Members of the recently-formed
Lower Columbia Preservation Society are going to have a busy month
in May.
LCPS began its germination last spring under a certified local
government grant for the Historic Landmarks Commission. The organization
currently exists under a watchful wing of the City of Astoria,
but participants want to ensure potential members that it is not
an Astoria-specific focus, hence the name, Lower Columbia Preservation
Society. The fifty-plus member organization draws from as far
south as Cannon Beach, and from across the river in Ilwaco. Dues
are $10 for an individual membership, $20 for contributors and
$50 for supporters.
The April meeting for the group was held at the Heritage Museum
in Astoria and featured Mary McMurray of a Portland's Art First,
Colors and Painting. The program included a 30-minute slide show
illustrating the use of period colors on Victorian, Colonial Revival
and Craftsman houses.
The April newsletter, titled "Restoria," urged members
to submit nominations for the Dr. Edward Harvey Historic Preservation
Award, which will be presented this month by Astoria mayor Willis
Van Dusen in celebration of Historic Preservation month.
In addition, the meaty newsletter presented information on how
to obtain the round historic plaque from the City of Astoria for
your property. According to Rosemary Johnson, coordinator with
the city, the plaques are free to property owners or tenants (with
owner permission) and around a hundred or so have already been
granted - while the city has already inventoried as many as 800
properties that are considered eligible for the designation. If
you would like to obtain an historic plaque for your property,
the first thing to do is call Rosemary. She will let you know
if your property is already on the inventoried historic list.
If the property is not on the list, you may make an application
to the city for review. There is a $25.00 fee for the process
and you must research your property to provide historic information
in support of the request. Rosemary will help you through the
process. This process is separate from the National Register of
Historic Places, which carries its own regulations and also includes
tax incentives.
The LCPS group will assemble on May 15 for an exterior painting
workshop. The cost for the three-hour, hands-on experience will
be $5, which, by the way, may also be applied toward membership
in the group. The workshop is free for those who are already members.
The workshop will be held on the lawn of the 1880s home of Rosemary
Johnson, who claims that the side of her house is already in such
bad shape, the group will be able to demonstrate pressure washing
and differing paint application techniques right on the spot.
She also stated that other homes nearby have good examples of
other plagues such as moss, that the group may use to their advantage
that day.
Topics for discussion include paint removal and prep work, by
Bob Ross; painting and contractors by Joe Dreiling; keeping the
area clean and clean-up, by Paul Benoit; dealing with contractors,
by Ron Dugan; and "Learning to talk the talk," by Michelle
Schmitter.
Participants are encouraged to dress appropriately for an interactive
session and bring lawn chairs. An alternative location is available
in case of rain... these folks must live here! LCB
Lower Columbia Preservation Society
Volunteer leaders: Linda Oldencamp,acting chair; Kevin Palo, vice
chair; Rosemary Johnson, city contact and program chair
Address: 1676 Jerome Avenue
Astoria, Oregon 97103
Telephone: Rosemary 503/325-5821 or Linda, after 5pm, 503/325-3981
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