HomeMy WebLinkAbout04112024 Historic Preservation PacketHistoric Preservation Commission Meeting Agenda April 11, 2024 1 | Page
The City of Seward, Alaska
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
MEETING AGENDA
City Council Chambers, 410 Adams Street
Please silence all cell phones and devices during the meeting
Chair Tanguy Libbrecht
Vice Chair Sue Ward
Commissioner Mary Ann Benoit
Commissioner Donna Walker
Commissioner Art LeMaster
Commissioner Laura Erickson
Commissioner Todd Mashlan
Assistant City Manager Jason
Bickling
Museum Curator Allison Stacy
City Clerk Kris Peck
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Time: Immediately Following Work Session
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
4. CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT (Those who have signed in will be given the first
opportunity to speak. Time is limited to 3 minutes per speaker and 36 minutes total time for this agenda item.)
5. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA (Approval of Consent Agenda passes all
routine items listed under Item 7. Consent Agenda items are not considered separately unless a commission
member requests. In the event of such a request, the item is returned to the Regular Agenda. Marked with *.)
6. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS, AND REPORTS
A. Proclamations and Awards - None
B. City Administration Report
C. Chair Report
D. Other Reports and Announcements
1) Report on Historic Preservation Facebook Page
E. Presentations (Presentations are limited to ten minutes each, excluding Q&A, and are limited to two per
meeting unless increased by council.)
7. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Minutes of Preceding Meeting
1) Approve January 11, 2024, Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None
9. NEW BUSINESS
Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Agenda April 11, 2024 2 | Page
A. Resolutions - None
B. Other New Business
1) Approve the 2024 Historic Preservation Award Recipient.
2) Assign Council Date to present 2024 Historic Preservation Award.
3) Assign Council Date for presenting the 2023 HPC Annual Report.
4) Approve National Historic Preservation Month Activities.
10. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required.)
A. Reminder of Meetings
1) Regular Meeting and Work Session on August 8, 2024.
B. Other Items
1) CLG Process Updates (Seward Historic Register & Historic Walking Tour)
2) Grant Station Updates
3) Hoben Park Updates
11. CITIZEN COMMENTS (There is no sign in for this comment period. Time is limited to five (5) minutes
per speaker.)
12. COMMISSION AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS AND RESPONSES TO CITIZEN
COMMENTS
13. ADJOURNMENT
Facebook Page Report
April 11, 2024 HPC Meeting
Mary Ann Benoit
Overview
January-March 2024
In January through March, we put out 15 posts on the walking tour, bits of history, Seward’s Day, historic preservation benefits
and awards. Our reach was up 46%. Link clicks were up 100% and content interaction was up 263
We have 877 followers, 170 more than the last report!. Our audience is consistently primarily women (64%) and people from
Seward (39%), although we have people checking our page from nine other Alaska communities, especially Anchorage. Our
audience consistently includes people of all age groups, but slightly more in the age group of 35-44.
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New Post
I would like to add an additional post congratulating our new members of the Seward Historic Register. Any other additions?
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Congratulations to the following properties on your addition to
the Seward Register of Historic Places.
•Urbach’s Clothier
•Standard Oil Manager’s House
•Alaska’s Point of View Quonset Hut
The recipients will receive a beautifully crafted metal plaque,
engraved with honor, to proudly display on the properties as a
visible testament to the historical significance of their home or
business.
Being listed on the Seward Register of Historic Places doesn't
entail any regulatory restrictions or limitations on the property.
Instead, it's a prestigious recognition of its historical significance.
Anyone can submit an application to nominate an eligible
property for the local register, even if they are not the property
owner. After thorough review and recommendation by the
Historic Preservation Commission and the Resurrection Bay
Historical Society, the city council grants final approval.
Thanks to the Urbach family, Don Clary and family, and Debra
Hafemeister for taking care of our historic buildings and sharing
their history with us.
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Posts Planned through November
April
Eugene (Gene) Hale was instrumental in the founding of Seward.
Like the others in Millionaire’s Row, his house was built in 1905 for
the prominent citizens in town. The Hale family was a visible
feature of Seward’s business, art scene, and social life. The
family’s patriarch, F.G. Hale, was the president and a founder of
the Bank of Seward and the Seward Chamber of Commerce.
Mrs. Eugene Hale was the vice president of the Seward Ladies’
Auxiliary. They formed committees on religion, arts and crafts,
photography, geology, transportation, wildflowers and fruits,
literature, needlework, and education.
F.G. Hale had three sons. Eugene (E.E) Hale worked at the Bank of
Seward, Dr. C.L. Hale was a local dentist, and Fred M. Hale also
worked at the Bank of Seward. Fred became active in the Seward
Gun Club, the Volunteer Fire Department, the Seward Commercial
Club, the local school board, and the Arctic Brotherhood. The
Arctic Brotherhood was a fraternal organization organized in 1899
by Gold Rush stampeders. As a member of Seward Camp 21,
Eugene was “keeper of the nuggets” in 1906.
The Hales were hunting enthusiasts. One such hunt happened in
1911, where Eugene and his brother Fred competed with teams of
other well-known local citizens.
The Hale family’s photo collection (F.G. Hale Collection housed at
the Resurrection Bay Historical Society within the Seward
Community Library and Museum) provides an insightful window
into early Seward society life.
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Historic preservation can provide an opportunity for the
imaginative or creative use of a building that has stood empty
because it outlived its previous use, and at the same time solve a
community problem.
For example, The Seward Depot was no longer used as a train
station after the 1964 earthquake destroyed the tracks. It was later
restored and has been used for several purposes since then, most
recently serving as the site for several shops and restaurants.
Photographer unknown.
Why encourage historic preservation? It can be a good investment.
Historic buildings can be affordable for businesses to rehabilitate
because of the possibility of tax incentives, grants, and other
support for that activity.
They attract business, simply because people are often fascinated
by them.
Setting up a business in a historic building is a great way to build a
unique character for your business and attract customers.
For example, the Van Gilder Hotel’s historic character, as well as it’s
ghost stories attracts business.
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Another site on the Seward Historic Walking tour is The Wayne
Blue House, built in 1920, at 319 Third Ave. Wayne Blue purchased
this lot in 1916. He was a manager at the Alaska Transfer
Company, an agent for the Seward Water and Power Company,
and a business manager for the Seward Gateway paper. This is
currently the site of Alaska Coastal Properties, and we hope to get
a walking tour sign for this property in the future. Photo by Mary
Ann Benoit.
May
Historic Preservation Month, celebrated in May in the U.S., is
dedicated to promoting historic places and cultural heritage.
Initially started as National Preservation Week in 1973, it
expanded to a month-long celebration in 2005. Organized by
groups like the National Trust for Historic Preservation, events
during the month include architectural tours, lectures, and
festivals to raise awareness of the importance of preserving
historical sites and artifacts
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May is Historic Preservation Month! What better time to learn
about Seward’s history by listening to this video on the Historic
Walking Tour, and then getting out in our nice (fingers crossed)
weather for a walk to check out the signs.
See the video at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD9aUOGRT9M.
Pick up a map at the library, or better yet, download one to your
phone from the decal on the library door or on the Historic
Preservation webpage.
Seward is located within the ancestral homelands of the
indigenous Sugpiaq people (also referred to by the Russian -
derived term “Alutiiq”). The area was colonized by Russian
explorers who in 1792 built a fort and shipyard at Resurrection
Bay. The Russians abandoned the fort in the 1840s as the fur trade
declined.
Between 1883-1884, Franklin G. (Frank) Lowell and his wife Mary
Forgal Lowell settled in the Seward area. Mary, born of an Alaska
Native mother and Russian father, was raised in English Bay.
Frank, who came from Maine, was a fur trader and entrepreneur.
Frank and Mary established a trade station in Resurrection Bay,
but by 1892 the fur trade had declined and Frank left to lead a
different station on the Alaska Peninsula. Mary stayed at her
Resurrection Bay homestead, hunting, fishing, and gardening with
six of her children in what would become the southern section of
the Seward townsite.
In 1903, Seattle developer John Ballaine and a group of settlers
landed in Seward with the hope of building a railroad that would
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open up Interior Alaska to ships from the lower 48. In 1903, Mary
Lowell relinquished her rights to her homestead claims to Frank
Ballaine for $4,000 and 37 city lots, and the community of Seward
began to take shape.
As the gateway city for construction of the Alaska Central Railway
(which would become the Alaska Railroad), Seward saw a rapid
influx of people. Seward churches, businesses, and the local
paper participated in a “circulating library.” This community libra ry
effort was formalized and incorporated in 1930 as the Seward
Community Library Association (SCLA), which was run by
volunteers. As the library grew, it moved in 1938 and 1962.
Through great community support, the library found a home in
1968 in a former grocery store on the corner of Adams and 5th
Avenue. Funded in large part by Viola and Elwyn Swetman, a
children’s wing was constructed in 1968. In 1988 the library
became a city department.
The Seward Museum opened in 1966 with objects, documents,
and photos collected by the Resurrection Bay Historical Society
(RBHS), and was run by volunteers. Originally located in the
basement of City Hall, it was moved 1989 into the remodeled
former Post Office at 3rd Avenue and Jefferson. Volunteers
maintained the Museum until a new library and museum facility
was proposed to celebrate Seward’s centennial in 2003.
A combined facility for Seward’s museum and library was brought
to life through a joint project with the Resurrection Bay Historical
Society, the Seward Library Association, Seward citizens, and the
City of Seward. The Seward Community Library & Museum ope ned
in January of 2013, celebrating ten years of community effort. It
continues to collect our stories and connect our community.
We hope you that you will visit our Library & Museum, and enjoy
this Seward Historic Walking Tour throughout our city.
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Historic preservation preserves old methods of
workmanship. Many modern buildings are built to last a short
time – 25 to 30 years. Workmanship and building methods are
often not as careful or durable as methods used in the past, when
buildings were expected to last indefinitely. By working on historic
buildings, new generations of craftsmen learn the techniques to
improve modern buildings as well.
Seward has many stucco buildings still standing by locally
renowned craftsman Gerhard “Stucco” Johnson. The Swetmann house,
considered a jewel of Seward architecture, slid down and hill, tipped
over and survived in one piece. It was built as his residence in 1916.
He was famous for his beautiful and long-lasting exterior stucco work
during the early 1920s and 1930s.
His stucco is beautiful and has preserved the wood underneath for
many of our historic structures. Photographer unknown.
June
This building was created by a lady for the ladies, and upon its
completion, was declared “the classiest structure on the street.”
Mrs. Jessie Ellsworth was industrious. In 1916, she had Architect
C.W. Winstead design and construct her new cement building to
become Ellsworth’s millinery shop and sell women’s clothing and
accessories. To keep the ladies happy, this was a necessary
service in a pioneer country.
The Ellsworths were not all work and no play; they were a musical
family. Mr. Ellsworth worked as a chemical assayer, and in 1916
was the town bandmaster while Mrs. Ellsworth sang in the quartet
and played the piano. In May of 1920, she and a group of Seward
musicians performed in Anchorage to “a large and appreciative
audience” and received a favorable review by the Anchorage Daily
Times.
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In 1927, Ellsworth’s was sold to the first in a series of owners who
continued the tradition of keeping the ladies happy by selling
women’s clothing, accessories, and fabrics.
After 1937, Carl Orlander opened Orlander’s in the old Ellsworth’s
building to sell fine jewelry for women and men. Orlander was a
kind man and a loyal friend. After the 1964 earthquake, with his
valuable jewelry exposed through broken storefront windows, his
only concern was caring for the safety of those around him. A
friend recalls that when he entered his shop with another friend,
Bill Miller, he picked up a watch from the broken glass on the floor
and gave it to Bill, telling him that it made him feel useful, not like
an old man of no value. At that moment, the building was no
longer the classiest structure on the street. But Carl Orlander
certainly showed others what genuine kindness and class were all
about.
Another site on the Seward Historic Walking Tour is the L.V. Ray
Building at 500 Adams Street, built in 1916.
Built by the Harriman Bank of New York, it served as a bank until
1922, then as the local high school from 1925-28. L.V. Ray, a
prominent pioneer attorney, bought the building or his home and
office and
lived there until his death in 1946. His wife, Hazel, converted it into
apartments.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/auvet/7659137448/in/photostrea
m/
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Owners of historic properties, here's why you should care about
preservation:
It honors our cultural heritage.
Boosts property values and tourism.
Saves the environment.
Adds unique charm.
Offers tax incentives.
Strengthens community identity.
Provides education and pride.
Protects against unsuitable development.
Drives economic growth.
Legal obligations may apply.
Preserve the past for a brighter future!
#HistoricPreservation #CommunityPride
One of the sites on the Historic Walking Tour is the International
Order of Odd Fellows Hall, built in 1918, at 504 Adams Street. The
IOOF hall was completed and opened to the public with a dance
and basket social in 1918. It was one of the favorite dancing and
grand ball locations in Seward through the 1940s, and served as a
community center for many years. Photo by Mary Ann Benoit.
July
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There are many tales of races on Mount Marathon before the first official race in 1915. What is truth and what is conjecture remains
a mystery and is what Alaskan stories are made of. Native Alaskans may have conquered this “hill” while hunting or for othe r
purposes long before the arrival of the Russians, the early residents such as the Lowells, or later characters like Al Peel a nd other
lookouts who may have used the mountain to place bets on the arrival time of the steamers. Many have run and won this great foot
race, much to their competitors’ amazement and annoyance. In 1915, Seward learned it would be the terminus for the Alaska
Railroad. Locals celebrated this important news with a parade, baseball games, potato sack races, dances, and the first forma l
race on Marathon Mountain. Runners in that race were James Walters, George Kosmos, Eric Burman, Joe Bolduc, andDoc Daykin.
Walters came in first with a time of one hour and two minutes and won $35.00. Kosmos came in second, winning $10.00, and
Burman came in third, winning $5.00. Seward businesses donated prize money with the hope to make Seward a Fourth of July
destination. After 100 years, Seward has become a favorite place for Alaskans to celebrate the nation’s holiday. Alex Bolam b roke
the hour barrier in 1916, with a winning time of 55 minutes and 12 seconds. His record stood until 1928, when a young boy named
Ephraim Kalmakoff defeated him with a time of 52 minutes and 35 seconds. Ephraim was a resident of the Jesse Lee Home and
was just 14 when he won with this record time. Ephraim also won in 1929 and 1930. His 1928 record stood unbroken until 1957.
Ralph Hatch of Seward was a six-time winner in 1946-1950 and 1953, receiving the first perpetual trophy. Many conquered this
“hill” long before the first official race in 1915. It calls to young and old alike, “climb me, I challenge you!”. They have taken the
mountain’s dare, including warrior women and kids like the Jesse Lee boys. They race against themselves and each other; just for
the challenge and fun. Even families have made a day of it, as well as solo hikers just looking for a solitary moment alone in the sky.
The race is one of the oldest foot races in America and is still going strong today .
This little cottage at 338 Fifth Avenue is one of the sites on the
Historic Walking Tour. It was built in 1930. This 405 square-foot
cottage was a typical size for many homes in the 1930s. Its two
neighbors to the south are also similar. We don’t have much
history on this one yet but have heard these houses were used to
house military officers at one time. If you have any history
information on this one, we would love to hear it. Photo by Mary
Ann Benoit.
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One of the sites on our Historic Walking Tour is the huge, beautiful
open-grown Sitka Spruce tree at 212 Fifth Avenue. Likely over 70
years old, it is the most outstanding tree in Seward for its history,
exemplary shape, beauty, and size. Note the sidewalk curves
around it. Photo by Mary Ann Benoit.
Heritage tourism is a branch of tourism focused on the cultural
heritage of the location where tourism is occurring. Cultural
tourists spend 60% more, stay longer and take more trips. How
might that benefit your business?
Heritage tourism, involves travelers visiting places of historical,
cultural, or natural significance. It offers several advantages to a
town, including economic benefits, preservation of cultural
heritage, increased awareness and education, community
development, cultural exchange, support for local artisans,
sustainable tourism, improved infrastructure, revitalization of
historic areas, and the promotion of cultural identity. Photo by
Mary Ann Benoit.
August
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From Seward’s earliest days, Millionaire’s Row (built between 1904 and 1906) represented modern life and progress to a frontier
town that still had stump-strewn, muddy streets and board sidewalks. These homes embodied a genteel society during a period
when Seward started to find its identity. This beau tiful row of houses is on the west side of the Seward Highway (Third Avenue) north
of Jefferson Street.
Many locals believed Seward would become the New York of the Pacific, Alaska’s capital, and a university town with a million
citizens. This sounds far-fetched today, as it also did then to more skeptical visitors and business investors of the time.
The Holland House belonged to Murray B. Holland, the general storekeeper forthe Alaska Central Railway. He built the home in 1905
between G.E. Winter’s house and J.B. Cameron’s. That summer, “the clang of pounding nails must have resounded through the town
and echoed off the mountains.”
These interior photos showing the Holland House represent what must have been the “epitome of civilization” in Seward. Thes e
photos are unique because it is challenging to find interior pictures of Seward homes from that era.
The Holland House was placed on the Seward Historic Register in 1999.
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•Founders Day! Save the Date! August 28.
•
•1-4 pm. The Resurrection Bay Historical Society is hosting a
Founders Day event at the Seward Community Library &
Museum. Also, don’t forget to stop by and visit the museum.
125 Third Avenue was once the Mary Lowell Homestead, The
Line, and Alaska Transfer Company. This corner, which is part
of the Historic Walking Tour, was once a bustling center of
activity. It originally was the site of the Mary Lowell homestead.
Frank Ballaine had a house built for her here. Later the house
was the home of Lydia and Al Peel and known as the Peel
House. He was a manager of the Alaska Transfer Company,
located where the parking lot is now. His wife was associated
with Seward’s notorious red-light district known as The Line,
where the line of cottonwoods now stands. Behind the
cottonwoods there once were 21 little houses owned and
operated by local businesswomen. The Line closed down in
the mid-1950s. Photo by Mary Ann Benoit.
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See the beautiful old 1943 Norway Maple at 420 Third Ave, one
of the sites on the Historic Walking Tour. Mrs. Amend bought
this beautiful tree through the Sears catalog in the late 1930s
and planted it as a sapling. It may be the largest Norway Maple
tree in Alaska. Photo by Carol Griswold.
September
Historic preservation adds character and charm to a
community and emphasizes its uniqueness.
Our old buildings make Seward unique, and give Seward a lot
of character and charm that attracts tourists and attracted
many of us to move here. Businesses in our old buildings, such
as Zudy’s and Primrose Provisions in the old train station, often
provide a unique experience that attract locals and visitors
alike.
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If Walls Could Talk- The Malloy House-
313 Sixth Ave
Named for its original owner, Bessie M. Malloy, this house had a
previous life on a hill above Second Avenue. After avalanches buried
some of the neighboring houses, Malloy purchased this lot for $250 and
moved the house here.
This house has seen a lot, including an influx of more than 3,200 soldiers
in Seward during World War II,
Alaska statehood in 1959, and the most exciting of all: the 1964 Good
Friday Earthquake. During the earthquake, the Anderson family (who
lived in the house at the time) had to run for their lives, leaving the front
door wide open as the Standard Oil tanks a block away exploded and the
earth shook.
In 1970, the National Research Council described the devastation of that
day by saying, “probably nowhere in south central Alaska on March 27,
1964, were there more hairbreadth escapes than among the 2,300
inhabitants of the seaport town of Seward…”.
Owner Susie Anderson White was 9 years old when she wrote, “All of a
sudden everything broke loose, and we were shaking real bad. I started
to scream, and my sister Sharon told me I didn’t stop screaming. We saw
a huge explosion. It was the Standard Oil tanks going up in flames. When
we went past the boat harbor, we could see boats being lifted up by the
tidal wave.” Her father, Val Anderson, wrote, “We spent the night
listening to the Standard Oil tanks exploding, the tidal waves coming in
and watching the great red glare of the fire lighting the skies and
mountainsides. We didn’t think there was a chance in the world our
house could survive.”
But the house did survive and kept adapting to changing times. Today
Seward depends more on tourism, and this house offers nightly lodging
to these travelers. It hears their stories, and now they hear its story.
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It can add character and/or charm to a community, and
emphasize its uniqueness. The preservation of old buildings,
neighborhoods, and landscapes can determine the look of a
community, and may be an attraction for tourists as well. If
these elements are historically significant or unusual, they can
also be a source of community pride, and lead to other
improvements.
Historic preservation includes four possible activities:
•Preservation is preserving a place as it is in the present
•Rehabilitation fixes up a deteriorated historic property, often
for a use other than its original one
•Restoration means putting a building or landscape back the
way it was originally, or at a historically significant time in its
past
•Reconstruction is the creation of a historically accurate copy
of either a specific historic property that no longer exists or an
example of one from a chosen historical period.
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October
This building, constructed in 1916, and known as the Generations
Building, is often referred to as the Sexton House. Sylvia Sexton was
a dynamic, creative, and adventurous woman who embodied the
Alaskan pioneer spirit. One of the most popular young
businesswomen of Seward and a prominent Alaskan photographer,
her beautiful images capture the essence of the daily life of her
friends, family, and the outdoor activities she enjoyed. She was
well-known, loved, and active in the community.
Sylvia moved to Seward in 1904 from Sunrise when her father,
George Sexton, was transferred to be Seward’s first deputy U.S.
Marshal. She brought her passion for photography with her to
Seward. Sylvia moved freely around the town and captured
Seward’s daily life in pictures during this pioneering time.
Sylvia Sexton liked to get out in the field to get her beautiful
photos of Alaska that give us a glimpse into our history today.
She looks like she is having fun!
This photo is available through the Seward Community Library
Association. SCLA-1-584.
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Here is a photo of Sylvia Sexton out on one of her photo
excursions. Notice the outfit, camera gear, and what I imagine
as her no-nonsense, "Come on, let’s go, I have pictures to take"
look
The Seward Historic Preservation Commission is a group pf
dedicated volunteers from our commumity that care about our
history and historic buildings and sites. Membership on the
Commission is open to citizens of The City of Seward and
surrounding areas.
Contact the City Clerk's Office to inquire about applying for this
commission.
We meet quarterly on the second Thursday of each month,
except for July when they are on hiatus, the commission meets
at 6:00 p.m. with a work session followed by a regular meeting.
Stop by and listen or watch us on YouTube. Learn more.
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City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes
January 11, 2024 Volume , Page
CALL TO ORDER
The January 11, 2024 regular meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was called to
order at 7:16 p.m. by Chair Tanguy Libbrecht.
OPENING CEREMONY
Tanguy Libbrecht led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
ROLL CALL
There were present:
Tanguy Libbrecht presiding and
Sue Ward Mary Ann Benoit
Dona Walker Art LeMaster
Laura Erickson Todd Mashlan
comprising a quorum of the Commission; and
Kat Sorensen, City Manager
Allison Stacy, Museum Curator
Kris Peck, City Clerk
Jodi Kurtz, Deputy City Clerk
Excused – Ward
Absent – None
Vacant – None
CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR
PUBLIC HEARING – None
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion () Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
Motion Passed Unanimous
The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items:
There were no items on the consent agenda.
SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS
City Administration Report - None
City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes
January 11, 2024 Volume , Page
Chair Report
Chair Libbrecht noted that Vice Chair Ward was out sick tonight.
Report on Historic Preservation Facebook Page
Benoit summarized her report in the packet and the explained the data from the Historic Preservation
Facebook page. She noted their reach was up by 900% from the previous period. Benoit said
consistency was important to keep viewer interest up on Facebook.
NEW BUSINESS
Other New Business Items
Approve the August 24, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes
Motion (Walker/Benoit) Approve the August 24, 2023 Regular
Meeting Minutes
Motion Passed Unanimous
Approve the October 19, 2023 Special Meeting Minutes
Motion (Walker/Benoit) Approve the October 19, 2023 Special
Meeting Minutes
Motion Passed Unanimous
Approve 2024 Meeting Schedule and Priorities
Motion (Erickson/Walker) Approve 2024 Meeting Schedule and
Priorities
Motion Passed Unanimous
Approve scored Local Seward Historic Register Applications
Motion (Benoit/Erickson) Approve Urbach’s, Standard Oil
Manager’s House and the Alaska’s Point of
View Quonset Hut to be on the Local
Seward Historic Register
Libbrecht noted this historic register was not to be confused with the Historic Walking Tour.
Motion Passed Unanimous
City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes
January 11, 2024 Volume , Page
Approve Priority Order of Walking Tour Signs
Motion (Walker/LeMaster) Approve Top 10 Priority Order of Walking
Tour Signs As Listed
•304 Second Ave (1912 Erickson House)
•437 Third Ave (Ballaine House)
•411 Third Ave (Stewart House)
•423 Third Ave (Romig/Cameron House)
•504 Adams Street (I.O.O. F Building)
•125 Third Avenue (Site of the Mary Lowell homesite and The Line)
•1411 Chamberlain (Dairy Residence)
•321 Third Ave (1920 site of the Walter Blue House)
•300 First Avenue (1925 Overly’s)
•Replacement Sign for 1111 Second Avenue (1916 Stucco Johnson Historic Homesite)
Motion Passed Unanimous
Assign Commission Member to work with City Administrator to write Annual Report
Libbrecht said he would reach out to Vice Chair Sue Ward.
Update Draft of Seward’s Day Proclamation
The clerk’s office would update the Seward’s Day Proclamation for the March 26, 2024 council
meeting.
Discuss Public Noticing for Historic Preservation Award
The clerk’s office would update the Historic Preservation website.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS
Regular Meeting and Work Session on April 11, 2024
Historic Preservation Commission confirmed this date would work for their next meeting.
CLG Process Updates
Libbrecht read a letter from Department of Natural Resources that said there was an application for
certified local governments for 60/40 matching grant projects. This application was related
specifically to the historic walking tour signage. Libbrecht said he would update an older application
and have it submitted before the deadline of January 22, 2024.
Hoben Park Updates
City of Seward, Alaska Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes
January 11, 2024 Volume , Page
Benoit reported that the City of Seward Parks & Recreation Department would take over purchasing
and planting flowers at Hoben Park. In the future, Benoit was interested in planting lilacs and white
roses. Benoit also said an anonymous doner was going to purchase a memorial bench for Lee
Poleske at Hoben Park.
Project – 1111 Second Avenue Updates
Benoit told the story of the Sweatman House that slid down the side of the mountain and survived
intact. Currently there were steps that led up the steep bank. Benoit said the City of Seward Parks &
Recreation Department was interested in restoring the area and featuring a walking tour sign. This
project could be a collaboration between the City of Seward, Historic Preservation Commission, and
the Rotary Club.
CITIZEN COMMENTS – None
COMMISSION AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN
COMMENTS
Sorensen said she was excited for the new Museum Curator Allison Stacy to be stepping into the
position and to be working closely with the Historic Preservation Commission.
Libbrecht thanked city administration, museum curator, and the clerk’s office for their support. He
said the new energy was contagious in a good way. Libbrecht noted many Seward houses had been
renovated in the wake of the historic walking tour signs.
Erickson echoed the previous comments.
Benoit thanked Allison Stacy for her help with the Facebook page. Benoit said it was exciting to
speak with people who were becoming interested in wanting a historic preservation sign featured on
their property. She thanked all the people who were willing to share their history with the town.
Libbrecht thanked all the former Historic Preservation Commissioners for their hard work that was
still relevant today.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:56 p.m.
____________________________________ ____________________________________
Kris Peck Tanguy Libbrecht
City Clerk Chair
(City Seal)
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PACAB usually has a hiatus from June - August HP meets Jan, Apr, Aug, Nov updated 12-18-2023 kmc
Holiday PACAB Mtg HP Mtg WS P&Z Mtg
City Council Mtg PACAB WS P&Z WS
MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST
SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER
2024
JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL
Council, Commissions & Boards Calendar
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Nominations for the 2024 Historic Preservation Award
•As of 3/29/2024, no nominations have been received.
National Historic Preservation Month Activities
Ideas Where?
Public Display Library & Museum Display Case
Organize a Community Gathering to share
memories
Community Room
Invite a Guest Speaker to Present about
Historic Places/Districts
Community Room/social media
Organize a Walking Tour City
Hold a “How-To” Workshop Community Room
Kids Activity – Historic Property Coloring
Sheets
Library & Museum
Host special tours of local organizations –
Arts Scene, Rotary, etc.
City
Social Media Posts – Historic Place Photos
& Info; Reshare Free Webinars; Historic
Primary Sources – Library & Schools
Online Social Platforms
HPC Upcoming Meeting:
Thursday, August 8
Work Session: 5:30pm
Meeting: Immediately following Work Session
CLG Process Updates
The CLG Grant “City of Seward Signs,” applied for on January 22, was declined.
The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) received a higher number of applications than
anticipated. The selection process for this grant round was quite competitive, given the available
funding resources. Opportunity to apply for another CLG Grant will be either Fall 2024 or
January 2025.
Grant Station Updates
The City of Seward is working with the IT Department and Library Staff to have the
GrantStation set up in the library by mid-April.
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HPC Meeting – Ongoing and New
Business
M. Benoit 4-19-24
Hoben Park Updates
A plaque in memory of Lee Poleske purchased by an anonymous donor along with a memorial bench has
been delivered and looks great. It will be installed soon in Hoben Park.
Collaborative Project Opportunity -1111 Second Avenue
Although we did not get grant funding to do the latest list of walking tour signs , which included the
Stucco Johnson homesite sign on city land, City Parks and Rec is considering paying for it on their own. I
am looking into the costs with Corvus Designs and collaborating with Melanie Hauze on it.
Seward Historic Register Nominations
I contacted the nominees and congratulated them on their awards, let them know their plaques would
be coming and that the nomination did not put any regulations on their properties. They were all very
happy about their nominations. Here is a copy of the email:
Hello!
I wanted to extend my congratulations on your property being nominated for the
Seward Register of Historic Places. The properties nominated were:
•Urbach’s Clothier
•Standard Oil Manager’s House
•Alaska’s Point of View Quonset Hut
As a recipient, you'll receive a beautifully crafted metal plaque, engraved with honor, to
proudly display on your property if you choose. Many recipients choose to showcase it
near their front door, serving as a visible testament to the historical signifi cance of their
home or business.
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Being listed on the Seward Register of Historic Places doesn't entail any regulatory
restrictions or limitations on your property. Instead, it's a prestigious recognition of its
historical significance.
You may be curious about the nomination process. Anyone, can submit an application
to nominate an eligible property for the local register. After thorough review and
recommendation by the Historic Preservation Commission and the Resurrection Bay
Historical Society, the city council grants final approval. I personally recommended your
property.
I'll be in touch once your plaque is ready, and we can coordinate its delivery to you. If
you have any questions in the meantime, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Best regards,
Mary Ann Benoit
Historic Walking Tour Sign s
I have developed an email to contact the 10 properties we ranked for future signs included in the grant
proposal. I think it is important to let them know that their property ranked in our top 10 to get a sign,
and even though we applied for a grant and did not receive one, that we expect to continue trying and
hope to be successful in the near future, if that is the case? Do we plan to apply for the next grant cycle
or other grants?
The emails would go to the owners of the following properties:
Address Name
304 Second Ave 1912 Erickson House
437 Third Ave Ballaine House
411 Third Ave Stewart House
423 Third ave Romig/Cameron House
504 Adams IOOF building- Tom Swann
125 Third Avenue
Site of the Mary Lowell homesite and then The Line. We have tentative
permission to put a sign here.
1411 Chamberlain Dairy Residence
321 Third Avenue 1920-Walter Blue House (real estate office) Rissie Casagrande
300 First Ave 1925 Overly’s (where artist Van Emple stayed)
1111 Second Ave 1111 Second Ave, Stucco Johnson Historic Homesite, 1916
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Here is a copy of the email.
Hello,
I wanted to provide you with an update regarding the potential signage for your
property as part of the historic walking tour. Earlier this year, we discussed the possibility
of including your property in this initiative. Following our conversation, the Hi storic
Preservation Commission assessed all interested properties, and yours ranked among
the top ten.
Subsequently, we submitted an application for a grant to secure funding for the
signage. While we unfortunately did not receive the grant we applied for, please rest
assured that we remain committed to pursuing alternative funding opportunities. We
plan to reapply when the next grant cycle opens in September, and we are also
exploring other potential avenues in the meantime.
Your support and enthusiasm for preserving and sharing our history are greatly
appreciated. I will continue to keep you informed of any developments regarding the
signage project. Should you have any questions or concerns in the meantime, please
don't hesitate to reach out.
Warm Regards
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