How to Save a Place: 12 Tips To Research & Know the Threat

Continuing with our special toolkit series on how to save a place, today we're focusing on taking the first steps towards actually saving the historic place that matters to you.

First, you’ll need to do your research on exactly what makes your place historically significant and understand the threats to your site’s long-term survival.

The 12 tips in this toolkit will help you develop a strong foundation on which to build your preservation efforts.

1. 2 National Trust for preservation
Historic Preservation” TIPS&TOOLS

2. 1. Know the basics about the
property.

‘Stay alert about the status of recently vacated
or sold buildings, hearings for zone changes,

plans for new transportation routes, etc. Any
‘one of these alf you don’t already know if it is

a designated historic structure, you can check
with your State Historic Preservation Office
(SHPO) or other local preservation office.
Also, identify any political boundaries or
districts that impact the site.changes might
affect historic resources in your area.

3. 2. Look closely at the
property. À
Leftover building materials can tell 5
you how old the property might be.
Closets are great places to uncover
clues like old wallpaper or paint --
certain paper patterns or color-
schemes can be traced back toa
popular period style.

3. Talk to neighbors,
local business
owners, even the
local mailman.

People who have spent significant
time around a place can often tell
you things that print and online
resources cannot.

4. 4. Explore the
neighborhood.

Are there other older properties
that look similar? How does your
property fit in -- for example, does
it face a different way? It could
have been built on land that was
‘once a farm while the rest of the
neighborhood was built later.

5. Learn the history
of the area.

Was it the scene of a battle? Was
another nearby building designed
by a noted architect? Answering
these questions can offer
important clues to the property's
history.

Im =
| Photo by Minesh Bacrania un Pos

5. 6. Research land and
property records.

A simple title search can tell you
who owned the property and when.
Tax records can tell you how the
property has changed over time.
Many city or county records offices
also have Sanborn maps, which can
date back to the 19th century.

6. 7. Consult local census |
data. |

If the property is a home, census
records can tell you more about
the lives of previous owners, such
as the number of children in the

jj mm house, cost of the home, whether
if : the home had a radio, and more.

8. Stop by your local
public library and look
for a city directory

-- a precursor to the modern phone
book -- which might offer more
details on a previous use or earlier
occupants. Other useful documents
include tract maps, building
permits, and deeds.

7. 9. Contact your local
historical society.

Ask to see old photographs they
might have of the site or the
surrounding land, historical
maps of the area, or newspapers,
with specific articles that
reference history of the area.

LA 10. Outline the issues.

Is the threat decay? Development?
A combination of both? Or
something else entirely? The place
you're trying to save might have
multiple issues, so identify and list
all of them to help create a
‘comprehensive plan.

A

Photo courtesy Ryan Ancill

8. 11. Prioritize the primary

threat.

It may sound simple, but making sure
you identify and address the most
immediate threat first is critical for
success. Sometimes you'll need to leave
more exciting work such as a volunteer
workday event for later and focus on
mundane but important tasks like
filling out paperwork or performing
legal research.

9. 12. Research others’
successes and failures. à
Identify other preservation projects

that faced the same issues as yours, LL
and talk to participants about hidden
challenges and best practices
concerning certain threats. Learning
from the experience of others will
boost your effectiveness and also
save time and effort.