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Grand Forks Historic Preservation Commission
1405 First Avenue North
P. O. Box 13876
Grand Forks, ND 58208-3876
701-772-8756

Minutes
March 23, 2010
6:30 p.m.
City Hall

Present: Marsha Gunderson, Chair, Chuck Flemmer, Gordon Iseminger, Sylvia Kloster, Melinda Leach, Cory Lien, Dale Sickels, Sandy Slater, Judy Swisher
Others: Steve Martens, Architect; Joe O’Neil, Office of Urban Development; Robin Purcell, Memorial Park Superintendent; Peg O’Leary

WPA Stone Structures in Memorial Park and Calvary Cemetery – Nomination to the National Register of Historic Places – Steve Martens

Presentation
Gunderson introduced Martens and the Commissioners. Martens presented his research and recommendations regarding the nomination of these WPA stone structures to the NRHP. He recommended that the structures are eligible under Criterion A (associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history) and Criterion C (in this case: embodying the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction and representative of the work of a master). Martens noted that it is rare to be able to connect a specific landscape architect with a landscape, but the availability of early Memorial Park records enabled him to trace the extensive participation of Ray F. Wyrick, “a noted cemetery landscape engineer” from Des Moines, IA, who consulted as a WPA design advisor all over the country.

Martens said the Works Progress Administration (WPA) had high visibility in North Dakota, which culminated in a Grand Forks visit by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt for the dedication of the County Fairgrounds Grandstand (also a WPA project). Research shows that work relief was controversial then, too, as it was considered more costly than welfare. FDR and Harry Hopkins advocated for work however, saying that it instilled pride in the workers, taught work skills and benefitted communities through the completed projects. Martens said that FDR personally signed off on every WPA job.

Four distinct construction features are located within the boundaries of the cemeteries and these features are being nominated: two sets of stone entrance gateways, one relocated set of stone entry cairns, and a stone chapel building. Martens explained the construction methods and design principles associated with the structures and remarked that they have been well maintained. He commended the Memorial Park record keeping, which clearly tracks the WPA and Wyrick connections to the stone structures. He noted that the timing and method of relocation for the cairns is also well documented, making it easier to meet the federal NRHP guidelines for relocated structures. The records show that Wyrick made recommendations with regard to general cemetery layout and the design of a reflecting pool. For a variety of reasons (not attributable to WPA workers, not implemented at all, or significantly altered from the original), elements like the reflecting pond and the network of roads are not included in the nomination.

As a matter of interest, Martens has estimated how many workers and families would have benefited from WPA investment in the stonework projects at the two cemeteries:
North gateway: 10 to 12 workers for 10-weeks x $10.40/week = $1250 labor cost
West gateway: 6 to 8 workers for 6-weeks x $10.40/week = $500 labor cost
Calvary Chapel: 18 to 24 workers for 20-weeks x $10.40/week = $4000 labor cost
Ray Wyrick’s salary paid by the Cemetery Association = $200/year
The 7x economic multiplier effect means these projects brought over $40,000 (1937 dollars) benefit to Grand Forks.
$10.40 a week was the standard pay rate for WPA workers, and the small cost of materials was probably handled as the local agency "match" for the project.
Martens closed by noting that the nomination could be placed on the State Review Board agenda for late April and that he appreciated Commissioners’ efforts to review the material in its early stages.
PUBLIC HEARING
Gunderson: I declare the PUBLIC HEARING on the National Register Nomination of the WPA Stone Structures in Memorial Park and Calvary Cemetery now OPEN. Anyone wishing to comment, please step forward, state your name and address, and present your comments or questions.
Robin Purcell, Superintendent, Memorial Park: It has been an interesting process through which he learned a lot about the cemetery, finding maps and blueprints that he had not previously known about. He appreciates that the nomination is being done.
Joe O’Neil, Construction Compliance Officer, Office of Urban Development: Many Grand Forks residents don’t know much about the history of the city. It would be good if a forum could be developed to share this type of information with the public.
Gunderson: Are there further comments from the public? … Hearing none, the PUBLIC HEARING is CLOSED. Thank you for your comments.

Commission Discussion
Iseminger noted that the reflecting pool has recently come to fruition; it contains three fountains and is quite lovely. He wondered whether it would help the nomination to include the material about the financial impact of the project and whether more information should be added about Wyrick. Martens said it would be easy to add the financial estimates if the Commission wants them in but he believed that the nomination already contains just about everything that is surely known about Wyrick and his connection with the project. Gunderson asked if Wyrick was primarily a cemetery guy or if he could have had input on the Fairgrounds project; Martens said that, given the timing of the two projects, Wyrick likely had design impact on the Fairgrounds project but there is no proof. Flemmer asked if Martens is aware of other WPA projects in Grand Forks that should be addressed in the future; Martens said there were probably fifty or so WPA projects in Grand Forks but that many of them were infrastructure, including work in the parks and the river corridor. He is currently working on a state-wide survey/nomination of WPA projects that will be ready in the fall. The National Park Service usually likes to have one or two specific nominations accompany a broad survey and this stone work project would dovetail perfectly with the broader nomination. When asked about the level of significance for this nomination, Martens said it would be of state-wide significance.
Motion: to forward the nomination of the WPA Stone Structures in Memorial Park and Calvary Cemetery to the State Historical Society of North Dakota for review by the State Review Board at its April, 2010, meeting. (Leach, Slater)
Motion carries unanimously.
Gunderson and Commissioners thanked Martens for his fine work on the nomination.
Minutes
Motion: to approve the minutes of the March 9, 2010, meeting as presented. (Flemmer, Sickels)
Motion carries.

Office of Urban Development – Joe O’Neil
732 N. 4th Street – Demolition of the house currently on this lot was approved at a previous HPC meeting (1/26/10), at which time a new house plan was also approved. The house plan has changed and O’Neil presented the new plan for two-story, front gable with a wrap-around porch. (Elevations attached.) The design is specific for this corner lot. The lot is not in a historic district.
Motion: to concur with a determination of no historic properties affected by the construction of this house plan at 732 N. 4th Street. (Swisher, Lien)
Motion carries.
816 N. 4th Street – Demolition of the house currently on this lot was approved at a previous HPC meeting (1/26/10), at which time a new house plan was also approved. The house plan has changed and O’Neil presented the new plan for two-story, front gable with a full front porch. (Elevations attached.) This is the same design as for 732 N. 4th Street, except for the porch. Since this lot is in the center of the block, a wrap-around porch is not necessary. The window shutters on the side elevation have also been omitted. The lot is not in a historic district.
Motion: to concur with a determination of no historic properties affected by the construction of this house plan at 816 N. 4th Street. (Flemmer, Swisher)
Motion carries.
Northlands Rescue Mission, 420 Division Avenue, built 1913 – The Mission is on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing element of the Downtown Historic District. Federal funds will be used to replace the HVAC roof unit. The architect, Bobbi Hepper Olson, says that the new unit will not be visible from the street; it will be placed at the rear (north) center of the roof.
Motion: to concur with a determination of no adverse effect resulting from the work described for 420 Division Avenue. (Slater, Sickels)
Motion carries.
Near North Side Neighborhood – Federal funding will be used to replace approximately 29,000 sq. ft. of sidewalk to bring the walks up to code. The area is not a historic district.
Motion: to concur with a determination of no historic properties affected from the sidewalk improvement project. (Swisher, Leach)
Motion carries.
CVIC, 211 S. 4th Street, built 1918 – This building is on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing element of the Downtown Historic District. Federal funding will be used to renovate the unfinished basement and to install an elevator for accessibility. The elevator will be in the interior of the building. O’Neil will confirm that none of the work will impact the exterior of the building.
Motion: to concur with a determination of no adverse effect from the work, as described, at 211 South 4th Street. (Flemmer, Swisher)
Motion carries.
Mountainbrooke, 112 N. 3rd Street, built 1898 – This building is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a contributing element in the Downtown Historic District. Federal funds are being used to replace interior carpeting.
Motion: to concur with a determination of no adverse effect from the interior work at 112 North 4th Street. (Sickels, Leach)
Motion carries.
110 Cherry Street, built 1974 – Federal funding will be used to retrofit the building for energy efficiency. None of the work will impact the exterior of the building.
Motion: to concur with a determination of no historic properties affected from the interior work at 110 Cherry Street. (Sickels, Lien)
Motion carries.
Central Parking Ramp, built 1978 – Federal funding will be used for the first phase of a five year plan to address maintenance issues at the ramp. The issues are primarily cosmetic. This year they will repair damaged surface and expansion joints. The ramp is in the Downtown Historic District but is not a contributing element.
Motion: to concur with a determination of no historic properties affected by the Phase I proposed work at the Central Parking Ramp. (Leach, Swisher)
Motion carries.
606 Reeves Drive, built 1906 – The steel siding has been removed, showing two types of early wood siding. The original siding is in good shape. O’Neil encouraged members to drive by and see what they think of the change.
430 S. 5th Street, built 1893 – Work is progressing: the fake chimney is down, the fake rock is off, and the porch should be off shortly.

Chair Report – Marsha Gunderson
Central Auditorium – While doing research on the Central Auditorium for the proposed interior renovation, Gunderson has run across the 1937 dedication pamphlet, “Centralia.” The booklet has extensive information on the auditorium, including pictures, and on other Central renovation projects that were taking place at the same time. “Centralia” is in both the Public Library and Special Collections, for reference on site only.
Grand Forks Public Library – Gunderson has visited with Susan Mickelson about the possibility of locating the new library in the old First National Bank building at DeMers and N. 4th Street. The building has much to recommend it in terms of space, parking (skywalk to the ramp), greenspace and visibility.

Coordinator Report – Peg O’Leary
Energy Efficiency – The discussion about how preservation affects and is affected by the energy efficiency legislation was postponed.
2010 CLG Grant – The State Historical Society has notified us that we will receive the full amount of our FY2010 budget request. The memo also noted that the review board appreciated the information supplied in the Comprehensive Budget Narrative, which “is a great way to remind the SHPO all of the yearly activities of the HPC, and they “appreciate the support the city gives to the Grand Forks HPC.”

Motion: to adjourn. (Flemmer, Swisher)
Motion carries. Meeting adjourned. 8:45 p.m.
The next regular meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Apr. 13, 2010, in A101, City Hall.

Respectfully submitted,



Peg O’Leary
Coordinator