Newburyport Preservation Trust NEWS

Preservation Week 2013 Schedule of Events

Web Wrangler — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 16:40:39 GMT

Preservation Week 2013: Women and Preservation
Wednesday - Sunday, May 8-12, 2013

The Newburyport Preservation Trust's 7th annual Preservation Week will be Wednesday - Sunday, May 8-12, 2013. The theme this year is the role of Newburyport women in preservation, and the related skills at hearth and home, and with herbs and healing. Five days of activities for all ages and interests include walking tours, lectures, a brunch, and the annual Historic Preservation Awards. Events are open to the public and many are free. For program information, see the complete schedule on our Preservation Week Page.

Note that some events require registration, some through our web site's Events page, and some by phone through Historic New England's regional headquarters in Newbury (978-462-2634).

Preservation Week offers insight and first-hand access to the rich historic events and architecture that create Newburyport’s character and charm. Anyone who enjoys living in or visiting Newburyport, as well as history enthusiasts and historic homeowners, will find activities that the whole family will enjoy while gaining a greater appreciation for the treasures in this unique and historic community. This year's Newburyport Preservation Week is presented in partnership with Historic New England and the Custom House Maritime Museum. This year the Institution for Savings joins us as a sponsor of "The Herbalist's Garden" lecture on Mother's Day.

Nominations Open for Preservation Awards

Web Wrangler — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 01:55:14 GMT

Nominations Open for 2013 Preservation Awards

The Newburyport Preservation Trust is accepting nominations for the 2013 Preservation Awards to be presented in conjunction with Preservation Week May 8-12, 2013. Awards will be presented in seven categories: stewardship, exterior restoration, interior restoration, sensitive addition to a historic building, historic landscape restoration, historically sensitive contractor/builder, and sustainable historic structure. Nominations may be made by NPT members and non-members alike. Simply download/print the nomination form and awards criteria from this link or from our Preservation Week page, fill out the form(s) with your nomination(s), and return to the Newburyport Preservation Trust at P. O. Box 184, Newburyport, MA 01950. Nominations must be received by April 21, 2013. Since 2007 the Newburyport Preservation Trust has celebrated preservation efforts through its Preservation Awards. Our goal is to support, promote, celebrate, and showcase preservation --- and raise awareness of the value and unique historic character of our community.

NPT Seminar April 13, 2013: Deed Restrictions & Stewardship

Web Wrangler — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 13:51:49 GMT

Deed Restrictions and Stewardship
as Tools for Historic Preservation

Jared Eigerman (land-use attorney) and Joe Cornish (of Historic New England) speak on the legal issues of two preservation strategies.

Saturday, April 13, 2013, 10:30 a.m.
Newburyport Public Library

Individual deed restrictions and organizational stewardship are the subjects of a two-part property preservation seminar presented free to the public by the Newburyport Preservation Trust on Saturday, April 13, 2013 at the Newburyport Public Library. The program begins at 10:30 a.m.

In this seminar, the Newburyport Preservation Trust, a non-profit preservation education and advocacy organization, seeks to inform homeowners, developers, and commercial property owners about private preservation initiatives. Please go to www.nbptpreservationtrust.org for more information about the organization, membership options, and how you can support our preservation education programs.

The first segment of the seminar features land-use attorney Jared Eigerman speaking on the legal aspects of deed restrictions: what they are, what they can accomplish, and their limitations. The second segment features Joe Cornish of Historic New England, who will speak about the organization's Stewardship Easement Program, which oversees 84 privately-owned properties placed under its auspices. Stewardship is the process of adding deed restrictions to a property according to the owners/overseers wishes, and following that property through the years to make sure the restrictions are followed, using an umbrella organization like Historic New England. (The regional preservation organization also owns and operates 36 historic properties throughout New England that are open to the public.) Both segments of the seminar explain different aspects of historic preservation strategies and the respective benefits and limitations.

Advance or online registration is not required for this seminar.

The focus on historic preservation will serve as a preview of Newburyport Preservation Week, scheduled for May 8-12, 2013. The theme this year is the role of Newburyport women in preservation, and the related skills at hearth and home, and with herbs and healing. Five days of activities for all ages and interests will include walking tours, lectures, brunches, and the annual Historic Preservation Awards. Events are open to the public and most are free. For more information and the schedule of events as the date draws near, visit www.nbptpreservationtrust.org.

Local Historic District Advocacy.

NPT Webmaster — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:08:00 GMT

The Newburyport Preservation Trust strongly supports establishment of a Local Historic District (LHD) in Newburyport as a proven way to ensure preservation of individual neighborhood streetscapes as well as our more high-profile architectural gems. The distinctive, authentic architectural and historical character draws people to live, work, and play in Newburyport, and sustains the city’s economic vitality. For all the logic in favor of an LHD, the topic is fraught with misconceptions. NPT's Local Historic District Advocacy page aims to clear some misconceptions and state reasons why an LHD remains overdue in Newburyport.

Keep your finger on the pulse of preservation

Web Wrangler — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 17:18:28 GMT

This news item is always current: Newburyport residents can monitor the pulse of preservation at meetings of the city's Historical Commission, City Council, Zoning Board of Appeals, and other boards and committees.

The Newburyport Historical Commission meets on the first and third Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, City Hall, 60 Pleasant Street, Newburyport.

Confirm specific meeting dates and times for the City Council and other boards at the city's online meeting calendar.

Always a "Must-See" Video: A Measure of Change (1975)

Web Wrangler — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 18:13:23 GMT

A Measure of Change (1975) by Lawrence Rosenblum is a must-see eye-opener for every new arrival to Newburyport, and for those who may have forgotten the 1960s-70s. In just 29 minutes, the video documentary examines the landmark decision to use historic preservation principles for the first time in federal HUD urban renewal projects. Because of its relevance to multiple preservation topics, links to this video can be found in several places on the NPT web site, including the Preservation Resources & Links page.

Walk Newburyport --- Order your copy today!

NPT Webmaster — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:10:08 GMT

Walk Newburyport.If you don’t yet own a copy of NPT’s informative guide to the city’s architecture published in 2011, which includes three self-guided walking tours, you can now order it online directly from our web site's Donate & Shop page.

Walk Newburyport: Three Self-Guided Residential Walking Tours, With an Overview of Common Styles, Local History, and Significant Public Buildings is sure to lead you to new discoveries of architectural gems, all within a short distance from downtown. Prepared by local architects, writers, and designers – all members of NPT – the book includes an introduction to the periods and styles of domestic architecture in Newburyport, a glossary of terms, and historical sidebars in addition to the walking tours. Walk Newburyport is a must-have for residents who want to learn more about the buildings that give Newburyport its special character, and a must-have for those who enjoy introducing Newburyport to their guests. Order yours today – one for yourself and one for your guest room! It's Only $10 postpaid, and you can order it online directly from our web site's Donate & Shop page. You can also purchase Walk Newburyport locally at the Book Rack, Fowle’s, Jabberwocky, the Cushing House Museum, or Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm.

Preservation Week 2012: It's history!

Web Wrangler — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 14:55:47 GMT

Newburyport Preservation Week 2012: It's history! Thanks to the efforts of many, Newburyport Preservation Trust is glad to report on a successful 2012 Preservation Week May 16-20. This year's theme was the Newburyport Waterfront, and capacity attendance was the rule at all 15 events --- tours, discussions, and presentations that enhanced understanding of old Newburyport's winding path to the present. The Newburyport Preservation Trust extends its gratitude to its enthusiastic collaborators, host venues, presenters, and volunteers, whose combined energies resulted in a week of engaging and enlightening events to benefit the entire community. Read more about Preservation Week 2012, including this year's Preservation Award recipients, at the Archive of Past Events page.

NPT introduces a new web site.

NPT Webmaster — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:23:37 GMT

At last --- a resuscitated web site ... and you’ve found it! NPT is pleased to introduce its new information-packed web site. In addition to dramatically expanded content about Newburyport's history, architecture, and preservation, the new site integrates streamlined membership management and online store functions.

Throughout the NPT site --- and on the dedicated Preservation Resources page --- are informatively annotated links to external sites of interest to Newburyport architecture enthusiasts and of use to owners of older homes. The new site includes the equivalent of 50 pages of all-new professionally-prepared text content, 113 photos, 33 custom graphics, 18 historic maps, 8 hours of video, 117 links to publications and organizations, and access to 6104 pages of Newburyport history, architecture, and preservation knowledge.

As we gain familiarity with the many available functions of the new site, we will activate new features. Our goal is to allow members to easily log-in, update contact information, renew membership, make purchases, donate, and register for events all online.

Content compilation/composition, site organization, design, and custom graphics were accomplished in-house by NPT. The site was implemented by Tykatech, a Massachusetts company experienced with online membership management applications.

We invite members to explore the site, and then send comments, compliments, complaints, brickbats, suggestions, etc. to webwrangler@nbptpreservationtrust.org.