Nadine Peterson Preservation Planner NH Division of Historical Resources Lynne E. Monroe Preservation Company Christopher W. Closs Christopher W. Closs & Co. Capturing History and Sense of Place: Identifying and Surveying Historic Resources in Your Community

What Is a Historical Resource? A district, site, building, structure or object that is significant in the history, architecture, engineering, archaeology or culture of this state, its communities, or the nation.

 Inventory of a community’s historic buildings, structures, sites, and objects - the resources that define a community  Essential tool for any form of preservation planning - every community should have one  Lays the groundwork for decision making and policies related to historic resources  Provides sound basis for establishing preservation priorities Why Survey Historical Resources?

 What trends and events have shaped your community’s history? Trends: transportation, industry, agriculture, immigration Events: county seat, prolific builder, flood  Helpful to break into chronological periods or historical themes  Each town’s history is reflected in its built environment and contributes to its distinctive character  Provides context for evaluating resources

Historic Resources Survey  What are the resources that tell the story of your community’s history?  50+ years old  Consider the full range of resources – local history far more than handful of icons

 Survey is defined as the process of identifying and gathering information about historic resources.  A survey of historic properties should look beyond buildings to include all visible aspects of the built environment that combine to form our historic fabric.  Four basic steps apply to the process of architectural survey:  establishing the purpose for the survey  conducting research  undertaking fieldwork  preparing a written report. Historic Resources Survey Stone walls Fences or Fence Posts Field Patterns Orchards Cellar Holes Wells Visible Archaeological Features

ESTABLISH THE PURPOSE FOR THE SURVEY Why is the survey being undertaken? Planning RSA 227-C:9 Section 106 Define scope of work. What information and analysis must result? DHR files search Mapping Brief background narrative Inventory forms Historic Resources Survey 227-C:9 Directive for Cooperation in the Protection of Historic Resources. I. All state agencies, departments, commissions, and institutions shall fully cooperate with the division in the location, identification, evaluation and management of historic resources, and to that end shall provide the division with appropriate information on all state licensed, assisted, or contracted projects, activities, or programs so that the division may determine the effect of such undertakings on historic resources. Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act requires Federal agencies to take into account the effects of their undertakings on historic properties and afford the Council a reasonable opportunity to comment on such undertakings.

Research CONDUCT RESEARCH  Background research is geared to the survey purpose.  Research can relate to a broad overview of many properties (as in a published county history) or to a single property (as in deed research).  Materials may include historic mapping, historic photographs, census information, oral histories etc.

What is Fieldwork?  Field work entails the physical and visual identification, documentation, and recordation of historic resources in the survey area. It is a systematic identification of resources through mapping, field notes, and photography.

What Is Integrity?  Does the property convey its significance through its physical appearance?  Begin by listing known changes to the entire property: buildings, structures, landscape, and larger setting.  National Register: location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association.

What is Significance?  To qualify for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, a property must be significant, that is, it must represent a significant historic context in the history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture of an area, and it must have the characteristics that made it a good representative of properties associated with that context.

Inventory Forms Finally, the research and fieldwork are synthesized into a written document that presents survey findings with illustrations, text and photographs.

Types of Forms  Individual Inventory forms: used to record and understand the appearance, history and significance of a building, structure, site or object prior to listing on the State or National Registers of Historic Places, for a historic resources survey or planning project, or for review and compliance purposes.  Town- and City-wide area forms: provide an overview of a town or city, its geography, history and architectural patterns of development, creating the framework for inventory efforts that follows.  Project area forms: most often are completed as part of the environmental planning that proceeds a publicly-funded, licensed or permitted project that can affect historical resources.  Historic district area forms: summarize the history, architecture and significance of a group of resources that could be designated as a local historic district or listed in the National or New Hampshire State Registers of Historic Places.

Next Steps For more information regarding the NHDHR Historic Resources Survey Program, contact: Mary Kate Ryan State Survey Coordinator