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Bill and Kathy Frazier were both presenters at Planning Michigan, the Michigan Association of Planning’s 2017 Annual Conference, held at Mackinac Island in September.  The Michigan Association of Planning is the state’s leading planning organization with nearly 3,500 members including citizens appointed to planning commissions and zoning boards of appeal. Nearly 1,000 of its members are planners and professionals from related fields such as architecture, landscape architecture, engineering, law, the private development community, students and others.

“Life in the Fast Lane” was the title of Bill’s keynote lunch address. He discussed planning issues related to commercial corridors where he reviewed their historical development and their importance in creating a first impression of the community today. He further explained how to analyze corridors so that planners can prioritize design improvements for the biggest community impact. Using his experience in communities, he covered a range of corridor types from downtown to suburban models and provided targeted solutions including design ideas and how to coordinate with other agencies for community improvements.

Kathy’s talk, “What’s Old is New Again” used Staunton, Virginia as a case study to explore historic preservation, design and economic development. She discussed how too many downtowns evolved from the historic, bustling center of town to the vacant lots and empty storefronts of urban renewal in the 1960s & 70s. Fortunately, she noted, those old buildings have begun to be renewed again thanks to façade improvements, historic rehabilitation tax credits, and the establishment of the National Main Street Program, all of which have helped link historic preservation and economic development. Kathy further noted that rehabilitation of key landmark buildings, public improvements, and corridor improvements all contribute the overall revitalization effort and reinforce a community’s sense of place. Communities all have a story to tell, and using design in the context of historic preservation can help illustrate that story for your community.

Montgomery Hall Park

Recently listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register of Historic Places, Montgomery Hall Park is noted for its architectural character, as well as its significant ties to the African American community in Staunton and statewide.  John Howe Peyton, a Princeton-educated lawyer who moved to Staunton in 1808, originally owned the 800 acre plantation, which consisted of wheat as the cash crop, orchards, and livestock. A contemporary of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison and other leaders of the young Republic, Peyton was a recognized lawyer, statesman, and education proponent. He built Montgomery Hall in 1822 for his second wife, Ann Montgomery Lewis. By 1902 the property had dwindled to 150 acres and the new owners, Frank and Emma Walter, commissioned local architect T.J. Collins to design an addition. Before it could be built in 1906, the house was destroyed by fire. The Walters had Collins design a new house, based somewhat on the form of the original and built on the former foundation.

The City purchased the 148-acre property in 1946, and designated it as a park for the local African American community, giving them full control of its operation and a small operating budget. The Montgomery Hall Park Recreation Committee was created and quickly established park rules, programs and fees to better fund the facility. By the late 1940s, newly added facilities included a swimming pool, playgrounds, horseshoe pit, and other recreational features. Montgomery Hall Park was held in high esteem by the local black community, and activities for athletics, education, and religion were coordinated between the Park, the African-American churches, and the Booker T. Washington School. The park and its main building were a hub of social life for the community, hosting dances, swimming lessons, croquet, card games, flower shows, and bowling. As one of only a few designated African-American parks with such superb amenities in Virginia, the park gained statewide recognition. Groups from Roanoke to Clifton Forge, as well as Charlottesville and Lynchburg made the day trip to Staunton, some even camping overnight. Visitation during the summer season from June to Labor Day often reached 18,000.

Early image of Montgomery Hall Park playground.

The Montgomery Hall Park Recreation Committee ran the park and served as liaison between the African-American community and city government until 1969 when it was integrated into the rest of the city park system.  Today, Montgomery Hall is home to the Department of Parks and Recreation offices, and the park has been expanded and improved to include modern playgrounds, a swimming pool complex, picnic shelters, walking trails, basketball and tennis courts, and several playing fields, and parking lots.  In 2002, the Staunton City Council dedicated the Montgomery Hall Park Administration Building in honor of Mrs. Irene Givens, who had dedicated over 25 years of service to the park and its programs prior to 1970.

Working with the City of Staunton, Frazier Associates conducted research and wrote the architectural description, as well as coordinated and submitted the nomination materials to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.  In-depth historical research for the nomination was provided by Nancy Sorrells. Dennis B. Blanton and the James Madison University Department of Sociology and Anthropology conducted the archeological survey of the property. Historic Staunton Foundation provided copies of drawings from their T. J. Collins archives. The property is currently under consideration for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

To view additional photographs on our website click here. 

The April issue of Abode magazine features an article on Monticola, an impressive 1850s Virginia home.  Frazier Associates provided architectural and historic rehabilitation tax credit services for the project.  Read more at https://frazierassociates.com/portfolio-item/monticola/

Rear facade of house; Photo by Philip Beaurline

And check out the Abode article here: http://www.c-ville.com/april-abode-monticola-a-fine-albemarle-estate-turns-back-the-clock/#.WO0z9Y61ujh

The Sears Hill Bridge dates from circa 1905 when the present train station, designed by noted local architect T. J. Collins, was erected. The rare iron truss pedestrian bridge is a contributing structure in the Wharf Historic District and is listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places. The bridge connects the Sears Hill neighborhood and park, located on the steep hill south of the tracks, to downtown Staunton, providing access for over 100 years to its residents. It is an important visual element of the Wharf District’s historic landscape, and has become a popular vantage point in recent years for tourists overlooking Staunton’s historic districts. To preserve the badly deteriorating Bridge, a volunteer group, Friends of the Sears Hill Bridge Committee, chaired by Bill Frazier, rallied community support to raise over $200,000 and coordinate the rehabilitation of this historic structure and return it to public use in 2012.

To complement the installation of the rehabilitated bridge, the Committee coordinated the design and installation of these interpretive signs with Frazier Associates. The signs convey the history of train station and bridge, and recognize the community effort to preserve this important feature of the Wharf Historic District.

New Overlook Signs Installed

New overlook signs take in the view of downtown.

Fast-forward to 2016, with the restoration of the Sears Hill Bridge and access improved to the Sears Hill Neighborhood and Woodrow Park across the bridge, the City of Staunton commissioned the design and installation of an overlook area and additional interpretative signs. Frazier Associates designed the overlook and signs, as well as developing graphics and text for the signs. Historic Staunton Foundation provided content information, with editorial assistance provided by Nancy Sorrells and Katherine Brown.

The three new signs at the overlook provide a map of Staunton’s five downtown historic districts, a key with descriptive information on particular landmark buildings, and a comparative historic 1856 lithographic print by German artist, Edward Beyer of the same view of downtown.

In addition, a new sign was designed and installed to provide information about the development of the Sears Hill Neighborhood and Woodrow Park, as well as Dr. Barnas Sears for whom the hilltop neighborhood is named. Sears moved to a house adjacent to the park area in 1867, and administered an educational fund to establish free public schools throughout the South after the Civil War.

The new signs provide both historical background and orientation to residents and visitors who transverse the Bridge to take in the panoramic views of downtown Staunton. The signs were made possible by funds raised by the Friends of the Sears Hill Bridge Committee. Nearly $4,000 from the Sears Hill Bridge restoration fund was used to construct the informational signs. The funds are managed by The Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge. City Manager Steve Owen noted: “These signs provide visitors to the overlook with historical reference points that really complement this beautiful view of the city. They are a wonderful addition to the park and a fitting final piece to the community’s successful Sears Hill Bridge project.”

Read more about Frazier Associates’ interpretive sign projects and services at https://frazierassociates.com/services/wayfinding/parks-institutions/