HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009 Report to Council
HPC Report to Council 1/3 Historic Preservation Committee Report to City Council April 22, 2009 Hillary Jessup, Chair Earl Apgar Louis Hodges Susan Irza Lisa Kalmus Anne Boykin, Staff
Liaison Introduction – Hillary Jessup, HPC Chair The Historic Preservation Committee is now 21 years old. With your guidance, support and enthusiastic encouragement, together we have
heightened the awareness of historic preservation in the City of College Station and its environs to the point that we now have a new Landmark Commission. We have reached out to the
community, and they have responded with their continued interest in our heritage programs. The Exploring History Lunch Lecture series is well attended and the most popular Heritage program
offered by the city. The Historic Marker program has created a vigilant respect for our architectural and community history. Our Oral History program has documented not only the history
but the voices of our respected citizens. Project HOLD, our historic online library database, twice honored by the Texas Historical Commission, has extended our reach around the world.
Now, with our organizational move to the Parks and Recreation Department under the leadership of our director, Mr. Marco A. Cisneros, our supervisor, Mr. David Gerling, and our coordinator,
Ms. Anne Boykin, the possibilities are endless. With our physical move to the College Station Conference Center, the increased office space and visibility has already paid off in a significant
increase in awareness by our public. We thank you for keeping the faith and giving us the tools to build a strong Heritage Programs office. Heritage Programs Status – Earl Apgar, HPC
Member Thank you for the opportunity to show you two things, where we are today, and where we are going. Where we are today: Heritage Programs operates with one full time staff person
and a handful of occasional volunteers. We have two small format scanners and one large format scanner attached to three computers. In the last 16 months, we have: Scanned 3,394 pages
of of documents even though the office was in boxes for six of those months. Hosted 1,165 visitors at 11 Exploring History Lunch Lectures at a cost to the city of around $1 per person.
Awarded 11 historic markers, an increase of 50% since 2000. Recorded 376 volunteer hours in spite of being in boxes for six months. Recorded nine significant oral history interviews.
Given 41 community presentations. James McGinnis Colleen Risinger Anne Triche-Steen Meredith Waller Ernie Wright
HPC Report to Council 2/3 Designed and installed two exhibits. Currently, we are represented on the Landmark Commission, the Brazos County Historical Commission, the Brazos Valley Veterans
Memorial Board and the Museum of the American G.I. Where we are going: Future events: Hosting the Texas Historical Commission “Texas in WWII Oral History Workshop,” April 25, 2009
“100 Years of Class,” celebration in coordination with CSISD, May 13, 2009 Presentation of the remaining original street markers for display in city buildings, May 18, 2009 Co-hosting
the Texas Association of Museums Annual Conference, March 2010 Hosting the City of College Station 75th Birthday, March 2013. Military History on Tap in Brazos Valley, Tour Booklet
Goal: Research, write and publish a booklet listing and describing the historical sites pertaining to military history in the Brazos Valley area. The Texas Historical Commission will
be conducting a military sites survey of Brazos County over the next two years. We hope to expand that survey to Brazos Valley in order to produce a booklet that will, not only encompass
the rich heritage of our neighboring counties, but will be of use to local residents, students, educators, and to promote heritage tourism. The major sites and facilities in this area
are: El Camino Real de los Tejas, George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, Texas A&M University, Sanders Corps of Cadets Center, Veterans Memorial Park, the American Mile, the Museum
of the American G.I., Bryan Air Base, Camp Hearne, and Washington-on-the-Brazos among others. Project HOLD, historic online library database, Software Upgrade Goal: Take Project HOLD
(http://HOLD.cstx.gov) to the next level as a certified online archive. Twenty-one months ago, Project HOLD was invited by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission to link our
historic online library database with their Texas Heritage Digitization Initiative. This was an honor that we have not been able to accept due to the software limitations within Laserfiche.
The Texas Heritage Digitization Initiative promotes collaboration among Texas institutions by establishing common standards, sharing best practices and facilitating cooperative funding
to provide online access to cultural heritage resources that benefit students, educators, historians, authors and genealogists. A PastPerfect software purchase has recently been approved
by the department. We are currently working with the IT staff to see how we can take Project HOLD to the next level as a certified online archive. For more information: www.THDI.org
and www.museumsoftware.com. El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail Project Goal: Preserve the evidence of the trail that is situated on City of College Station property
and to promote heritage tourism, as requested by Council’s Strategic Business Plan, along the trail.
HPC Report to Council 3/3 A grass roots planning committee of almost 30 community members has committed to meeting on the first Friday of every month to discuss possible options and
grants. We have been working closely with the National Park Service (NPS) who actively sought our participation. NPS has strongly urged us to work closely with other entities that also
have sites along the trail. This will allow us to share information, cost of promotional materials and ultimately market the entire El Camino Real de los Tejas as a heritage tourism
destination. The group is a representation of numerous entities in Brazos Valley including the City of Bryan, City of College Station, B-CS Convention & Visitors Bureau, Brazos County,
Texas A&M University, TxDOT, Brazos County Historical Commission, Brazos Heritage Society, Robertson County Historical Society, Milam County Historical Commission, Daughters of the American
Revolution, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, United Daughters of the Confederacy, and a commercial developer. Thank you for your time and interest. We look forward to the future as
we continue to honor the past. Explore Preserve Remember SHARE Preserve Remember DOCUMENT Preserve Remember EDUCATE Preserve Remember Record Preserve Remember