Welcomes

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson September 9, 2010

Give Our Past A Future

ORPHA’s Role in Historic Preservation Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association

  Welcome: Who and What is ORHPA?

Overview of Oak Ridge History - Video ORHPA’s Historic Preservation Efforts  President David R. Bradshaw  Film Maker Keith McDaniel  Work with DOE-ORO to Save K-25 History  City Historian Bill Wilcox  Work with DOE-ORO to Save Y-12 & ORNL History  Y-12 Historian Ray Smith  Work with ORRE to Save the Guest House / Alexander  Mick Wiest ORHPA’s Heritage Tourism Efforts       Work with City Preserve America Grant to Commemorate “The Birth of the City”  Bill Wilcox Work with ORCVB and the City’s Heritage Tourism Plan  Nicky Reynolds Work with ORCVB on the Jackson Square Heritage Trail National Park Service Study   Closing Wrap Up Video Remarks   Bill Wilcox Bill Wilcox Keith McDaniel David R. Bradshaw

Mission: To preserve Oak Ridge's history and it's built environment (early buildings, structures, etc.) and develop economic, educational and cultural resources for the benefit of present and future generations.

    Formed in September 1999 for the purposes of preventing further demolition of our historic structures and the loss of our unique history.

Quickly grew to over 150 members and gained its charter as an official non-profit organization in 2000. Membership today is 170.

Monthly meetings (open to the public) are held in the Midtown Community Center, a building that was saved through ORHPA's efforts and was provided to the organization by the city of Oak Ridge in 2000. Today, ORHPA is a key partner in the preservation of all of Oak Ridge's heritage.

Purpose: Giving our past a future in the form of preservation, education and development and support of heritage tourism.

Keith McDaniel

ORHPA – PKP Working with DOE-ORO On Saving the History of K-25

Bill Wilcox

Patrick McMillan, Architect, courtesy of BJC

There are many historical sites to be marked and remembered.: the pre-K-25 Wheat Church and Community; The African Burial Ground; Happy Valley, the world’s largest K-25 Powerhouse; the S-50 Thermal Diffusion Plant, the Nuclear Powered Aircraft Project.

Work with DOE-ORO to Save Y-12 & ORNL History – Integrated Facilities Disposition Plan

Mick Wiest for D. Ray Smith

Present Future

Changes and Impact

     East Tennessee Technology Park demolition winds down in 2012.

If the trained workers are to be retained and the demolition work continued, additional funding is a must ORNL and Y-12 have large numbers of buildings that could be removed This project will have tremendous impact on Oak Ridge Gerald Boyd initiated the request for money for this multi-year project

ORHPA Working with ORRE Preservation Awards Endangered Historic Properties

Mick Wiest

ORHPA Working with ORRE on Preservation

1. The Historic Guest House/Alexander

2. The Historic K-25 Gaseous Diffusion Building

3. The WWII Oak Ridge Public Health Center

For Years the NOAA Weather Station, now the ATDL

4. The WWII Y-12 Medical Building

5 . The Y-12 Beta 3 Calutrons

(Helped Produce The U-235 for the first Atomic Weapon - Little Boy) Also known as Bldg. 9204-3, this WWII building still contains the two “Tracks” of 30 Calutrons each.

6. The Y-12 Calutron Pilot Plant – 9731

XAX Alpha Calutron Magnet Bldg 9731 XBX Beta Calutron Magnet

7. The Pine Valley Elementary School

Now the Oak Ridge School Administration Building

8. Abilene Hall, one half of one of the 91 Dorms for 13,000 Singles in the Secret City.

Now the Glenwood Baptist Church Ministry Building Looking East H-Type Dorm – Batavia Hall

ORHPA Working with the City’s 2009/2010 Preserve America Grant for Commemoration of the Birth of the City in 1960 (the 50th)

Bill Wilcox

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Dealing with the Citizens Upgrading the Housing Education & Health Municipal Services

I. THE CITIZENRY

In 1943, realizing that unhappiness with living conditions could imperil the already fragile prognosis for making an atomic bomb, the Army overseers of Oak Ridge bent over backwards to make life as good as possible for the uprooted professionals sent here. They created a town where housing, though temporary, was pleasant and less costly than back home, schools and medical services were as good, and the protected culture unmatched. In 1947, the new civilian-government owners, the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), faced bringing down the cost of all services that were far higher than like-sized cities v In 1948, the AEC embarked on an ambitious program to make a “normal” incorporated city out of this 5 year old place that had always been anything but normal. It meant not only their spending tens of millions to replace temporary housing, schools and hospital facilities and municipal services with permanent facilities, but it also meant turning around the attitudes of the citizenry. v AEC’s first move to open the “Secret City” gates in 1949 was met with loud protests, but finally with acceptance. During the next four years the AEC poured millions into impressive new housing areas and permanent schools, but a referendum on incorporation in 1953 was heavily defeated. Then in 1955 Congress passed the law making possible the disposition of houses. As those sales began turning renters into home owners now interested in lawns, street lights, and sewer systems, attitudes began to change. By the end of the decade home sales were complete and Oak Ridger’s love affair with their government-run city came to an end. The referendum held May 5, 1959 saw the citizens voting 14 to 1 in favor of running their own town and paying for it. The official transfers and “Birth of the City” took place June 1, 1960.

This marker was produced, in part, with funding from the City of Oak Ridge and the Preserve America Grant Program, National Park Service

Nicky Reynolds

Vision:

Elevate Oak Ridge to its rightful place as one of the most significant and most visited locations associated with World War II and the “Greatest Generation.”

Goals:

 Develop a unified plan for near term and long range heritage tourism    Increase local economic development through heritage tourism Provide satisfying experiences for the various types of heritage tourists Identify the “Big Ideas” which can be implemented with existing resources and assets

81% of US Adults are Considered Historic / Cultural Travelers

   Spend an average $623 vs. $457 per trip 30% of traveler’s choice for destination was influenced by a specific historic or cultural event/activity More likely to be 7 nights or longer    4 in 10 added extra time to their trip specifically for historical/cultural activity 25% of travelers take three or more trips each year 44% of travelers include shopping among their trip activities vs. 33% of all other travelers. According to Historic/Cultural Traveler research by the U.S. Travel Association (formerly Travel Industry Association of America) and Smithsonian Magazine

Profile

  Slightly Older 4 in 10 are from Baby Boomer Households (1946 – 1964)     6 in 10 have a college degree 1/3 have a household income of $75K+ Baby Boomers travel more than any other age group in US 14% pay $1,000 or more for vacation, excluding the cost of transportation!

According to Historic/Cultural Traveler research by the U.S. Travel Association (formerly Travel Industry Association of America)

  June 2007, project completed by AkinsCrisp Public Strategies in partnership with the ORCVB, City of Oak Ridge, Center for Historic Preservation at MTSU, and Cockrill Design & Planning.

There were 8 key strategies proposed:  Upgrade Signage and Wayfinding    Focus on upgrading AMSE and Jackson Square Showcase the Manhattan Project & Heritage assets “Secret City” Branding and Marketing     Create a more robust CVB (new website) Determine the most appropriate NPS designation Highlight the Signature Facilities Undertake Outreach Campaign (PR, lead fulfillment)

Upgraded Signage & Wayfinding

 In 2008, a team from OR met with state officials earlier in the year (CVB, Chamber, City and ACP) to request identifying signage for DOE, Y-12, ORNL from interstate

Focus on AMSE and Jackson Square

 AMSE has revamped entire Oak Ridge Room and added an original Flat Top House  Jackson Square/Grove Center Merchants teaming together to create events, activities  CVB working with all to promote new exhibits, events and activities

Showcase Manhattan Project & Oak Ridge Heritage Assets

   New CVB offices at Mid Town Community Center, October 2007 Showcase MP history with help from ORHPA & Children’s Museum (Dave Miller and Margaret Allard) Westcott photos featured throughout office (Dave Miller)

Develop Secret City Branding & Marketing

  Award-Winning Website  Hermes Award ~ American Association of Webmasters ~ MarCom Award Secret City Brand

NPS Designation

 Continue to work with City of Oak Ridge, DOE, SHPO  Been part of recent support to offer alternatives for NPS study

Highlight Signature Facilities

 Support PKP’s efforts    Promoting Heritage Tourism as a viable economic driver in the community Placing importance in saving the history, story and impact of K-25 for generations to come Work closely with ORHPA in support of preservation efforts, generate ideas for programs, hold current board position

Undertake Strategic Outreach Campaign

 Press Tours – utilizing the knowledge of ORHPA members like Bill Wilcox, D. Ray Smith, and Connie Black   E-newsletter Blog  Social Media Sites – Facebook and Twitter

Preserve America Grant

 Kiosks  Historic Markers

ORHPA – PKP Working with CVB On a History Trail for Jackson Square

Proposed List of Historic Markers for “Historic Townsite” Walking Trail

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The Central Cafeteria and the First Womens Dormitories Group The Oak Ridge Post Office The Center Theater The Town Hall Offices on Kentucky Avenue The Ridge Recreation Hall Williams Drug Store and The West Side of The Square OR High School, The Guest House, Chapel Community Grocery #1 and The East Side of the Square The Broadway Stores & Ridge Theater The T&C Café & Bowling Alley Black Type Indicates Style – 24” wide x 36” high 5/8” letters, max. 100 words, short title; All these to have same text both sides, placed on the sidewalks with the posts just inside the curb line with posts tall enough for sign to be read over parked cars. (Like in West Chester, PA; Paducah, KY; Columbus, OH)

Blue

Type Indicates Style - 42” wide, 36”high Markers 5/8” letters, max. 200 words

Text for Sign #6 JACKSON SQUARE - WEST SIDE

This corner of the Square was anchored by the very popular Williams Drug Store which opened on 1 Aug. 1943, soda fountain and all. When word got out that another supply of cigarettes had arrived, the lines stretched back to Kentucky Avenue. In the center of this side was Samuel’s Men’s Store offering name brand 3-piece suits and other essentials like felt hats. The Hamilton National Bank anchored the other end, a necessity for cashing paychecks, not for mortgages because everybody rented. In between these major stores were an always busy shoe repair shop, a shoe store and a nice gift shop.

Erected by a Grant from Preserve America, 2010.

ORHPA Working with National Park Service On the Manhattan Project National Historical Park

Bill Wilcox

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The “Oak Ridge Historic District” and the Welcome Center – Owned & Operated by NPS, first stop for Visitors; handouts, maps, brochures, guides. Guides. Park Ranger.

The AMSE "Hub" may sometime in the future be owned and operated by an entity other than DOE, not NPS. It will have a Park Ranger as a welcomer to the exhibits, will continue to use its volunteers, perhaps wearing NPS shirts, etc. 3.

At Y-12 there will be two WWII historic facilities to visit – The building with original Alpha and Beta Calutron magnets, and the “Track” of 30 Calutrons- owned, and maintained by DOE having a Park Ranger & made accessible to the public as soon as national security allows.

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At ORNL the Graphite Reactor, a National Landmark and DOE Sig, Facility will continue to be preserved and maintained by the DOE. It would have a Park Ranger and interpretation guided by NPS and made accessible to the public as soon as national security allows.

At K-25, DOE is in the process of tearing down WWII process building, and a 5 year debate is still underway as to how best to preserve the history of this nationally vital WWII and Cold War facility. Both ORHPA and COR have a seat at this table and are concurring parties to those decisions. This formal NHPA process will (DOE Hopes) be consummated this year, and the NPS will have a Park Ranger presence and role in the interpretation of this vital heritage tourism in western Oak Ridge. (only 5 miles off I-40, the City’s closest interstate).

Keith McDaniel

David Bradshaw