Conferences

Written by Priya Chhaya

The Northfield, Minnesota Post Office. (Photo: John Twohig)

There’s a museum here in Washington, D.C. that has always been one of my special favorites. Although it isn't located on the National Mall or in a place where tourists can easily stumble across it, this museum tells a particularly interesting story about the American experience - a story filled with travel and inventive technology - and of the importance of the written word in communications across the United States.

This is the Smithsonian Institution’s National Postal Museum. While the museum boasts an impressive collection of stamps (and a great online database of objects called Arago)—the stories it tells about connecting people to people and communities to communities are a testament to the role of the United States Postal Service (USPS) in the American way of life.

The buildings that house the postal service also have stories to tell and often serve as the community gathering place. A few weeks ago the USPS released its post office closure list – a list that will help streamline operations and allow the agency to try and curtail some of its budget deficits.

The Modesto, California Post Office. (Photo: Alvis Hendley Noehill)

And though it is inevitable that preservationists will not be able to save or find new uses for all of these buildings—some amazing architectural and historically important structures—I know that people are looking at their post office and asking: What’s next? Forum recently published “Right-Sizing the Mail: Advocating to Retain or Reuse Historic Post Offices” an article by Elaine Stiles that looks at the options for these post offices while also providing resources to those who are going to be affected by the closures.

And if you are interested in learning more about the role of mail in the United States, check out the wide array of online exhibitions on The Postal Museum's website. The history of the USPS shows time and again how these buildings served as a gathering point in small towns and urban neighborhoods “from sea to shining sea.”

For more information on the United States Postal Service closure list check out the links in this post on Preservation in Pink or visit the USPS website.

There will also be a session at the National Preservation Conference in Buffalo this October. The Shrinking Federal Footprint: What Communities Need to Know will take place on Thursday, October 20 from 3:30-5pm. The session will include a discussion of the Postal Service and how communities are managing the impact of facility downsizing on historic resources.

Priya Chhaya is a program associate in the Partnerships Office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

National Trust for Historic Preservation

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded non-profit organization, works to save America's historic places.

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Written by Priya Chhaya

The current issue of Forum Journal. (Image: National Trust for Historic Preservation)

If there ever was a time to yell out “stop the presses” it would have been about three weeks ago here in the Forum office. Our editor was about give the green light to our printer on the newest issue of Forum Journal when an email popped up in our inbox. "Plan for new Peace Bridge abandoned" the headline proclaimed—linking to an article from BuffaloNews.com.

Though details are still developing, we decided to stop the presses this one time to make sure that news of this victory made it in the most recent Forum Journal, which looks at Buffalo as a living laboratory for preservation.

A few weeks ago, I admitted my role as a cheerleader for the National Preservation Conference and gave a few reasons why this city is at the forefront of some important preservation trends. The Summer 2011 issue of Forum Journal demonstrates the city’s commitment to preservation at all levels. To some extent you can think of it as a primer for the conference, but also as a real way to get to know Buffalonians who are doing some inspiring work.

• In her introduction, Catherine Schweitzer tells the story of Buffalo past, present, and future—introducing us to some of the city’s important preservation players that range from a local preservation organization to collaborative groups that focus on neighborhoods and parks.
• Kathleen Mecca and Roberta Lane document the twenty year long fight to save neighborhoods from a threatened expansion of Peace Bridge which connects the United States to Canada--with a surprise, and welcome, ending.
• We learn more about the role of Frederick Law Olmsted in creating one of the most expansive park systems in the United States. Thomas Herrera-Mishler narrates the conservation of these parks, stating that “[Olmsted] expressed the belief that Buffalo was ‘the best planned city, as to its streets, public places and grounds in the United States, if not the world.’”
• Jack Quinan reveals the role Frank Lloyd Wright buildings play in Buffalo, not only as a possible tool for heritage tourism, but also the piece they play in a larger architectural conversation involving H.H. Richardson, Adler & Sullivan, and Eliel Saarinen.
• One of the stories I mentioned in my earlier blog was about the amazing work that Buffalo has done on its public school system. A ten year program costing over $1 billion, this project “is the largest preservation project Buffalo has ever seen.” Paul McDonnell traces the way in which the city has preserved Buffalo’s historic public schools for the 21^st century.
• And finally, Aaron Bartley talks of the role neighborhood groups have played in community development. He states that “by adopting ‘block-by-block’ strategies, in which resources are concentrated in districts that are poised to regain the density…neighborhoods on all sides of the city are rebounding.”

Want to learn more? As a Forum member this issue is available in PDF form and as individual articles in the Forum library. You can also purchase this issue on our Preservation Books website.

Note: Preservation Books is having its biggest sale ever. Save an additional 20% (and on top of your regular member discounts) off all titles when you use the code SUMMER11 at checkout.

Haven’t registered for the conference yet? Register online from now through October 14.

Priya Chhaya is a program associate in the Partnerships Office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

National Trust for Historic Preservation

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded non-profit organization, works to save America's historic places.

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A break-out session at last year's conference in Austin, Texas. (Photo: National Trust for Historic Preservation)

Written by Kayla Jonas

Hello! My name is Kayla Jonas, and I’m a Canadian. To be more specific, I am from Hamilton, a city about an hour outside of Toronto. I will be attending the upcoming National Preservation Conference in Buffalo, New York. Why would a Canadian attend a national conference on US heritage? Here are my top reasons for attending:

1) Best Practices

One of the best things about conferences is learning about how other people are doing things. Going to a conference in another country will be particularly enlightening. The US and Canada have different regulatory frameworks as well as different types of preservation organizations. The conference will be a great opportunity to get insight into best practices and innovative new ideas that are used across the US.

2) Networking

Since I started blogging and tweeting (and co-hosting the #builtheritage twitter chats), I’ve met some amazing people virtually. I know many of them are attending the conference, so I’m excited to meet them in person. Of course, I’m also looking forward to meeting people who I haven’t bumped into yet, both off and online!

3) Location, Location, Location

Location is always important, and the location of this conference is ideal for me and other Canadians to attend. Buffalo is only about an hour from my place, and for people living in Toronto it's only a 90 minute drive.

4) Industrial Buffalo

I’ve driven through Buffalo many times on my way to shopping destinations and sporting events. The industrial areas of Buffalo have always caught my eye. I’m looking forward to learning more about the area and what is being done to preserve and reuses these buildings. It's also photographer’s dream and I’m ecstatic to have the opportunity to photograph some of these magnificent structures.

These are my reasons for attending. What are yours?

Kayla Jonas is a heritage professional based in Southern Ontario and blogs at Adventures in Heritage.

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