Historic districtconservation efforts

Signs will be installed by spring to mark the street entrances to the year-old College Hill National Historic District, a neighborhood of 101 residences on the Pullman hill’s north side.
 
The signs were designed in a course taught by assistant professor Kristin Arola and arranged through WSU’s Center for Civic Engagement last spring, said Allison Munch-Rotolo, a resident who is active in the College Hill Association. The association is paying for the signs that will be installed as the weather permits, Munch-Rotolo said.
 
Stylish times
The homes shown on these pages reflect the three main styles found in the College Hill National Historic District:
• Bungalow/craftsman: Low-pitched roof, wide overhanging eaves and porch. Typically one or one-and-a-half stories.
• Colonial revival: Accented doorway, often with a pediment, and normally balanced façade. Usually steeply pitched roof.
• Tudor revival: Steeply pitched roof, side gables, façade dominated by one or more cross-gables, massive chimney, and half-timbering detail.

610 Michigan
Stanley Smith House, 1928.
Rambling colonial.
 
History
Historic designation was the culmination of a long effort, said Rob McCoy, WSU assistant professor of history. For years, history professor Orlan Svingen worked with students doing surveys and histories of the district’s properties.
 
With experience in helping areas apply for historic designation, McCoy began work in January 2006 with public history graduate students toward preparing application materials.
 
 
1120 Indiana. 1917. Tudor revival.
 
The student, printing and photography costs were paid for by resident donations and a grant from WSU business affairs. McCoy was not paid separately, but the achievement is considered part of his scholarly research — commensurate with publishing a paper.
 
At first, the aim was to apply for designation for all of College Hill, McCoy said. “But listing requires there be at least 60 percent of (historically) contributing buildings in an area,” he said. “The whole hill once was as historically intact as the north part, but it no longer qualifies” due to radical alterations and infill with new structures.
1130 Indiana. Morris and Bertha Knebelmans House, 1917. Tudor revival.
Future
Though they can’t qualify for national historic designation, other parts of College Hill might be appropriate for local historic district or structure designations, said Munch-Rotolo. The College Hill Association is pursuing these ideas and others, such as a historic corridor designation for Maple Street and grant money to develop walking tours in the national historic district.
 
Grant money would be easier to get if Pullman were a certified local government through the National Park Service, Munch-Rotolo said. Certification helps communities qualify for historic preservation and enhancement grants.
800 Michigan. Murray Bundy House, 1926. Craftsman.
 
It also requires communities to identify and protect historic properties. At this time, McCoy said, buildings in the College Hill National Historic District could be significantly altered or razed. Certification would allow Pullman to regulate what can be done to historic properties, Munch-Rotolo said, and the association is encouraging the city to become certified.
 
Photos and map courtesy of Rob McCoy 

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