There’s something about turning the final page of the calendar each year that makes us all a little introspective.  What were the high points of the past 12 months?  The low points?  The successes? The challenges?  What might we do differently in the coming year?  What should stay the same?

This past year has been a pretty exciting one for the Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Office, so we thought we’d take one last glance through the 2014 calendar before hanging up the new one – just for old times’ sake. 

In 2014 the Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Office:

• Officially welcomed Serena Bellew as the new Bureau Director and Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer (OK, she technically started in mid-December 2013, but the real fun began in January).
• Bid a fond farewell and best retirement wishes to Ann Safley. Barbara Frederick took over Ann’s role reviewing State and Federally-assisted projects in Western Pennsylvania.  Emma Diehl joined the staff to review projects in the Eastern Region.
• Launched our Hurricane Sandy Recovery and Response Program, led by a new staff member, Jeremy Young.
• Completed a survey of more than 300 current and former public schools in Philadelphia. Shelby Weaver-Splain joined our staff to lead this herculean effort and several other mitigation projects.
• Welcomed nearly 800 attendees from 48 states (and DC) to Philadelphia for FORUM 2014. The national conference was hosted by the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions, Preservation Pennsylvania, PHMC, and PennDOT and included a host of local, state, and national partners.
• Worked with a great group of interns on a variety of projects.

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In January we will also mark the two year anniversary of this blog and our companion e-newsletter.  Here are the 10 most viewed blog posts from 2014:

1. Traces in the Woods
2. Hosanna Church: The Last Building in Hinsonville
3. Greetings From Harrisburg – I Am Thrilled To Be Here
4. Just Listed
5. Preservation Pennsylvania Announces Pennsylvania At Risk 2013
6. New Markers Approved for 2014
7. The Revolutionary War Burial Ground in Bethlehem
8. Getting to Know the Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Board
9. Pennsylvania’s Historic Preservation Tax Credit: Year One Recap
10. Lynn Hall: A Nexus of Design Perspectives

Thank you for being one of our loyal readers.  There’s a new blog post every Wednesday and a monthly e-newsletter on the first Tuesday of every month.  If there’s a topic you’d like to see us post on, leave your ideas in the comments section below or email us at mail@pahistoricpreservation.com

 

Best wishes for a happy and productive 2015!