2020 June Preservation ePost
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Included in This Issue:
Be a Part of the California Story
Extension Issued on Emergency Procedures
Designating California!
Learning Opportunities
And more....
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Be a Part of the California Story
Our knowledge about the impacts of historic events on the lives of ordinary people is thanks in great part to collections of carefully preserved documents, photographs, artifacts, and personal stories from the time of those events. That will be the case again now for this era of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The
California State Archives
and the
California Historical Society
are each extending an invitation for California citizens to share their personal stories about the pandemic. Your stories will be preserved as part of each institution's documentation of life in California during this global event.
As observed on the California Historical Society website: "Modern historians have argued that history isn’t simply comprised of actions of remarkable or grand figures. The thoughts and experiences of everyday people are valuable keys to unlock what it’s like to live in any era."
Image courtesy of the California Historical Society.
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ACHP Issues Extension of Emergency Procedures
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) has issued an
extension
on the use of emergency procedures for federal undertakings responding to COVID-19 emergency and disaster declarations. As explained in the opening statement of the extension:
"On April 3, 2020, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation issued a
blanket extension
regarding the review under 36 CFR 800.12 of undertakings responding to COVID-19 emergency and disaster declarations. That initial extension was set to expire on May 29, 2020. Considering the likelihood of such declarations remaining in place into the foreseeable near future, and the ongoing need for federal agency responses to them, that extension is now set to expire on July 31, 2020."
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The recent pandemic has people world-wide seeking ways to keep life interesting as they practice stay-at-home safety measures. In light of this not so ordinary existence we are all experiencing, we spotlight here
Possum Trot
, one of the more unusual sites designated as a California Historical Landmark (CHL).
Located in the Mojave Desert near Yermo, California, Possum Trot was a site that geographically could be considered a bit isolated, yet its inhabitants found a unique way to enliven their daily life. Calvin and Ruby Black began building the whimsical, doll-populated Possum Trot attraction in 1954 as an extension of their rock shop and as an artistic expression. Calvin carved the dolls, each representing someone important in his life, and Ruby made clothes for them. Windmills of various design were used to help animate some of the dolls, many of which were life-sized. Dolls were also used for puppet shows in Possum Trot’s Bird Cage Theater with Calvin providing the voices.
The Blacks operated Possum Trot until Calvin’s death in 1972. Ruby continued to live on the site until her death in 1980. Possum Trot was eventually dismantled, with the dolls and other artifacts sold to folk art collectors. The site of this not so ordinary bit of California life is designated part of California Historical Landmark No. 939, Twentieth Century Folk Art Environments (Thematic).
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State Historical Resources Commission (SHRC) Meetings for 2020:
August 14
- virtual
November 6
- to be determined
Commission meetings are open to the public. All are welcome.
The Office of Historic Preservation is working to provide the best possible virtual format for the meeting in August. Once finalized, the meeting time, agenda, and mechanism to participate will be posted to the
SHRC Meeting Schedule and Notices
page of the OHP website.
Learn more
about the role and responsibilities of the SHRC.
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Learning Opportunities on the OHP Channel
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Available on the
OHP YouTube channel
are a number of educational presentations recorded by our staff in recent years. The presentations cover topics such as nominating a property to the National Register of Historic Places, preparing a successful Section 106 review, incentives for local governments, writing historic contexts, applying for historic tax credits, and more. Also available is the full recording of the Climate Heritage Mobilization session at the Global Climate Action Summit of 2018. It is our hope that these online resources will inform and inspire your commitment to historic preservation!
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California Preservation Foundation Webinars
& Workshops
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CPF Accepting Nominations for Preservation Design Awards
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There is still time to submit a nomination for the California Preservation Foundation (CPF)
Preservation Design Awards
recognizing preservation achievements large and small.
Nomination deadline: June 15, 2020.
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Applications Now Being Accepted for NTPF Grants
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The
National Trust Preservation Funds Program
(NTPF) is accepting applications for their next cycle of preservation grants. Grants range from $2,500 up to $5,000 and support preservation education, programs, and projects at the local level.
Application deadline: June 15, 2020.
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News from California State Parks
Now through an online news feed, you can keep up on the latest news from California State Parks, our parent department.
Subscribe Here
.
(Subscribing to this service will not change your subscription to the OHP ePost and other news; that service will continue as before)
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