Category: #preservationhappenshere (Page 2 of 7)

Man talks to group of seated audience. — Township Council member manager John Gillespie speaks about the history of the building and project. Photo courtesy of Ted Goldman.

Celebrating Concord Township and the Spring Valley AME Church

May 24, 2023 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 2 Comments

This week’s 2022 Community Initiative Award winner spotlight is on Concord Township’s preservation of the Spring Valley AME Church in Delaware County.

This project in Delaware County caught the eagle eye of one of my colleagues last year from some press reporting and I’m glad it did. She just happened to be the SHPO’s reviewer for most projects that were undertaken with funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), particularly using Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money.

Using CDBG funds for historic preservation – like Concord Township did – is a great way for communities to invest in the older and historic places that matter to them and that tell their full stories.

Group of seven people sitting or standing behind a table. — BVUGRR and Levity Brewing Co. team at the release of the first Freedom Seeker beer series.

Celebrating the Blairsville Area Underground Railroad

May 17, 2023 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 0 Comments

This week’s 2022 Community Initiative Award winner spotlight is on the Blairsville Underground Railroad organization in Blairsville, Indiana County.

Blairsville was laid out in the early 19th century along the Conemaugh River at the southern end of Indiana County, about 40 miles east of Pittsburgh along the planned route of the Huntingdon, Cambria, and Indiana Turnpike. Blairsville’s history and growth is closely tied to its transportation corridors – the river, the stagecoach in 1818, the canal in 1829, and the rail in 1851 – and natural deposits of salt, coal, and iron, which together supported a thriving and flourishing community.

What many may not know about Blairsville is its African American history, particularly related to abolition and the Underground Railroad (UGRR). The borough had one of the larger Black communities in Indiana County and the county’s first African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Zion Church was organized there in 1844. Indiana County was an important and active Underground Railroad stop in Pennsylvania as freedom seekers escaped from their enslavers in search of freedom.

I asked Denise Doyle from the Blairsville Underground Railroad organization to share their story with us.

Celebrating Preservation Month with the 2022 Community Initiative Award Winners

May 3, 2023 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 1 Comment

What better time of year than National Historic Preservation Month to announce the latest round of PA SHPO’s Community Initiative Award winners! The four recipients and their projects showcase a range of preservation success stories, demonstrating the value of volunteers, creativity, and community engagement.

Looking Forward to a Year that is काममूत

January 4, 2023 / Andrea L. MacDonald / 2 Comments

Warm and cozy. For nearly my entire life, achieving that snuggly feeling during the long winter months has been a top priority for me.

Head and shoulders image of a woman on a bike along with the words "looking forward to 2024" above three green arrows.

24 Things to Look Forward to in 2024

January 3, 2023 / Andrea L. MacDonald / 0 Comments

While I am still enjoying the holiday high (and feeling blissfully stuffed), I am also looking forward to the many initiatives the PA SHPO has in the works for 2024.

The Warner Theatre with its new marquee and lighting.

Dramatic Finish for Warner Theatre Project

August 10, 2022 / Guest Contributor / 1 Comment

Few buildings are more iconic to downtown Erie than the historic Warner Theatre. At 91-years-old, the luxury movie palace still offers an environment “twice as rich, three times more fanciful than life.”

Celebrating Wilkes-Barre’s Walkitecture Tour

May 25, 2022 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 0 Comments

We conclude our Preservation Month celebration of the 2021 Community Initiative Award winners in the Diamond City.

Celebrating the Wilkinsburg Train Station Restoration Project

May 18, 2022 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 1 Comment

This week our Preservation Month celebration of the 2021 Community Initiative Award winners takes us west to Allegheny County – specifically, the Borough of Wilkinsburg.

The Wilkinsburg Train Station Restoration Project, led by the Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation (WCDC), received one of PA SHPO’s 2021 Community Initiative Awards for bringing a community landmark back to life.

Celebrating the Friends of Fort Halifax Park

May 11, 2022 / Frank Grumbine / 1 Comment

There are few places that can embody the breadth of Pennsylvania’s narrative like Fort Halifax Park in Dauphin County.

Celebrating Preservation Month with the 2021 Community Initiative Award Winners

May 4, 2022 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 0 Comments

What better time of year than National Historic Preservation Month to announce the latest round of PA SHPO’s Community Initiative Award winners. This year’s projects and recipients showcase a range of preservation success stories, demonstrating the power of perseverance, collaboration and partnership.