The practice of historic preservation is like a family heirloom, passed down from one generation to the next so that when you get tasked with the role of heirloom keeper, it reminds us to not forget about the past and look to how it has shaped the present.
This is how I feel as I near completion of my internship here at the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the PA State Historic Preservation Office (PA SHPO). This was my second summer working for PennDOT and the PA SHPO, so being able to come back and work for both agencies really was a pleasure and an overall great experience.
Working with Bridges
One of the more significant projects that I worked on for PennDOT focused on updating bridge types across the state in PA-SHARE. This involved making updates to the National Register status and documentation of bridges identified in a 1988 Multiple Property Documentation Form (MPDF) entitled “Highway Bridges Owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania” (Report #1986RP00038).
The 130+ historic bridges listed in the MPDF were identified as significant examples of a variety of types including metal trusses, stone arches, and concrete arches. Correcting any missing or new information regarding historic bridges in PA-SHARE, such as demolitions, is key to their long-term maintenance and preservation. Examining historic photographs and reading about the historic and cultural impact these different bridges have in their communities is why I found this to be a notable project.
A review of the MPDF and current conditions revealed Ridley Creek Borough Bridge (Resource #1986RE00350) has been demolished. PA-SHARE has been updated to reflect this loss.
There is another type of bridge less commonly found on the transportation network but is probably the bridge type that people know and love the most: covered bridges. Pennsylvania is home to over 200+ historic covered bridges, more than anywhere else in the country!
As part of recent efforts to examine the remaining covered bridge population, I updated information on the 200+ covered bridges across Pennsylvania in PA-SHARE. These efforts resulted in the identification of covered bridges that were previously not included in the statewide inventory and a few bridges that were actual new structures, built to look old. Covered bridges are an important piece of Pennsylvania heritage and regional culture. Updating information on the remaining population is an important task that informs future preservation work.
The Lawrence Knoebel Covered Bridge (Resource # 1979RE00519), constructed in 1875 and moved to its current location within the park in 1936, connects Knoebels Campground and Knoebels Amusement Park in Northumberland, PA. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as one of the few remaining covered bridges in Northumberland and Columbia counties.
Working with Agricultural Districts
I also assisted in the compilation of mapping used in the assessment of possible historic agricultural districts across Pennsylvania. You might wonder, “What is a historic agricultural district?” Briefly, it’s a collection of adjacent farms, support services and landscape features that retain integrity and continue to convey historic agricultural practices. Luckily, you can read this blog post on Historic Agricultural Districts to learn more.
Over the past few years, as farmland has been usurped by larger economic industries, like warehouses and trucking hubs, as well as new renewable energy sources like solar farms, efforts to document historic agricultural districts across Pennsylvania have become more common.
One useful tool for determining those areas of farmland that retain integrity of the landscape and built environment is through historic aerial photography. During the mid- to late 20th century, the pre-cursor of the Farm Services Administration, a branch of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, recorded hundreds of thousands of aerial photographs of Pennsylvania.
These photos, which for the time were extremely high quality, show property lines of these farms, variety of crop fields, water sources like ponds and irrigation, and in some cases even the harvest techniques used for the different crops. Visit the SHPO website to learn more about Interpreting Historic Aerial Photographs for Agricultural Patterns.
Historic aerial photograph taken of Bally, Pa. in the 1970s and present day, showcasing how much has changed in the agricultural landscape over the past 50 years. These photos were compiled as documentation of another possible historic agricultural district located in an area called “Butter Valley” on the border of Berks and Montgomery counties.
I compared historic aerial photographs to Google Earth aerials to show changes to the landscape of the North Annville Township Rural Agricultural Historic District (Resource # 2024RE00471). As a result of the investigation, the area did not have enough integrity to be eligible as a historic agricultural district, mainly due to the increase of housing developments and the loss of agricultural buildings and related support services within the area.
As my internship draws to a close, I reminisce on what I have accomplished and learned over these past few months. I learned that preservation connects us all to our past and our collective heritage, whether that be in a small-town community or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. There are people, like here at the PA SHPO and PennDOT, who work every day to preserve that connection to our past.
It was a pleasure to work on projects that could benefit and matter to communities where the resources are located. As I continue my journey to preserve more of our state’s history and make more of an impact in our local communities, I leave this internship knowing that I have gained valuable knowledge, skills, and connections that will take me to great places in the world of historic preservation.
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Today’s guest contributor is Jared Diehl. Jared is a senior at Shippensburg University majoring in Public History with a minor in Anthropology. He is local to south-central Pennsylvania, both living and going to school in Shippensburg. He plans to continue his education with a Master’s degree and hopefully find a career in Pennsylvania in the historic preservation field.
Jared, your article is wonderful & it is refreshing to see how dedicated you are to your historic preservation work. We need our younger generations to care about our history & historic architecture & you give me hope for the future! Keep up the great work & best of luck as you pursue future opportunities in our field!