SHERIDAN — A brand new report has concepts and alternatives for folks working to protect historical past in Wyoming and past, whether or not they’re people who personal a historic constructing or folks serving on any variety of private and non-private board, organizations and nonprofits.
“Preservation Instruments for Wyoming,” a report commissioned by Sheridan Group Land Belief, funded by the 1772 Basis, and ready by Hanbury Preservation Consulting, seeks to synthesize nationwide traits in historic preservation to function inspiration and a guidepost for anybody concerned in preserving historical past.
“How do you not lose your native historical past?” relayed Carrie Edinger, SCLT historic program supervisor, who has spent a lot of her time extracting historic preservation from the normal “brick-and-mortar” view to search out modern methods to maintain Sheridan County historical past alive.
“Not every little thing historic has a constructing, so we’ve to ask methods to hold native historical past alive,” she mentioned, including it’s very true in a spot like Sheridan County the place the open areas at many areas are websites vital to preserving the historical past of Plains Indian Tribes.
Conventional historic preservation easements, which frequently have strict parameters for sure architectural options, typically aren’t viable in lots of conditions. The report particulars how “Heritage Areas” could be created to protect open areas with historic and cultural significance.
“If we don’t embody websites, we’re lacking loads of regional tribal heritage on our land,” she famous.
The report additionally highlights public outreach by way of know-how to protect historical past the place conventional preservation isn’t potential. Edinger mentioned applications like SCLT’s Discover Historical past and excursions just like the Black Diamond Path driving and digital tour alternatives to shine a light-weight on locations like Sheridan County’s former coal-mining communities that will not exist at their websites however stay on vividly within the tales and experiences of their former residents and the households of these former residents.
Although Edinger was happy to see a number of the methods SCLT has sought to protect native historical past included within the report, she careworn the report was compiled for everybody working within the historic preservation area.
“This report wasn’t made for SCLT, it was made for everybody concerned with historical past and efforts to protect historical past. It’s there to learn and apply to initiatives you and your group could also be engaged on,” she mentioned.
Edinger mentioned historic properties house owners typically don’t turn into conscious of their choices till it’s too late to revive the positioning. The report consists of methods property house owners can probably make the most of, together with methods to correctly take care of a historic property whereas getting ready to revive or protect it. The report additionally highlights potential sources of funds that will assist house owners protect or restore their properties.
The report additionally consists of many preservation alternatives that may assist steer teams like Licensed Native Governments, historic preservation commissions, historic societies and different nonprofits.
Edinger mentioned she has seen firsthand the curiosity and keenness folks have for preserving native historical past. Even when folks can’t turn into concerned in a devoted historic preservation group or personal a historic property, she mentioned they are often concerned by attending applications about native historical past, writing letters of assist for potential initiatives and even volunteering when a possibility arises.
For instance, she cited the 2 dozen individuals who helped present cleansing and upkeep on the Historic Monarch Lutheran Cemetery. Whereas there, volunteers documented and mapped as many gravesites as they might. That documentation was later mixed with in-depth, volunteer-led analysis to fairly determine the people who find themselves buried within the cemetery. SCLT has given maps, figuring out data and historic paperwork to the Wyoming Room on the Sheridan Fulmer Public Library to be used by students and households for perpetuity.
Whereas the work isn’t full, Edinger mentioned she hopes the brand new report will assist folks round Wyoming and past develop new methods to protect historical past that’s vital to their communities.
“This report can assist folks do what’s most vital: protect and inform the tales of our previous in the present day in order that they aren’t forgotten tomorrow,” Edinger mentioned.
The report is out there to obtain on-line.