltimore Sun, http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.garden29apr29,0,4896828.story. It is also an excellent example of preservation attempts not only looking into the past, but providing for the future as well. An empty spot of dirt can make a difference.

In honor of Earth Day, April 22nd, several of the nation's top magazines have dedicated entire issues to the cause. Time (http://www.time.com/time/magazine ), Vanity Fair (http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/green/ ), National Geographic (http://www.thegreenguide.com/magazine/ ), and Preservation Magazine (http://www.preservationnation.org/magazine/2008/january-february/) all joined the trend. Time dubbed an article on "How to Win the War on Global Warming." Vanity Fair covered the same issue. National Geographic took a different approach, which I thought was a bit more interesting, if not as politically renowned. NG simply compiled helpful tips for everyday citizens to work into their daily routines. Making simple changes, such as using energy efficient lightbulbs, using organic cleaning products, and recycling can impact the world. Wal-Mart and Coca-Cola present a united front in the Green War with new, affordable t-shirts made from recycled Coca-Cola bottles. Going Green is no longer for environmentalists and tree-huggers; it's becoming a world-wide trend.

Today's entry is devoted to Statesboro's preservation efforts. The city was selected as a Main Street City in 1991, and the organization joined the Downtown Statesboro Development Authority to restore the heart of the town. The development of the Averritt Center for the Arts has launched the city's drive to beautify and preserve the downtown area. Many businesses have moved to the area as a result of this action. Main Street Statesboro hosts events such as First Friday, which brings the community together, and provides businesses in the downtown area excellent advertisement. More information about preserving the Statesboro's downtown district can be found at www.mainstreetstatesboroga.com. The website provides links to many downtown businesses, and gives information on the project and how citizens can get involved. For information on the program statewide, a complete listing of the Main Street cities in Georgia, and information on how your city can join in, go to www.mainstreetgeorgia.org.

To begin my quest to preserve my grandmother's house, I am using http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/index.htm, the National Register of Historic Places' official website. This includes not only houses, but cemetaries, battlefields, landscapes, and other properties. I thought an investigation to find possible sources for funding would be the best place to start. Achieving National Register status is the highest honor a property can be granted. However, there is a lot of work involved with making this happen. I am beginning with the requirements and forms available from the website for determining if the house is considered worthy for the National Register. There is a page explaining how to list a property, the criteria for listing, and an explanation about the nomination process. For people undertaking such a huge mission without a preservationalist, the site is very helpful. It also includes downloadable forms for nominations of individual properties, as well as communities.

So today's post is completely personal. I am launching the HUGE task of researching information on my grnadmother's childhood home. Her dad was a small-town doctor, and the house she grew up in was actually a makeshift hospital during the Civil War. I am trying to gather information and forms on getting the house on registered either on the state or national register. While government and nonprofit sites are very helpful and organized, it's a very daunting task. The information to sort through is overwhelming!! If anyone has any tips, please send them along!! I am really excited because I think this is what my grandmother would want, and I have always wanted to see this huge old house the way it looked 150 years ago. It is certainly an inspiration in my passion for historic preservation.

Smart Growth America is an organization I recently discovered that is aiding in the campaign to save America's history. The organization contains a plethora of information, specializing in housing, economy, children and schools, environment, preservation and revitalization, social equity, transportation, open space and farmland, and health and aging. Smart Growth America is made up of a coalition of organizations at national, state, and local levels fighting to improve the country overall. The preservation/revitalization wing supports the planning of "urban sprawl" and efforts to rehabilitate areas, rather than destroying them. They feature an article on the econmic benefits of preservation as well. They also discuss Main Street, Inc., a program that is in effect in many cities in Georgia (http://www.georgiatrust.org/whatwedo/mainlist.html to see a complete listing). It is gratifying to see what a rapidly growing field this is. However, www.smartgrowthamerica.org is a valuable resource for many different fields, and contains links to all of their supporting programs.

For homeowners interested in restoring their historic homes, but worried about the environment, solutions are available! A "Go Green" section is included on the National Trust site at http://www.preservationnation.org/magazine/2008/january-february/green-home-tips.html. The American Institute of Architecture provides resources on the topic as well (http://www.aia.org/nwsltr_cote.cfm?pagename=cote_a_200608_preservation). While the economic and social benefits of preserving our nation's past are widely published by the government and nonprofit organziations, citizens and interest groups need to remember that preserving our world for future generations requires more than "fixing up" the past. Preperations must be made in the present also. The Whole Building Design Guide provides guidelines for water efficiency, sustainable sites and materials, and conserving energy among other tips and resources. This information can be found on their webpage http://www.ccb.org/resources/sustainable_hp.php.

For people interested in becoming involved with America's preservation have unlimited resources at their fingertips with the World Wide Web. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is the largest nonprofit preservation organization (http://www.preservationnation.org/). The headquarters, shown right, is located in Washington, D.C., but members are active in all 50 states. Founded in 1949, the organization is dedicated to educating and leading preservation efforts in cities across the nation. Funds are raised by private citizens through membership to the organization and donations. The website contains a wealth of information regarding preservation, and the organization publishes a magazine that can be obtained through group membership. Resources, issues, guides to becoming involved, and a list of sites are provided on the site as well. It's an excellent way to educate yourself on the topic, as well as conduct research about preserving architecture and culture in your own town.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation received a $5 million grant from the Robert W. Wilson Charitable Trust to disperse to projects nationwide. The money will hopefully be directed towards areas that have not received as much government funding. Campaigns are also being conducted to educate people on the "green" aspects of restoration, such as energy efficiency and environmentally-friendly materials. Wilson's donation is the largest the Trust has received, and he is hoping that his contribution will prompt other groups to fund the grant program as well in the Trust's quest to educate and raise public awareness regarding the significance of historical preservation. The entire story can be found at the link below:

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jQQ-T-jaf1paY5Jsm23EMGfnhbRQ

Cemetaries are one of America's most intriguing, sacred monuments honoring our nation's past. Arlington National Cemetary serves as a final resting place for some of the United States' most celebrated heros--the men and women that have preserved our country's freedom. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier stands for the men and women who never return to this holy ground, and is guarded by honorary Marines 24 hours a day, seven days a week--rain or shine. The National Trust for Historical Preservation recently discovered that the officials at the cemetary wish to replace the original monument, erected in 1932, because it is need of some cosmetic repair. Instead, they wish to simply move in a replica. Why not just fix the damaged monument that has stood for nearly 100 years? I firmly feel that the orginal monument is important as a legacy to those who have died for our country, as well as those who made the monument a reality. If we simply begin to make replicas of our past, imagine the possibilities for what will lost in translation...

The following link has the complete article regarding the fight to preserve the monument, as well as information on how the public can become involved in doing so: http://www.nationaltrust.org/advocacy/arlington.html

My current problem seems to be that I am interested in too many topics. Of course, politics and social matters generally flood the web, so I will try to stick with the trend. However, I am going to write about what I feel is an important issue in our nation that most people don't consider--historical perservation. Without documenting our past, how can we ever build for the future? With so many issues swirling around the media, it's hard to remember those that aren't "current." Because it is a field in which I hope to work in the future, I thought preservation would be a good topic to research and discuss.