Blog of the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office

Author: Shelby Weaver Splain (Page 1 of 20)

Shelby Weaver Splain is the Education and Special Initiatives Coordinator for the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office. Shelby is a native of Bucks County and holds a Masters degree in Historic Preservation Planning from Cornell University and a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Historic Preservation from Goucher College.

Celebrating Preservation Success Stories with Community Initiative Awards

Earlier this week my Alexa reminded me that there are 100 days until the end of the year.  After a moment of shock, my brain started its mental cataloguing of all the things that I have to do before December 31. Deadlines, appointments, holidays, the list goes on…

One reminder I’d like to put on your to-do list before the year is out is to tell us about a preservation success story in your community. Each year PA SHPO selects a few of these stories for a Community Initiative Award.

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Resource Round Up: Resources for Studying the Underground Railroad in Pennsylvania

September is International Underground Railroad Month. This week’s post is another in our “Resource Round-Up” series, which we occasionally publish during important months as a guide to learning more about the older and historic places and spaces in Pennsylvania that reflect that month’s theme. This one highlights just some sources related to the Underground Railroad (UGRR) in Pennsylvania.

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PA SHPO is Hiring a National Register Reviewer!

Are you a highly skilled historic preservationist with National Register knowledge and experience? The Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (PA SHPO) is seeking a Historic Preservation Specialist to work as a National Register reviewer. This position is focused on assisting the public with determinations of eligibility and National Register nominations. Bring your dedication and experience to our department and take pride in safeguarding Pennsylvania’s cherished history with our team!

Don’t miss out on this opportunity! PA SHPO can now work from home except for days when you’ll be out visiting Pennsylvania’s historic places and one day a month in the office with your colleagues in Harrisburg.

Apply today through 10/1/2024 to become an essential part of our team where you will play a vital role in our mission to discover, protect, and share Pennsylvania’s past, inspiring others to value and use our history in meaningful ways.

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Pithole or Bust!

Last month, PA SHPO staff and interns enjoyed a two-day educational team meeting in Venango County to learn more about archaeology, northwest Pennsylvania, and the area’s fascinating history. We were fortunate enough to have some beautiful weather and the help of our local partners and colleagues from the Jefferson County History Center, Drake Well, PHMC Sites and Museums, and the State Museum.

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PA SHPO is Hiring an Above Ground Environmental Reviewer!

Are you interested in joining a dedicated and pro-active team of preservationists? If so, the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (PA SHPO) has the perfect opportunity for you! We are seeking a Historic Preservation Specialist with a discipline in architectural history or history within the Environmental Review division. Apply today to join a team that strives to discover, protect, and share Pennsylvania’s past, inspiring others to value and use our history in meaningful ways!

Don’t miss out on this opportunity! PA SHPO can now work from home except for days when you’ll be out visiting Pennsylvania’s historic places and one day a month in the office with your colleagues in Harrisburg.

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PA SHPO is Hiring a PA-SHARE Triage Specialist!

Are you interested in joining a pro-active and dedicated team of preservationists, historians, and archaeologists? In this Historic Preservation Specialist role, you will specialize in our online data management and cultural resources GIS tool, the Pennsylvania’s State Historic and Archaeological Resource Exchange (PA-SHARE). If you want to preserve our history with the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC), this is the job for you!

Don’t miss out on this opportunity! The deadline to apply has been extended to July 5, 2024. PA SHPO can now work from home except for days when you’ll be out visiting Pennsylvania’s historic places and one day a month in the office with your colleagues in Harrisburg.

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Celebrating the Slate Hill Cemetery

This week’s 2023 Community Initiative Award winner spotlight is on the Slate Hill Cemetery in Lower Makefield Township, Bucks County.

Lower Makefield’s Slate Hill Cemetery is an intact Colonial-era graveyard that was established in 1690 as a Quaker burial ground and was later expanded to include the township’s first public cemetery. It contains about 580 burials, including veterans of the U.S. Colored Troops who served in the Civil War. The earliest known burial dates to 1698 and the last known burial was in 1918.

Recently, the Township – which is one of Pennsylvania’s Certified Local Governments (CLG) – began an ambitious project to document, preserve, and promote the history of the cemetery.  I asked some of the folks from the Historical Commission, which is spearheading the effort, to share the story with us.

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