[Heritage] Oregon Heritage Reflects on 2020

Tue Jan 5 09:39:40 PST 2021

Oregon Heritage Reflects on 2020

To say this has been an unprecedented year would be an understatement. Typically in our end of year message we would summarize the highlights, include several statistics and numbers, and celebrate all the heritage efforts accomplished this year by all of you. In short, it would be a message filled with positivity and cheer. To not acknowledge the challenges we have all faced this year personally and professionally would be remiss of us. While positivity may seem in short supply these days, we cannot express how much we admire each and every one of you for how you are weathering the storms that have come rolling through 2020 and will continue into 2021. This year made it so clear to us the value of heritage resources<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Documents/FromORHeritageRecoveryMessage.pdf> and the importance of a statewide heritage network to support each other during these turbulent times.

Upon reflection of the past year, Oregon Heritage staff has learned a lot about responding to emergencies and the importance of preparation, how to navigate the fine line of celebrating wins while respecting those that have lost so much, and how to continue serving all of you the best we can while managing working from home, layoffs, and travel restrictions that forced us to move our technical assistance online.

With that said, here are some of our observations, resources, responses, pivots and steps forward for preservation efforts in Oregon from 2020:

Disaster Response & Recovery

  *   Commiserating during an ongoing crisis is an important step in dealing with the crisis. This was made clear during the 5 COVID-19 commiseration calls we initiated to help folks not feel alone when managing their organization during the crisis. Topics included event pivots such as Preservation Month events in May, reopening, inclusivity, and the value of heritage organizations.
  *   Oregon Heritage and our partners, including the Oregon Cultural Trust, Nonprofit Association of Oregon, Oregon Community Foundation, Cultural Advocacy Coalition, State Library, State Archives, and more, came together to ensure heritage organizations received support throughout COVID-19 & wildfire response.
  *   SHPO coordinated with FEMA, State agencies and tribes in response to the wildfires.
  *   We developed a COVID-19 resource page<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/COVID-19-Resources.aspx> and a wildfire response and recovery page<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/DisasterPrep.aspx> that combined have been accessed over 1700 times. While the reason these pages were developed are disheartening, the fact that these resources will exist for the future will help us respond faster and better. And we kicked off our Oregon Heritage Bulletin Resilience Series<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/pages/technicalresources.aspx#three>.
  *   Last year we launched a pilot project in Cottage Grove that wrapped up this year and resulted in a guidebook and videos for Community Disaster Resilience Planning for Heritage Resources. While we knew when we initiated the project a year ago that it would be important, we did not realize how quickly it would become important in the face of the wildfires this year.

Value of Heritage

  *   We saw the importance and relevance of archives and records of local historical societies and museums in Oregon when comparing the COVID-19 pandemic to previous pandemics in history such as the Spanish Flu. For example, Deschutes County Historical Society's director, Kelly Cannon-Miller, shared their resources from the past with the Central Oregon Daily News<https://centraloregondaily.com/%E2%96%B6%EF%B8%8F-past-pandemic-a-look-at-bends-bout-with-the-1918-spanish-flu/>.
  *   We watched heritage organizations documenting history currently happening in their communities by collecting stories of the pandemic and the fires.
  *   We saw the importance of Oregon's heritage resources to communities and first responders during the wildfires. Examples of this include saving the Goodpasture Covered Bridge<https://oregonheritage.wordpress.com/2020/10/02/the-value-of-heritage-saving-a-treasure-of-the-mckenzie/> amidst the flames of a fire and preventative measures taken to protect headstones in two historic cemeteries in Southern Oregon<https://oregonheritage.wordpress.com/2020/11/19/protecting-two-cemeteries-in-the-path-of-a-fire/> that were threatened by a fire.
  *   We found out some awesome things about heritage volunteers in Oregon through the results of the Volunteer Survey<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/pages/tools.aspx#orheritagereports> we had done with the help of PSU's Nonprofit Institute. It revealed things such as primary drivers for those volunteering and the amount of personal giving that volunteers gave to organizations. Many reasons to value volunteers, appreciate them, and let decision makers in your community know the value your volunteers find in your organizations<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Documents/HeritageVolunteerValueMessagingPlatform.pdf>!
  *   Despite the 2020 Oregon Heritage Conference and Heritage Excellence Awards Banquet being cancelled, we were able to honor the award winners<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/Awards.aspx#one> by creating videos of their important heritage contributions. (Psssstttt...2021 nominations are open so be sure to check out the criteria<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/Awards.aspx#one> and apply by Jan. 14!)
  *   Amidst the civil unrest we saw happening across the country and here in Oregon, we released a statement affirming Oregon Heritage's commitment to dismantle racism and inequality<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Documents/AddressingRacismHeritagePlan.pdf> and acknowledging the heritage organizations working towards collecting diverse stories and perspective and provided ways to continue or start these efforts.

Main Street

  *   Oregon Main Street Network managers stepped up and initiated weekly calls<https://oregonheritage.wordpress.com/2020/03/18/main-streets-coming-together/> to help support each other and the ongoing pandemic crisis they were seeing in their downtowns. In addition, OMS partnered with Washington Main Street to schedule periodic, topical conversations between local executive directors in our respective states.
  *   Main Street organizations pivoted during the holidays<https://oregonheritage.wordpress.com/2020/11/25/oregons-historic-main-streets-pivot-for-the-holidays/> to adhere to social distancing guidelines.
  *   Prior to 2020, webinars were on the to-do list for Main Street but we were able to prioritize these and expand the ability to train Main Street staff, board, and volunteers from a distance.
  *   OMS partnered with other statewide coordinating programs to develop a Recovery Action Plan template for local main street organizations and a sustainable funding webinar series.
  *   OMS partnered with Washington Main Street to develop a series of new guides to assist local program leaders.
  *   OMS partnered with Rural Development Initiatives who launched a pilot Economic Vitality training series in two hub communities, Stayton and Coos Bay and included surrounding main street communities.
  *   While we did need to cancel our deep dive workshop and awards celebration, we were able to recognize award winners via special videos that acknowledged the many people, projects, and partners that exemplify excellence in downtown efforts.

Preservation & Documentation

  *   The Oregon Heritage Commission released the 2020-2025 Oregon Heritage Plan<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/tools.aspx#heritageplan> as a call to action, deviating from traditional plans. It outlines 4 goals that are important to the Commission and asks organizations to join us in working towards them.
  *   The Oregon SHPO added 3,163 properties to the inventory of archeological and historic resources, and submitted 14 nominations to the National Parks Service for listing in the National Register of Historic of Historic Places, including the Portland African American Multiple Properties Document, a tool that will help list more properties within that context, and the Darcelle XV property, a site significant for it's for its role in gaining acceptance for drag and gay rights (see recently listed nominations here<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/pages/national-register.aspx#four>).
  *   We made steps forward on working on a Depression Era Multiple Properties Document project in addition to receiving a grant from the National Park Service to work on a statewide African American Multiple Properties Document project.
  *   Reviewed 44 preservation projects, added 12 properties to the state tax program, reviewed 19 submissions for the federal tax program.
  *   With improved tracking for our covenant and Special Assessment programs, we monitored 14 agreements.
  *   Working with partners and the public to address National Register rules and the Special Assessment program.
  *   We moved a promising partnership forward with the State Library of Oregon and the Washington State Library as we look towards solutions for digitizing collections for Oregon heritage organizations and getting them online.
  *   206 archaeological permits for conducting archaeological investigations in Oregon issued by SHPO archaeologists.

Review & Compliance

  *   The SHPO review and compliance team received 2,636 submittals to review for the effects of undertakings on cultural resources. The Oregon SHPO provides assistance to agencies whose projects are subject to state and federal historic preservation laws.
  *   Sent 2,451 responses to inquiries from federal and state agencies and private organizations and individuals regarding compliance with federal and state laws.

Some of the things we are looking forward to in the new year include the 2021 Oregon Heritage Virtual Summit on Collaboration<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/Conferences-&-Workshops.aspx#two> and Oregon Main Street Conference in Klamath Falls, awarding the 2021 Oregon Heritage Excellence Awards<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/Awards.aspx#one> and the 2021 Excellence in Downtown Revitalization Awards, seeking and receiving nominations for the National Register of Historic Resources that support our priorities laid out in our Preservation Plan<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/tools.aspx#preservationplan>, and finding creative and impactful ways to assist organizations and reminding them of the value they provide to their communities<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/tools.aspx>.

While we understand that challenges will continue on into 2021, please know that we will continue to do our best to help you navigate these challenges.

Thank you for all that you do and please stay strong.

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Oregon Heritage News is a service of Oregon Heritage, a division of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The news editor can be contacted at heritage.info at oregon.gov<mailto:heritage.info at oregon.gov>.

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