After reading David Field’s keynote remarks at the 40th anniversary annual meeting of Historic Staunton Foundation, we knew we had to share them with you, our blog readers. David is the Executive Vice President and Chief Preservation Officer at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and has been around the block when it comes to saving special places. In the speech below, David reflects back on 40 years of hard work by the Historic Staunton Foundation through the lens of the movie “Its a Wonderful Life.”  He talks about the power of singular people to affect change in their communities and the collective power we have when we band together like HSF to make our communities better places.  

His remarks speak volumes about the power of preservation in our communities and its easy to apply them to the preservation movement here in Charleston. Can you imagine what this beautiful place would be like without Historic Charleston Foundation, Drayton Hall, Frances Edmunds or the Preservation Society?……neither can we. Read on for David’s reflections as well as a powerful message about preservation moving forward into the 21st century.

(some paragraphs have been omitted in the interest of space.)

Historic Staunton Foundation 40th Anniversary Celebration

Remarks of David J. Brown

Executive Vice President and Chief Preservation Officer, NTHP

David Brown (center) on a recent visit to Drayton Hall with (L) Director of Preservation and Education Dr. Carter Hudgins, and (R) Executive Director Dr. George McDaniel.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

It is great to return to Staunton and to help celebrate the 40th anniversary of Historic Staunton Foundation. Anniversaries are great times to reflect, celebrate, and resolve. I’d like to do all three with you this afternoon.

Let’s begin with some reflection. I’ve always enjoyed the movie It’s a Wonderful Life – for the dramatic (some might say cheesy) way it showed the impact people have on others and on their community. The movie, for those who don’t know it, is the story of one George Bailey who grew up in Bedford Falls, through no fault of his own has a run on his bank, and ends up contemplating suicide on Christmas Eve. Only the intervention of his guardian angel stops him.

And while I’m no Clarence Odbody, the guardian angel who showed Jimmy Stewart’s George Bailey the transformation of Bedford Falls to Pottersville as if George had never lived, I would like for all of us to reflect on how Staunton might have developed if HSF were not formed 40 years ago.

Let’s begin down at the Wharf – where generations of visitors initially saw Staunton as they stepped off a train. The first thing you would notice is that there isn’t any Wharf…for the buildings that make up that unique historic district were demolished in the 1970s for a four lane thoroughfare through Staunton.

Yes, the Virginia Department of Transportation thought it was important to allow drivers coming in from the west along Middlebrook Avenue to be able to drive uninterrupted so they could get to…Richmond Avenue and Commerce Road…without having to slow down for a pesky little thing like a town.

   

Staunton, VA

  Of course, you wouldn’t see the farmers market either, because that    highway runs through the landscaped Johnson Street parking area that was   among the first streetscape improvements supported by HSF.

 The reality is that one of the first things a band of volunteers called Historic Staunton Foundation did as an organization was fight the state’s wrong-headed transportation plan….and today the shops, restaurants, coffee and wine stores that make the Wharf such a nice place to linger are ours to enjoy because of the foresight of HSF.

But while we’re pretending to look around the Wharf without the benefit of    the work of HSF, I guess I should mention that the train station is gone as well. If it hadn’t been taken out by the thoroughfare, it faced other threats through the years. You may not remember, but back in the 1980s there was a fire in the baggage room set by some homeless men looking to stay warm. Without HSF, there was no push to keep the beautiful T.J. Collins-designed station and so the city quickly had it demolished so it wouldn’t be a hazard. I bet you really enjoy that small double wide that serves as the Amtrak station today.

 Oh, and does anyone remember that T.J. Collins fellow anyway? He once designed or remodeled over 200 buildings in Staunton, but more than half are now demolished and his archives were thrown in the dump when the office closed.

Of course, the reality is that Historic Staunton worked hard to save the train station after that fire. A decade of work with the city staff paid off, when building inspector Bill Botkin and the city’s fire chief gave preservationists enough time to find a solution without calling for a quick demolition.

And while Historic Staunton was fighting with the railroad’s real estate division to try to find a way to acquire the building, Lee Cochran – that force of nature – mentioned that she sat on a board with the chairman of CSX which owned the station. Just like that, we had leapfrogged the bureaucrats in real estate and were working out a deal to keep that gem of the Wharf Historic District.

And T.J. Collins? His legacy is alive and well, and HSF has the archives of his drawings that remain living and breathing documents in the work to shape Staunton’s future. Yes, just like the transformation of Bedford Falls to Pottersville, the Wharf would be a very different place without Historic Staunton Foundation.

1851 Drawing of the Wharf District in Staunton

So, as Clarence Odbody, I want to take you to downtown Staunton to look at Beverley Street over the past 40 years without Historic Staunton. The four blocks between Lewis and Market streets look pretty shabby – just like hundreds of downtowns in small communities throughout the country that decided to forget about people and turn their towns over to cars.

There are only about two-thirds of the buildings left – because shop owners could buy the building next door and tear them down to create parking for their business. There was no organization – or historic district zoning ordinance – to stop them.

And we love our CVS drugstore that sits where the Marquis Building once sat, don’t we? You remember the Marquis Building don’t you: the Romanesque Revival beauty on the corner of Beverley and Augusta where T.J. Collins had his office? In the early 21st century, giant drugstore chains began building suburban-style drugstores – with suburban style parking lots – on the “corner of Main and Main” in towns across America. There was no more prominent corner in Staunton, so CVS purchased the historic building and a few surrounding ones as well, tore them down, and put their drugstore smack in the middle of town.

Without HSF, there is no coherent streetscape design and the building owners continue in their attempts to capture the newest fad in hopes of revitalizing their fading businesses.

I could reflect like this for hours. Staunton’s historic districts wouldn’t be valuable places to live or own property without the work of HSF. The city would have less tax revenue, as seen in a 1996 study that demonstrated that buildings in every one of Staunton’s historic districts appreciated at a faster rate of growth – sometimes very substantially – when compared with similar properties outside the historic districts.

And what was most interesting about that analysis was the breadth of housing stock that was affected, dispelling the myth that historic houses are only mansions for the rich. Staunton’s historic districts – supported by 40 years of work by Historic Staunton Foundation – not only provide quality housing for people of more modest means, but reward them with faster rates of appreciation as well.

But I want to end my reflection by talking about Staunton’s spirit. Without HSF, the community would feel very different. I know – from personal experience – that HSF gave us a place where old and new came together…where natives welcomed and embraced newcomers and their ideas and where new citizens learned about the traditions of the town. HSF provided the context where everyone now thinks about historic buildings, neighborhoods, and landscapes as tools for the future of the city.

Staunton without HSF may not be as bad as Bedford Falls’ transformation to Pottersville without George Bailey…but I think Staunton would be much worse than the wonderful community we know and love today.

I think anniversaries are also times to look ahead and resolve to make a brighter future.

It is important to remember that preservation isn’t something that’s “finished.” Staunton is a living, breathing community that faces hundreds of decisions each year that will affect the future.

You can make those decisions in a vacuum – and end up like “Anyplace U.S.A.” Or Staunton can build on the incredible 40-year work of Historic Staunton Foundation and determine to keep your heritage, your buildings, your community unique and at the forefront of plans for the years ahead.

When I spoke with Logan Ward, who wrote the wonderful story about Staunton in the most recent issue of Preservation magazine, I told him that I thought preservation in Staunton succeeded because of three key elements:

First, HSF has had an amazing blend of professional and volunteer leadership that works well together and looks for the good in the community first.

Second, the ethic of preservation has been integrated throughout the community as a whole – and especially in city government. This is a place where a consultant can come to work – like Bill Hamilton did more than 20 years ago – fall in love with the place, and become an integral part of the preservation effort through his post in economic development.

Finally, Staunton recognizes the value that everyone brings to the conversation about preservation. This isn’t some attempt to “keep things as they are” – which is how preservation is perceived in some communities – but rather new ideas and traditions are blended in a way that points to a rich future for all.

These elements have contributed to Staunton’s success, but they aren’t automatic and they can deteriorate unless we nurture them. I want to end with some thoughts about each of these three elements.

Professionals are important to the growth of historic preservation, but all of us in the preservation movement can find even more success with greater engagement of a broader set of volunteers.

We just completed market research at the National Trust that I find both astounding and encouraging. The Trust has just under 150,000 members, but our market research found there are 15 million Americans who share our values as preservationists. That’s 7% of the population of America – an astounding number if preservation organizations today can begin to reach those individuals.

We call these individuals “Local Preservationists” because they are already taking actions that you and I would describe as preservation-based. Our research shows they aren’t members of the National Trust…and chances are that most of them here in Staunton aren’t members of Historic Staunton Foundation either. Who are these people? Their…

. Average age is 35
. 61% are male
. 33% are non-white
. 60% have < 4-year degree
. 19% make > $100,000/yr
. They are likely to volunteer and fundraise, and
. They are active in social media

Preservation may not be their number 1 cause…in fact, it is likely to be their #4 or #5 cause. But we have the opportunity to reach them, give them meaningful work to do in saving historic places, and move preservation up to their top cause. If we do, we can become a mighty force for the future of this country.

Next, how do we continue to engage the city, county, and state governments in protecting Staunton’s future? Government officials, commentators, planners, architects, and others are focused more than ever on how we build and maintain cities and towns that provide jobs and opportunities for our citizens, safe schools for our children, places to meet together in community, while lessening our impact on the environment. In other words – economically and environmentally sustainable communities.

Often, when politicians talk about economic sustainability, they focus on big-ticket items or on new, out-of-state investments. But we have found here in Staunton that it is the incremental work that brings more sustained growth – and that’s where preservation can play such an important role.

The Center for Urban Policy Research at Rutgers University released the first independent study of the economic impacts of preservation, and they found that investment in historic rehabilitation produces significantly better economic impact in terms of jobs, income, and state-and-local taxes than a similar amount of investment in new construction, building highways, machinery manufacturing, or agriculture.

That’s an amazing fact. Rehabbing old buildings has more impact on the economy than the same size investment in the construction of new buildings. There’s more “bang for the buck” in rehabilitation than in laying miles of asphalt for new highways.

Rutgers found that historic rehabilitation creates tens of thousands of local, high-paying, high-skilled jobs every year all across the country. As an added benefit, the vast majority of the investment stays in the local community.

And to wrap up the argument for preservation as sustainability, the National Trust is releasing an independent study on Tuesday that will show it can take up to 80 years for a new energy-efficient building to overcome, through efficient operations, the climate change impacts created by its construction. In other words, keeping and rehabbing what we have is more environmentally sustainable.

Historic Staunton’s job is to keep making the case – year in and year out – for preservation as the sustainable future for the people of this community.

Finally, Staunton has done a better job than most in bringing together different groups to consider the future of the community. But we can always do better. In a very real way, the preservation movement is keeping the American story alive, in all its richness and diversity. We all share a piece of that story. Yet too many people don’t know or understand what it means to protect it. They see preservation as something removed from their daily lives or not reflective of their cultural heritage. Or they get shut out by the sometimes complicated and expensive process of securing protection for a historic building or landscape.

Preservation is often seen as “the movement of no” — what you can’t do. We need to make preservation more accessible — or a “movement of yes” — if we want to continue to grow and succeed. Historic Staunton Foundation has so much of

President Woodrow Wilson's 1846 Greek Revival birthplace in Staunton.

which to be proud over the past 40 years. That’s a testament to the work that all of you, and people like you, have done to get us to the point where we are today.

Our challenge is to continue to grow the preservation ethic here in Staunton. Let’s ensure that all elements of the community are engaged in our work. One of my great joys in life was the 15 years that Candice and I lived in this wonderful community. Our children were born while we lived in Staunton, and we have many lifelong friends that we cherish deeply.

At a key point in It’s a Wonderful Life, Clarence says to George Bailey, “Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?”

Staunton would have an awful hole without the 40-year life of Historic Staunton Foundation. Thanks for what you have done – and what you will do in the future – to make Staunton a better place in which to live. Good night.

With the New Year just around the corner, Drayton Hall is busy gearing up for another year of projects.  Take a look at what we have on the docket in 2012. Next year Drayton Hall will:

• Replace emergency electrical systems in the main house for safety purposes and to improve site security;
• Enlarge our educational programming to include interactive, in-class lesson plans to ensure that all students have the opportunity to learn about Drayton Hall, the South Carolina Lowcountry, and American history;
• Analyze our collection of archaeological artifacts to better understand the lives of the men and women who lived and worked at Drayton Hall throughout its 273-year history; and
• Continue to implement the Landscape Master Plan to identify and protect historic landscape features across the grounds.

Visit Drayton Hall’s website to make a donation today, and help make next year’s goals a reality!  Here’s to the next thirty years of the Friends of Drayton Hall!

Click on the photo above to watch a short video of Drayton Hall staff as we talk about the remarkable support and dedication of the Friends of Drayton Hall.

Paul Woodward, conservation specialist from Richard Marks Restoration Inc., carefully removes layers of modern latex paint from the portico columns.

A geological deposit? Graffiti? A fossil? Preservation initiatives in 2010 to remove layers of harmful modern paint from the columns of Drayton Hall’s porticos revealed graffiti in the form of mathematical computations. Future research will determine whether such writing is associated with Charles Drayton (d.1820) and his efforts to repair the portico in 1815. Writing in May of that year, Charles mentions that an artisan named “Schnirlecame….& took the pillar down

Graffiti discovered on the portico columns.

safe & cleverly.”  The discovered graffiti may be evidence of the calculations executed by Schnirle to correctly align and balance the new column. If true, this is the only written evidence surviving from Drayton Hall’s historic craftsmen.

Figure 1. This Bureau Bookcase, a rare example of English elite furniture in the American colonies, is believed to have been purchased by John Drayton, the original owner of Drayton Hall.

During the middle of the 18th century, furniture ornamented with brass, tortoiseshell, and exotic wood inlays was of the highest fashion in Europe and especially London, England. Influenced by the late 17th-century work of French cabinet maker Andre-Charles Boulee (1642-1732), a group of five British cabinet makers began creating equally lavish pieces in London

Figure 2. Brass furniture inlay from Drayton Hall archaeological investigations. While only a fragment, such artifacts provide invaluable information about 18th century material culture, fashion, and consumption patterns. Actual size: 2"

from the 1730′s; in 2009, material evidence of their creations was identified above and below ground at Drayton Hall.

Drayton Hall’s own bureau bookcase, for instance, is a rare example of English 18th-century elite furniture-richly ornamented with tortoiseshell and wood inlay details (Fig. 1). Additonal examples of English elite furniture are beginning to surface through archaeological work. As shown in Fig. 2, fragments of brass furniture inlay were uncovered in 2009 through excavations.

While the fragments are heavily corroded and twisted from the destruction of the furniture, a close inspection reveals intricate designs. The presence of such artifacts links John Drayton to contemporary English fashions and emphasizes the efforts he placed upon acquiring them for his home in the South Carolina Lowcountry.

In appreciation of the folks at Condé Nast (and in recognition of their excellent taste) the Charleston Visitors Bureau (CVB) asked a select group of Charlestonians to participate in a short thank-you video for honoring Charleston with such a wonderful award.  Who was featured in their video but none other than our very own George McDaniel, Drayton Hall’s Executive Director.

The story doesn’t end there.

Now, stills from the CVB video will be decorating the sides of Charleston’s downtown trolley system throughout the holiday season.

Follow the George Trolley on Drayton Hall’s Facebook page, share your sightings, and post your photos as we track his travels throughout the city. Plus, you could win a special prize!

A special thanks to Condé Nast and their readers, to the Charleston Visitors Bureau, and to everyone who makes Charleston the one and only “Charlestonly.”

Posted by:

Courtney Bates, Development Coordinator

In recent weeks, we’ve set our sights on revising and incorporating the latest scholarship and historiography into our standards-based educational programs, while also integrating the new 2011 social studies standards for South Carolina. With the help of a grant from the Post and Courier, the daily Charleston newspaper, work began on our American Civil War-focused programs.

A battery of the Palmetto Battalion, South Carolina Light Artillery, the same battalion James Drayton enlisted into on November 12, 1861. This photograph was identified during this project. Courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division

After pouring over the new social studies standards, numerous secondary sources written by preeminent Civil War historians and scholars, and the primary documents of the mid-nineteenth century Drayton family, we were able to redraft our Drayton Hall Civil War curriculum to reflect the South Carolina standards and historical accuracy.  During the research phase, we also identified that, in fact, four Drayton’s of Drayton Hall served during the Civil War.  The three brothers, Thomas, James, and John Drayton, have long been known as supporters of the Confederacy.  Myth and rumor surround their nephew, Charles Henry Drayton (1847-1915), as an underage runaway enlisting in the Confederate military.  After finding conclusive documentation we now know for certain that Charles, actually, legitimately joined a unit of South Carolina cavalry at the age of 17, after the enlistment age was lowered in early 1864, and rose to the rank of corporal before the war’s end.

Discoveries such as this are happening all the time and it is through the lens of that ever unfolding Drayton Hall story that we present our programs to partner with and build upon classroom learning, while providing hands-on activities within a historic context.  In the coming weeks and months we will continue to work on improving our other acclaimed education programs for students and life-long learners. If you want to learn more about our place-based, standards-based educational programs for students and adults go to our website, www.draytonhall.org.

Joseph Mester is Project Assistant at Drayton Hall and works on both education and preservation projects. He is also a civil war enthusiast and all around history buff. You can reach him at joseph_mester@draytonhall.org.

As with any house, Drayton Hall is almost always in need of some repair or another, but items related to the safety of our guests and staff always take precedence. That’s why we’ve hired an engineering firm to assess the structural integrity of the main house and portico. The information generated by the study, which begins this fall, will help us understand how best to accommodate the 50,000 visitors we receive annually. Exercising what we hope to be an over-abundance of caution, we have closed the upper portico until the conclusion of this study.

Trish Smith uses a headlamp to vacuum debris in the attic.

Guests who toured the house in February may have pondered the existence of ghosts at Drayton Hall as they listened to the footsteps, rattles, and bangs emanating from the attic. Happily, these ominous sounds were not coming from beyond the grave, but rather, were the sounds of preservation in progress. In an effort to relieve some of the weight bearing on the structure, bucket-loads of debris were carried out of the attic down the spiral staircase; 45 five-gallon bucket-loads to be exact!

As the seasons changed we emerged from the attic for some special spring cleaning. Moss and fungus that dotted the bricks and stone at Drayton Hall were scrubbed away using a mild detergent approved for use on historic masonry along with natural bristle brushes and lots of elbow grease! This work is decidedly less glamorous and more labor-intensive than other preservation projects on site, but it is an important way that we protect our historic masonry from the damaging effects of biological growth.

Stone lintel before and after cleaning to remove harmful biological growth.

Another project we’ve been working on this year is the creation of an architectural fragment collection. Sometimes failing architectural elements have to be removed from the house, but they receive just as much care after their removal as if they were still in situ. We carefully document their original location, clean them up, assign a catalog number and then store them in an archival space. This allows us to study the fragments and possibly reattach them in the future. The architectural fragment collection is another way that we preserve our historic architecture, and it’s a great way to study our architectural resources.

As you can see, our preservation philosophy keeps us quite busy behind the scenes. Drayton Hall may have an air of intransience about it, but it’s really a very dynamic place that requires constant care and attention. As always, we are immensely grateful to the Friends of Drayton Hall who help make this important work possible, and we encourage you to be on the lookout for Preservation in Progress on your next visit.

Trish Smith is the House Manager and Preservation Technician at Drayton Hall, and is also a former Wood Family Fellow. She can be contacted via email at patricia_smith@draytonhall.org.

John Drayton's indigo brand. Wood handle, iron shaft, copper-alloy die. Total length 9 inches, die length 3 3/4 inches.

growing and processing of indigo for use in the creation of a deep blue dyestuff popular in Europe. One artifact

Mirror image of the Drayton brand.

that survives from this period is his stamp wrought with his name “I. Drayton.” Because the stamp is made of a lightweight metal that is unable to withstand the high temperatures required for branding, it was likely used to mark indigo cakes prior to sale, as a mark of the manufacturer and an assurance of quality.

Left to Right: Joe McGill (Southern Regional Office NTHP), Sarah Stroud (Archaeologist), Mrs. Stroud (volunteer), Phoebe Willis (interpreter).

 On September 3^rd, Drayton Hall participated in the Bridgetown Market that was held at Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site.  Organizers of the event picked the site because Bridgetown is the capital of Barbados and Charles Towne Landing is located on the site of the first settlement of the Carolina colony in 1670.  Vendors representing Barbadian event sponsors, American cultural and historical organizations, and West Indian food and drink all enjoyed the day listening to calypso music from several bands.

 Sarah Stroud, our Drayton Hall Archeologist, and I staffed the Drayton Hall exhibits in the booth housing the Ashley River historic sites with Barbadian connections. Drayton Hall, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, and Middleton Place all participated. Each site had different displays which complemented one another and gave the visitors a well-rounded plantation experience.

 Drayton Hall displayed artifacts including probable Barbadian Red Ware, Native American pottery, and Colonoware (pottery made by enslaved people using African, Caribbean, and Native American methods).  Our largest artifact was a cow’s head which lead to discussions about early enslaved Africans being cow hunters, the first real “American cowboys.”  We also had hands-on activities: one was grinding spices using a mortar and pestle to determine what foods common in our country today came from Africa.  Originally designed for children, the

Caleb Davenport grinding herbs and looking at the display board

activities were enjoyed by adults as well.  Almost all the Bajan visitors smiled and remarked that they had ground spices when they were children.  Some even gave grinding another try just to prove they still knew how!

 Magnolia Garden’s display focused on the Drayton family, cow hunters, and the Lowcountry Africana project whose goal is to collect and make available African-American history in the Lowcountry.  Middleton Place had two costumed interpreters explaining rice and sugar cane processing and pottery making.  The show stealers, however, were two Guinea piglets bred at Middleton.  Their little squeals garnered tons of attention!

 The turnout was large and we had a steady flow of visitors who had many questions and insights into our display.  We learned a great deal from them and from our colleagues in the booth.  Visitors to the booth enjoyed every aspect of our displays and we had wonderful interaction with them.  Sarah and I learned that cutters are sandwiches; that Flying Fish really are edible; that modern Barbadians have a pottery tradition of making “monkey” jars which resemble the Colonoware artifacts we brought; and that Barbadians say “ya’ll.”

 If you would like to attend next year’s festival, it will actually be in Barbados- check out this link for more information: www.barbadostocharleston.com.  For those of “ya’ll” who would like to learn more about the Barbadian-Charleston connection, here are some options:

 Walter Edgar’s South Carolina: A History., Chapter 3, “The Colony of a Colony”.

 www.LowcountryAfrican.com

 South Carolina National Heritage Corridor web site:  http://www.sc-heritagecorridor.org/the_barbados_connection/

Phoebe Willis, Drayton Hall Interpreter and Educator

http://www.journalscene.com/column/Rosebrock-Park–Your-Park-

Rosebrock Park: Your Park
Published Wednesday, September 14, 2011 12:15 PM
By George McDaniel and Norman Brunswig
Summerville Journal Scene ®

The opening of Rosebrock Park Friday, September 16th, marks a significant day for the future of Dorchester County’s citizens. Located on Bacon’s Bridge Road, the park provides picnic shelters, scenic nature trails, and rare public access to the upper Ashley River for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. 

Left to right, George W. McDaniel, Dick Byrd, Richard Rosebrock and Norm Brunswig

The development of this c. 90-acre park (25-acres of which CPW leases to the county) is the hard-won result of community persistence. For decades, it served as a swimming hole created by a dam built near the current location of the bridge and was enjoyed by scores of people. After the dam gave way, people continued to come there and fish by the bridge. In the 1990s a “people’s park” was proposed for the location but failed to find sufficient public and political support. When the Ashley was designated a State Scenic River, a management plan published by the Ashley Scenic River Advisory Council (ASRAC) in 2003 built on these efforts. After two years of careful study and the input of approximately 500 members from the community, the plan called for the tract to become a public passive park. In addition to possessing key natural and historical characteristics, the area serves as a northern gateway to the celebrated Ashley River Historic District, entered by thousands of locals and tourists every year to experience the historic plantations and gardens. 

Longtime Ashley River supporters Sue Wehman and George Neil

Despite the prescience of the passive park concept plan, the Dorchester County Council had voted not to purchase the property when offered to them for sale by Charleston Southern University (CSU). After chancing upon a small article in the newspaper announcing the council’s decision, Summerville residents Lucy Anne Cathcart and Heyward Hutson and ASRAC members George McDaniel, George Neil, and Howard Bridgman drove to council’s meeting in St. George to voice their concern and to urge the council to reconsider. They were told it was too late, the council had rejected the offer, but as a result of their persuasion, councilmen like Richard Rosebrock, Larry Hargett, and others moved for reconsideration to purchase the area as a park, and at the next council meeting in January of 2005 over 150 people, young and old, gathered to press the council to purchase the property for public use. Working behind the scenes, Richard Rosebrock provided critical leadership and deftly used his persuasive abilities.

Also providing leadership was Summerville conservationist Coy Johnston who, working with the Lowcountry Open Land Trust, was able to step up at the outset of the council meeting and announce that the Land Trust was going to buy the land from CSU, using SC Conservation Bank funds. The Land Trust would hold the land and see that it was developed as a passive park, in keeping with the proposed 2003 plan from ASRAC. After winning a costly lawsuit with CSU, the Land Trust did secure title and soon transferred the property to the newly formed Dorchester Trust Foundation. Its trustees consist of Coy Johnston and the two of us. We have now leased the land to the county as a passive park and are pleased with the county’s work and commitment, along with the team of volunteers they assembled to contribute to what you see today.

We are also pleased because this park stands as a symbol of citizen commitment. Time after time, this golden opportunity would have been lost, had it not been for the leadership and cooperation of councilmen like Richard Rosebrock and individual citizens who took the time and effort to step up, to act upon their beliefs and to make a difference. Thanks to those efforts, you will not see housing or commercial developments the next time you drive along this tract on Bacon’s Bridge Road. You’ll see green space. It may well appear as if “nothing happened.”

Dorchester County Councilman Larry Hargett, Dick Byrd, Councilman Richard Rosebrock, and Norm Brunswig

As many people know, we enjoy places like Rosebrock Park because they offer something wholly apart from the city and ubiquitous subdivisions. They give us a chance to breathe. They give our children a chance to learn. An integrated and accessible rural experience like that provided by the park is essential to understanding not only our American heritage but also our fundamental connection to the lowcountry’s forests and waterways. Rosebrock Park will enable students from nearby Windsor Hill Elementary School and Ashley Ridge High School, as well as families from across the county, to appreciate these relationships first hand.

The culmination of Rosebrock Park also resonates with the widely publicized Watson Hill story, as it is another case in point of the positive impact public and private partnerships can have in protecting our irreplaceable rural areas. This park, along with thoughtfully designed developments, like Mead Westvaco’s East Edisto Project which encompasses Watson Hill, will help sustain cohesive and long-term efforts for the entire region that support tourism, recreation and quality of life.

In light of Rosebrock Park’s opening ceremony for the public this Friday, we are reminded, as a community, of how much of a role we actually have in preserving our region’s priceless history and natural resources. Now is the time to continue planning just as wisely for other areas throughout the Ashley River Historic District and Dorchester County. Building upon the longstanding leadership of Richard Rosebrock, we can continue to come together and press the needs for securing green space, local parks and conservation-minded developments in order to enhance outdoor family recreational opportunities, to nourish and educate our children and to secure a brighter future for posterity