[Heritage] Oregon Heritage News 2010-11-02

[Heritage Info]

In this issue:
1.  Long-range planning workshop available electronically
2.  Irvington district, Central school added to National Register
3.  Museums association elects leaders
4.  Mission Mill's statehood exhibit honored
5.  Preparedness resource book available online


LONG-RANGE PLANNING WORKSHOP AVAILABLE ELECTRONICALLY

The Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries will host "Long Range
Planning for Historic Cemeteries" workshop from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Nov. 5. The Do-It-Yourself workshop will provide tools to create a plan
for grounds, organization, operation, records management, etc. The
workshop will take place at the Redmond City Hall 716 SW Evergreen Ave.
It will also be accessible by teleconference, when arranged in advance.


More information about commission activities, the teleconference and
workshop registration may be obtained from the Oregon Parks and
Recreation Department's historic cemeteries program coordinator Kuri
Gill at 503-986-0685 or by e-mail: Kuri.Gill at state.or.us.


IRVINGTON DISTRICT, CENTRAL SCHOOL ADDED TO NATIONAL REGISTER

The Oregon State Historic Preservation Office has announced the listing
of the Irvington Historic District in Portland and Central School in
Milton-Freewater.

Opened for development in 1891, the original Irvington Plat and
surrounding area is important as an early example of the influence of
streetcar development and restrictive covenants in Portland’s
residential neighborhoods. These influences had long-lasting impacts on
the architectural character of Irvington through 1948 when most lots had
been developed and the streetcar lines were replaced with gasoline
buses.

The extension of streetcar lines from downtown Portland to the suburban
eastside of the Willamette River resulted in the use of a strict grid of
streets and blocks aligned with the rails and commercial and
multi-family development along heavily-traveled routes. To control land
uses and guide residential development in this rapidly growing
community, developers used privately -imposed and -enforced covenants.
Restrictions included minimum street setbacks, establishment of baseline
house values, and limits on use, among others. Similar explicit rules
were later adopted in other areas, serving as a prelude to the advent of
comprehensive land-use planning in early-20th century Portland. 

The district is also notable for the collection of
architecturally-important residences constructed between 1891 and 1948.

In 1909, School District 31 embarked on an ambitious building program
that called for the construction of one new brick school for each of the
towns of Milton and Freewater to meet the educational needs of a rapidly
growing population. Plans also called for expanding the School
District’s services by offering free high school education at
Central School, a first in the community. 

While the district sought to meet a practical need, Central School was
not a simple utilitarian design. Instead it was an architect-designed
statement that heralded the maturation of the community and communicated
the town’s hopes for a prosperous future. Under the direction of
architect Charles Edward Finkenbinder, the building reflected the latest
in school design including modern mechanical equipment and
well-appointed interiors. Finkenbinder’s incorporation of Classical,
Renaissance and Romanesque design elements into the building's exterior
successfully communicated the educational purpose of the facility and
the aspirations of a successful and rapidly growing town. 

More information about the National Register and recent Oregon listings
is online at http://www.oregonheritage.org/OPRD/HCD/NATREG/index.shtml 



MUSEUMS ASSOCIATION ELECTS LEADERS

The Oregon Museums Association has elected Gardner Chappell, the
director of the Douglas County Museum of History and Natural History, as
its president for a two-year term.  Lori Erickson of OMSI was elected
vice president.  The group, which represents approximately 200 museums
in the state, also elected Lane County Historical Museum director Bob
Hart as treasurer and Steve Greenwood of the Wells Fargo History Museum
as a board member.

For more information about the association and its members, visit
www.oregonmuseums.org 


MISSION MILL'S STATEHOOD EXHIBIT HONORED

Mission Mill Museum received the Charles Redd Center Award for
Exhibition Excellence last month in a presentation in Portland. The
award was for the exhibit, "Facing Statehood," which was created for
Oregon's statehood sesquicentennial and focused on pre-statehood years.
The presentation took place at the Western Museums Association
conference.

This award is given annually and honors excellence for an exhibition
that furthers the study and understanding of the American West. The
award judges specifically appreciated the high number of other
institutions with whom the Museum collaborated; the number of
foundations, groups and donors who funded it; and the number of local
groups who provided in-kind services. They also valued how well the
exhibition told a very complicated story in a clear and concise manner.


PREPAREDNESS RESOURCE BOOK AVAILABLE ONLINE

The Balboa Arts Conservation Center, which provides preservation and
conservation training on the West Coast, encourages institutions to have
an emergency preparedness plan in place. To help that process, the
center's field service office provides information specific to each
geographic area within the western region.  A guide to Oregon's
emergency resources is available at http://www.bacc.org/res_pub.htm
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which can be contacted at heritage.info at state.or.us