Ponca City’s ten million dollar rehabilitated historic city hall was the location of this year’s state Historic Preservation Conference that took place June 4-6. The state Historic Preservation Conference is a yearly event dealing with the preservation of the state’s historic elements, whether they be such things as buildings, archaeological digs, trails or other items of historic merit. Nationally known speakers in the fields of preservation law, archaeology and history were on hand for presentations on each area of their expertise.
State Main Street Center director Linda Barnett and others discussed how the Main Street program fits into the preservation picture. The majority of the state’s early history remains located in original downtown districts and it’s those districts which traditionally provide the specific ‘flavor’ of the community. Protecting those distinguishing characteristics while promoting the downtown area is the cornerstone of the National Main Street program.
Additionally, topics on youth involvement in preservation, protecting mid-century architecture, tours of the Chillocco Indian School, a visit to Downtown Newkirk (A Great American Main Street Award winner) as well as tours of Ponca City were offered.
The year’s keynote speaker was J. Myrick Howard director of Preservation North Carolina a non-profit organization dedicated to historic preservation in that state. The topic was ‘Buying Time for Historic Preservation’. The thrust of the message, according to Howard, is that sometimes all it takes is a few extra days time and a little more publicity to delay a building’s demolition in order to bring other options to the forefront. Mr. Howard’s presentation showed how many North Carolina properties were put back into attractive, rehabilitated, income producing, tax producing properties with just a little more time and creative effort.
Next year’s conference is set for Quartz Mountain Lodge.
For more information call the Downtown Cushing Main Street office at 225-2100.
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