2/28/01
The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) of the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History will host a series of public meetings to give state residents an opportunity to participate in revising the Statewide Historic Preservation Plan. The SHPO is particularly interested in setting preservation goals for the next five years, discussing strategies to implement those goals and outlining ways that it can help generate and support preservation activities at the local level.
Susan M. Pierce, deputy state historic preservation officer, Lora A. Lamarre, planning and education coordinator for the SHPO and other staff members will conduct the meetings, which are free and open to the public.
The first meeting will be held on March 5 at 6 p.m. at the Bluefield State College Auditorium, Bluefield. A reception will be held prior to the session at 5 p.m. at North House, 301 West Washington St., in Lewisburg. Other meetings scheduled include March 12 at 7 p.m. at the City Council Chambers in the Wood County Courthouse in Parkersburg; March 13 at 6:30 p.m. at Precision Hall in Sutton; March 21 at 7 p.m. at the Belle Boyd House in Martinsburg; March 22 at 7 p.m. at the Jefferson County Planning Commission Chambers, Charles Town; March 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Putnam County Courthouse in Winfield; and April 2 at 7 p.m. at West Virginia Independence Hall in Wheeling.
Preservation planning is a useful method for helping a community, region or state to effectively make decisions and set priorities that will result in the protection of valued historic and cultural resources. The final plan will contain a description of the preservation goals and objectives as well as implementation strategies. Ultimately, it will serve as a compelling tool for preservation advocates and policymakers to protect the state’s resources and heritage.
For more information about the public meetings or the Statewide Historic Preservation Plan, call Lora Lamarre at the SHPO at (304) 558-0220, ext. 711.
The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. The Cultural Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. Visit the Division’s website at www.wvculture.org for more information about programs of the Division. The Department of Arts, Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
- 30 -