Category: PA SHPO (Page 6 of 19)

Large stone bank building with five large windows at an intersection. — The First National Bank building on Brighton Avenue in Rochester, a key historic resource analyzed in this study. Built in 1907, the Romanesque Revival style building has a unique shape to conform to its angled corner lot. Photo date:18 March 2022. Source: evolve environment::architecture.

Deindustrialized Communities Market Study: What We Learned

March 30, 2022 / Guest Contributor / 1 Comment

As we wrote about in a recent blog post, the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (PA SHPO) has been working on a huge project in our western region, aimed at identifying the challenges and opportunities for historic preservation and economic revitalization in smaller deindustrialized communities, focusing on twelve riverfront municipalities located within two regions of Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Group of people standing on dirt road looking at a metal bridge. — A group of PA SHPO staff enjoying a historic metal truss bridge in Lebanon County, PA. The PA SHPO is interested in pictures that show field work and collaboration! If you have any images that you would like to submit to the SHPO for potential inclusion in reporting or other blog posts, please send them to Elizabeth Shultz at elishultz@pa.gov or Shelby Splain at ssplain@pa.gov. Image September 2021, Courtesy of Elizabeth Shultz.

Pennsylvania Above Ground Survey (PAGS) Program’s First Annual Report Summary

March 23, 2022 / Elizabeth Shultz / 1 Comment

As we jump into another new spring season, it’s time to take a look back at above ground survey in Pennsylvania in 2021!

Row of commercial buildings along a street. — Buildings on Merchant Street in Ambridge, PA. Many of the study area main streets have continuous street frontages where the character of the main street isn’t broken up by vacant parcels. Continuous street frontages allow for a greater density of small businesses that can make main streets more vibrant. Photo date: 15 February 2022. Source: evolve environment::architecture.

Deindustrialized Communities Market Study

March 9, 2022 / Guest Contributor / 3 Comments

The Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (PA SHPO) has undertaken a project to investigate the economic development and community revitalization prospects in specific southwestern Pennsylvania communities that have experienced significant de-industrialization.

What’s New in 2022 with Pennsylvania’s Historical Marker Program

March 2, 2022 / allidavis / 3 Comments

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) invites individuals, public agencies, and private organizations to nominate historic people, properties, events, or innovations with statewide or national significance for PHMC’s State Historical Marker Program. Meet the new coordinator, learn more about some changes to this year’s nomination process, and sign up for our upcoming webinars below.

Large stone building with green copper dome on roof. — Albright Center (former First Evangelical Church), Sunbury, Northumberland County (PA-SHARE Resource # 1983RE03041). PHMC Photo from Site Visit.

Introducing the Historic Property Inspection Program

February 16, 2022 / Karen Arnold / 0 Comments

One lesser-known duty of the PA SHPO office is the management of protective preservation covenants on historic properties throughout the commonwealth.

Join the PA SHPO as a 2022 Keystone Summer Intern

January 27, 2022 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 0 Comments

Are you exploring the field of historic preservation and looking for some real-world experience? The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s Keystone Internship Program provides opportunities to pursue your professional growth and contribute to sharing Pennsylvania’s rich heritage with the public.

We’d like to invite college and graduate school students interested in historic preservation, archaeology, community planning, cultural resources, architectural history, public history, and other related fields to apply for their summer 2022 interning experience.

The Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (PA SHPO) is offering three internships this year. We will be filling a Preservation Services and Education Internship, a Public Service Internship, and a MARS (Mapping, Assistance, Resources, and Survey) Sites Survey Internship in our Harrisburg office. This paid internship is an excellent way for you to build your portfolio while helping PHMC and the PA SHPO preserve Pennsylvania’s important older and historic places.

PA SHPO Special Announcement! We’re Hiring an Archaeology Supervisor

January 13, 2022 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 0 Comments

Are you a qualified archaeologist with collaboration, outreach, and education skills?

The Position

The Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (PA SHPO) is seeking an Archaeology Supervisor to coordinate the office’s archaeology program.

Antol’s Drive In, Montrose, Susquehanna County. Photo by Markosky Engineering Group, October 2021.

Baseline Survey: An Essential Ingredient in Our Preservation Pantry

December 22, 2021 / Andrea L. MacDonald / 0 Comments

There are some time-honored recipes in the historic preservation cookbook. The most successful, and dare I say scrumptious, preservation medleys include an essential ingredient – survey. Survey in the historic preservation profession is like the flour in your favorite holiday desserts.

Without survey, many preservation projects are challenged to rise to a superior outcome, just like a cake. My mind just might be overflowing with visions of sugar plums and cookies this holiday season, so I’ll do my best to refrain from too many more baking similes while I share initial Year 1 outcomes from the PA SHPO’s Baseline Survey effort. I think you’ll be as excited about the results as we are!

PA SHPO Special Announcement! We’re Hiring an Eastern PA Community Preservation Coordinator

November 15, 2021 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 0 Comments

Are you a preservation professional who is skilled at collaboration, outreach, and technical assistance? Then we want to hear from you!

The Position

The Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (PA SHPO) is seeking a historic preservation specialist to work as the Eastern Pennsylvania Community Preservation Coordinator. This position is based out of PHMC’s Hope Lodge in Fort Washington, Montgomery County.

Responsibilities include working with PA SHPO staff and partners to provide technical assistance with municipal preservation programs across a defined region, working with the Certified Local Government program, and coordinating updates of SHPO’s preservation planning guidance.

Description of Work

The Eastern PA Community Preservation Coordinator is responsible for a comprehensive range of technical assistance including delivery of the PA State Historic Preservation Office’s (PA SHPO) programs within a defined region.

This position regularly collaborates with state and regional partners as well as provides guidance and training to municipalities and local organizations. The Coordinator also has responsibilities under the SHPO PennDOT work plan.

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Required Experience, Training & Eligibility

Two or more years of experience working on an architectural survey, an architectural restoration and preservation project or program, and a bachelor’s degree in architectural history, American history, art history, or course work in Pennsylvania history; or

Any equivalent combination of experience and training.

Additional Requirements:

Meet or exceed the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards, published in the Code of Federal Regulations, 36 CFR Part 61
Demonstrate experience in determining the eligibility of resources for listing in the National Register of Historic Places
Demonstrate excellent ability working with a team of individuals and independently
Experience in outreach and public speaking
Demonstrable experience interpreting and applying National Park Service guidance and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties

Preferred Qualifications (not required):

Excellent computer and word processing skills using MS Office products and data management systems such as SHPO’s PA-SHARE.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

Telework

Telework eligible (part-time): You will have the opportunity to work from home (telework) not to exceed 3 days a week. Specific days will be determined by bureau directors according to bureau needs. In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection. If you are unable to telework, you will have the option to report to the headquarters office in Fort Washington or Harrisburg.