Category: Laws, Policies, and Regulations (Page 2 of 9)

Metal truss bridge over stone and grass. — Inwood Iron Bridge in its new location in Swatara State Park. Photograph by Veronica Martin, PennDOT, 2021.

Bridge Preservation and Education: A Site Visit to the Inwood Iron Bridge

April 27, 2022 / Guest Contributor / 2 Comments

In 2019, the historic Inwood Iron Bridge in Union Township, Lebanon County was disassembled for relocation.

Low wood shelter over gravestones in wood. — View of monument in 2021, facing north. Photograph by PA SHPO.

Reinterpreting the Underground Railroad: The Sherman’s Dale Discharge Former Slaves’ Graves Site

February 2, 2022 / Casey Hanson / 12 Comments

In my short time as an archaeologist working in southeast Pennsylvania, I’ve learned that every basement, crawl space, and root cellar older than 1860 was at one time, a stop on the Underground Railroad (UGRR). This of course is not true, but the mythologies of the UGRR are born out of the fact that the region played an important role in the network as the first free state north of the Mason-Dixon line.

Homes along River Road, Beaver Borough. Photo by Clio Consulting, 2016.

Preservation Planning in Beaver Borough

January 12, 2022 / Bill Callahan / 2 Comments

Beaver is a lovely community located on the Ohio River bluffs nearly directly across the river from the Shell petrochemical plant. Beaver boasts a large National Register of Historic Places historic district (PA-SHARE Resource #1994RE00048) that consists of large, stately homes, vernacular residences, a thriving central business district bursting with historic character and a series of open spaces and parks that date to the community’s late 18^th century plan. Beaver is home to the National Historic Landmark Matthew S. Quay House (PA-SHARE Resource #1975RE00155) and the site of Ft. McIntosh, a late 18^th century American frontier fort, which is individually listed in the National Register (PA-SHARE Resource #1975RE00024).

Two adults standing next to tall metal marker as third adult claps hands. — Sue Yenchko celebrates the unveiling of the marker with other Lemoyne Borough Council members, June 2021.

Uncovering the Susquehannock Village at Lemoyne

November 3, 2021 / Andrea L. MacDonald / 4 Comments

November is Native American Heritage Month. The month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native people.

One way we can learn about indigenous peoples is through archaeology. Archaeology can help expand the Native American voice beyond what’s written in history textbooks and grow our respect for the people who came before us.

Flag on a flagpole in field. — Flag flying at the Memorial Plaza. Photo credit: NPS.

“A common field one day. A field of honor forever.”

September 8, 2021 / Jenna Solomon / 0 Comments

Each person has one event in their lifetime that is so significant that they will say for the remainder of their lives “I remember exactly where I was standing when I heard the news.” An event so significant that it seemed as if time stood still.

PA SHPO Special Announcement: We’re Hiring a Review Archaeologist!

April 30, 2021 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 0 Comments

The Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (PA SHPO) is seeking a Historic Preservation Specialist to serve as a Review Archaeologist to work between disciplines and advance SHPO priorities. This position is ideal for a detail oriented and flexible preservation professional with a knowledge of state historic preservation programs.

Section 106: Not Always the Preferred Preservation Outcome

April 28, 2021 / Barbara Frederick / 0 Comments

The Section 106 process was created to ensure that federal agencies consider historic properties in the planning process for projects they sponsor.

Preservation’s March Madness

March 17, 2021 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 0 Comments

“March Madness” in the historic preservation world isn’t quite the same as the highly competitive, single-elimination college basketball tournaments that happen each March.

I’ve coopted the phrase to describe National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week and the days leading up to it in our office. Just like the NCAA I players that begin prepping and practicing weeks and months before their games, we kick off each New Year with making plans, preparing materials and partipants, and scheduling visits for Advocacy Week.

One big difference, of course, is that preservationists don’t compete against each other in a nail-biting, winner-takes-all game. One big similarlity, however, is the frenzy of activity, nerves, and excitement before the big event.

Mosaic panel detail with signature plaque (Ricketts 2018).

Virgil Cantini: Saving Cantini’s Mosaics

March 3, 2021 / Guest Contributor / 1 Comment

Last week’s blog post introduced the life and work of artist Virgil Cantini and highlighted the vulnerable position of postwar public art objects and installations, which often require special expertise to understand and articulate their significance for preservation.

This week’s post recounts part of the struggle to save one of Cantini’s largest works of public art, which came dangerously close to disappearing forever.