What's New - Spring 2004

SPRING 2004 ARCHAEOLOGY FIELDWORK SEASON COMMENCES

HDC archaeology staff has started gearing up for the 2004 spring fieldwork season. So far, they have completed fieldwork in February/March for a Phase II evaluation of site 33Ma232 in Madison County, Ohio. This site was identified through a previous survey of the area conducted by HDC staff for a bridge replacement. Archaeology staff also anticipate going out into the field soon for Ohio projects in Wayne County, Coshocton County, and Clermont County as well as a project in Plasquemines Parish, New Orleans.

HDC archaeology staff on site during a break in the weather, February 2004.

HDC STARTS SURVEY WORK ON COTA LIGHT RAIL STUDY

HDC's historical staff has been working the past few months to inventory and assess over 1,000 buildings that may be impacted by the proposed COTA light rail system. Buildings are located in various proposed north-south and east-west corridors, including High Street, Summit Street, and Fourth Street. HDC is also assessing buildings at proposed station and railyard locations.

One of the buildings surveyed along Summit Street.

WORLD-CLASS CONFERENCE CENTER AT WPAFB RECEIVES AWARD

HDC's renovation of unused laboratory space into a conference center in Building 20065 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base received a 2003 Design Citation Award from Air Force Materiel Command. Project Architect Charissa Wang, Facilities Planner Bill Faciane, and Interior Designer Ira Sudardja attended the awards presentation ceremony at the AFMC Civil Engineering Conference on October 23, 2003.

HDC RECEIVES NAVY HOUSING CATEGORIZATION PROJECT

HDC is working on categorizing family housing at Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois and Crane Naval Weapons Center in Indiana as part of comprehensive effort to inventory and assess the significance of housing on all Navy bases nationwide. Housing types range from 19th-century farmhouses obtained by the government during the construction of the base to military housing constructed in the 1990s. This project also includes archaeological surveys to determine the probability and significance of sites located in the housing areas.

View of one of the historic formal gardens at a housing unit at
Crane Naval Weapons Center, Indiana.

WOODWARD OPERA HOUSE RETAIL RENOVATION UNDERWAY

The retail portion of the Woodward Opera House renovation in Mount Vernon, Ohio, began construction this year. This phase of the project involves structural upgrades, installation of sprinklers; new restrooms, new electrical, mechanical, and plumbing systems, and finish restoration of three ground floor retail spaces. The work also includes the restoration of window and door openings along Vine Street.

Contractors have begun removing bricks to expose original window and door openings, which will be restored.

HDC SAYS GOODBYE TO BAGLE…

Shortly after undergoing chemotherapy for thyroid cancer diagnosed in March 2004, Bagle the Beagle died of cardiac arrest on April 8, 2004. She had just turned 12 years old and had spent 11 of those years with this office. She will be missed by everyone here, including the mailman, Fedex, and UPS delivery folks (who always received greeting barks), as well as various clients and consultants upon whom she would bestow souvenir dog hairs. Goodbye Bagle, and happy rabbit tracking!

Bagle as she appeared in April 1993, when she first joined the office after being adopted from the Delaware County Humane Society. Documented proof that at one time she really was that brown!

A favorite 2003 image of Bagle: in the midst of the canine "ritual of contentment," scratching her nose and getting ready to roll on the couch.