ECC one of only five in nation offering degree in historic presevation – only one in N.C.

KIMBERLY BELLAMY

The Golden K Kiwanis Club learned more about a topic that affects cemeteries and property in the communities they live and work in: historic preservation.

ECC Historic Preservation Program Director Monika Fleming brought the group up-to-date Wednesday on the progress Edgecombe Community College has made since the program was introduced in September 2008, and what to look forward to.

Through a partnership with an advisory board, Preservation North Carolina, NC Division of Archives and History, Golden LEAF Foundation, the Town of Tarboro and Edgecombe County, ECC has become one of the leaders in the nation in historic preservation.

“It is one of only five in the nation that offer a degree in historic preservation, and the only one in the state,” Fleming said.

The first stride the school took toward educating more people on the subject was the day-long trade school at Coolmore Plantation in September, which offered classes in exterior painting, masonry and plaster repair, woodwork repair, window restoration, roofing and furniture refurnishing.

Fleming said 70 people attended the school from about a dozen different counties.

In October, the first certificate course in southern architecture was offered followed by brink masonry in November, decorative arts in February, window restoration in March, and historic roofing repair in May.

“This past weekend, we just finished up our fifth class,” Fleming said.

All of the classes have gotten a good turnout from people from many different areas, representing many different backgrounds.

“We have males, females, all ages coming out taking these classes,” Fleming said.

In February, the school received a $55,000 grant from Golden LEAF to use to continue offering these type of courses.

The courses were offered independently, but those who completed the 36 hours in coursework required will earn a certificate and will have a graduation ceremony in September.

Curriculum coursework will begin fall 2009, and will give people the opportunity to earn a degree in historic preservation after completing the required 76 hours in coursework.

The upcoming courses in the fall include carpentry, historic brick repair, decorative arts, southern architecture, and new course environmental sustainability.

“It is a hands-on degree. You’re going to get down and dirty,” Fleming said.

One of the bigger projects the program will tackle is moving the Norfleet House back to its original location on ECC’s campus. Fleming said she expects the house will be moved by August, if not sooner.

Once moved, it will be used as a lab for teaching restoration projects, and the Edgecombe County Heritage Center, which will allow the public to come in to do research on architecture, genealogy, and local history.

The program will also work extensively on restoring local cemeteries, including reviewing laws on cemeteries, guidelines for recording and reporting cemeteries, and suggestions on cleaning and restoring damaged stones. A class will be offered that covers these topics on June 28 from 6-9 p.m. and June 29 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Other one day class will be Researching Historic Property on Friday and Introduction to Historic Preservation Saturday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. An Introduction to Genealogy class will be held June 28 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The classes are free to senior citizens until the new budget takes effect.

The second annual historic trade school will be Sept. 26 at Oak Grove on the corner of McNair Road and Howard Street Extension.

With all of the course offerings, Fleming said the question may arise why there is so much focus on historic preservation.

“These buildings that have been around 100 and 200 years are lasting longer than some of the houses that’s been around 20 and 30 years … We are saving our past,” she said.

“This is something very special for North Carolina, and something special for Edgecombe County.”

If you would like to learn more about the program, call Fleming at 823-5166, ext. 241.