[Heritage] Oregon Heritage News 2003-11-21

[INFO Heritage]

In this issue:
1.  Mission Mill selected for America's Treasures grant
2.  Humanities Council seeks scholarly projects
3.  Historic preservation advocates claim victory
4.  Historic barn funding debated by Congress


MISSION MILL SELECTED FOR AMERICA'S TREASURES GRANT

Oregon Congresswoman Darlene Hooley has announced a $250,000 federal grant =
for historic preservation to Mission Mill Museum's Thomas Kay Woolen Mill. =
The funding is part of the Historic Preservation Fund's "Save America's Tre=
asures" program.

Restoration of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill was one of 63 projects chosen to =
receive funding to help preserve and protect our nation's irreplaceable cul=
tural heritage.  The program designates the mill as an American treasure de=
serving of preservation.

"The Thomas Kay Woolen Mill is an irreplaceable part of Oregon's history," =
said Hooley.  "It's a treasure to Oregonians and the federal grant will hel=
p maintain it for years to come.  Oregonians will be able to share this pie=
ce of history with their children and grandchildren."

The Thomas Kay Woolen Mill opened in 1889 and initially provided one fifth =
of Salem's jobs. The Mill provided quality products and jobs in Salem throu=
gh four wars and the depression, finally closing in 1962. The Kay legacy li=
ves on today in the Pendleton Woolen Mills company. The mill is only woolen=
ated by city, county, state or federal agencies. It is open to the public a=
s a museum providing interpretation and educational programming.=20

"The 1896 Mill building is a landmark in Salem and Oregon, representing the=
 region's earliest economic diversification," said Maureen Thomas, executiv=
e director of Mission Mill Museum Association.  "Now recognized as an Ameri=
can Treasure, this beautiful structure takes a deserved place in the compan=
y of national historic resources.  As a Museum Association we are extremely=
 honored and grateful."  =20

The National Park Service received 452 grant applications. The Kay Woolen M=
ill project will stabilize the south wall of the mill building, repair wind=
ows, provide UV and climate control for the collections and much more.=20
=20
For information about the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill Preservation project conta=
ct Thomas at maureent at missionmill.org or (503) 585-7012. Additional informa=
tion on the Save America's Treasures program can be found on the President'=
s Committee on the Arts and Humanities Web site at www.pcah.gov , on the NP=
S Web site at <http://www2.cr.nps.gov/treasures/index.htm>  or by contactin=
g the NPS at 202-513-7270, press 6.


HUMANITIES COUNCIL SEEKS SCHOLARLY PROGRAMS

Oregon Chautauqua is the flagship public humanities program of the Oregon C=
ouncil for the Humanities (OCH). For 22 years OCH has worked in partnership=
and presentations to communities throughout the state. Oregon Chautauquas p=
romote an understanding of the humanities and the role of thought and ideas=
e dialogue, and offer audiences the opportunity to refresh their own learni=
ng and revitalize their sense of community.

OCH invites scholars to submit proposals for new Oregon Chautauqua programs=
autauqua scholars may come from an academic background, or their training a=
nd preparation may be based in their cultural heritage or their pursuit of =
individual study. They must have experience in sharing their work with publ=
ic audiences and be willing to travel to communities across Oregon in order=
 to present their programs.

More information about the Oregon Chautauqua program, including a downloada=
ble version of the Request for Proposal application form, is available on O=
CH*s website at www.oregonhum.org. or by phoning the OCH*s office at (503) =
241-0543.  Applications must be postmarked by January 16. OCH does not acce=
pt applications by e-mail
or fax.


HISTORIC PRESERVATION ADVOCATES CLAIM VICTORY

Historic preservation advocates are praising the Senate Environment and Pub=
lic Works Committee's decision not to revise the Section 4(f) provision of =
a $225 billion federal transportation law in pending legislation (Safe, Acc=
ountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act) popularly know=
n as SAFETEA (S. 1072) .  The National Council on History said that when co=
nsidering a six-year reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for t=
he 21st Century (TEA-21), the Bush administration had advanced language tha=
t would have eviscerated a provision in the 1966 Department of Transportati=
on Act that mandates "all possible planning to minimize harm" and provides =
that a federal highway project cannot destroy any park or historic area if =
there is a "prudent and feasible alternative."

The 4(f) provision has successfully been invoked by preservationists to blo=
ck and force mitigative action in dozens of highway projects from Californi=
a to Florida that potentially could destroy important historic sites.  For =
example, the provision has been used to save San Francisco's Fisherman's Wh=
arf in California from destruction; it has also prevented the paving-over o=
f parts of the French Quarter in New Orleans.

The SAFETEA legislation was crafted by the Bush administration to "streamli=
ne" the process of road construction, according to the history council spok=
esman.  The administration hoped to remove the Section 4(f) provision, and =
substitute it with new language granting agencies within the Department of =
Transportation the authority to decide which sites are historic.  Though su=
ch agencies would still have to consult with communities on the significanc=
e of sites, communities would have lacked any legal basis upon which to bas=
e their challenges to transportation agency decisions.

Friends of historic places are not out of the woods yet.  In upcoming weeks=
ion supporters may attempt again to modify the 4(f) provision.  Also, the m=
easure faces an uncertain future in the House of Representatives.

For more information on Section 4(f) and its role in historic preservation,=
 tap into: <http://www.nationaltrust.org/issues/transportation/4(f)_overvie=
w.html>.


HISTORIC BARN FUNDING DEBATED IN CONGRESS
=20
The National Council of Historic Preservation Officers reports continued de=
bate this week on a five-bill fiscal 2004 omnibus budget bill that includes=
ude funding for the barn program. =20

Over the past week, preservationists made the case for the barn program to =
House Agriculture Committee members.  Now, the outcome of the omnibus bill =
will determine the fate of funding for the Historic Barn Preservation Progr=
am in this fiscal year. =20

Congress is expected to finish consideration of the omnibus bill and wrap-u=
p the session by the end of the weekend.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Oregon Heritage News is a service of the Oregon Heritage Commission.
             =20