County Receives White House Recognition
First Lady Michelle Obama has recognized Transylvania County for taking pride in its heritage and culture.
Rebecca Suddeth, executive director of the Transylvania Heritage Museum, could not be happier with the recognition, which comes with some tangible benefits.
“I am thrilled. Transylvania County is a natural for this designation,” Suddeth said.
Transylvania was one of five North Carolina communities to receive the Preserve America Community designation.
Asheboro, Hendersonville, Hillsborough, Waxhaw and Transylvania earned the designation by demonstrating that they protect and celebrate their heritage.
In a letter sent to county officials, Obama said, “Your community holds a treasured place in the American story, and it is through your vision and dedication that our history will be upheld, and our future will be renewed.”
Currently 843 communities nationwide have been honored.
According to an announcement from the state Department of Cultural Resources, these communities use historic resources for economic development and community revitalization.
They also encourage residents and visitors to experience local historic resources through education and historic tourism programs.
Culture and heritage tourism is an economic force in North Carolina, according to Peter Sandbeck, the administrator of the State Historic
Preservation Office in the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources.
His office assists citizens and communities with preservation and applications for National Historic Register designations. National data shows that cultural and heritage enthusiasts travel more frequently, averaging 5.01 leisure trips in the past 12 months, versus 3.98 trips for non-cultural/heritage travelers.
The majority of these travelers say they seek travel experiences where the “destination, its buildings and surroundings have retained their historic character,” according to a 2009 study.
Preserve America is a program of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, a federal agency formed to promote the preservation of historic resources and to advise the president and Congress on preservation policy.
Benefits of designation include eligibility to apply for Preserve America Grants; a Preserve America Community road sign; authorization to use the Preserve America logo on signs, flags, banners and promotional materials; listing in a Web-based Preserve America Community directory; inclusion in national and regional press releases; and official notification of designation to state tourism offices and visitors bureaus.
Preserve America communities are also featured in National Register Travel Itineraries and in “Teaching with Historic Places” curricular material created by the National Park Service.
“That Transylvania County is one of only five North Carolina communities (recognized this month) speaks to both the way the application was presented and our outstanding heritage and culture,” said Mark Burrows,
Transylvania County director of planning and economic development. State and national representatives, county commissioners, the city of Brevard, and the town of Rosman wrote letters and provided information in support of the designation.
While many people worked hard to help the designation, Suddeth said, no one deserves more credit than local resident Betty Sherrill, who helped Suddeth prepare essays in connection with the project. Suddeth also gave special recognition to Sarah Lutz-Pieterson, with the city of Brevard’s planning department, and Transylvania County Planner Mike Thomas.
Mark Todd, Staff Writer 20.JUL.10newspost712-county-receives-white-house-recognition.aspxPosted on 7/20/2010 3:17:50 PM
