What's New - Fall 2004

HDC DESIGN RECEIVES U.S. AIR FORCE AWARD

HDC's renovation of unused laboratory space into a conference center in Building 20065 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base received a 2004 Interior Design Citation Award from the U.S. Air Force. Project Architect Charissa Wang attended the ceremony in Washington, DC on July 29, 2004. Jurors cited the innovative ceiling drop, corporate appearance, and the "remarkable" before and after transformation.

HDC President Charissa Wang (in red) receives the Citation Award
along with staff from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the U.S. Air Force.

POSSUM HOLLOW SITE DATA RECOVERY FIELDWORK COMPLETED

Under contract with the Ohio Department of Transportation, HDC staff completed the fieldwork portion of the Phase III Data Recovery project at the Possum Hollow Site (33CT645) in Clermont County, Ohio, this summer. The Phase II and Phase III investigations have revealed that subsurface cultural deposits at the site consist of pit features buried by thick alluvial deposits. This alluvial deposition has protected the cultural deposits from modern agricultural practices.

The majority of the features investigated during the Phase III are tightly clustered in the north central part of the site and primarily contain thermally altered limestone cobbles and thick grit-tempered pottery sherds. Radiocarbon dates obtained from features identified during the Phase II assessment testing place at least one occupation at the site within the Early Woodland Period and support an Early Woodland affiliation for the pottery assemblage.

The site provides a rare opportunity to collect data on successive Early Woodland occupations of a single landform because features are clustered not only horizontally but vertically as well. The large pottery assemblage from the site in conjunction with radiocarbon dates will significantly increase our current understanding of the cultural history of this area during the Early Woodland Period. A corresponding increase in our knowledge of prehistoric lifeways during the period is also anticipated.

Analysis of the site and its artifact assemblages is currently underway. Look for a full report of findings in the summer of 2005.

HDC archaeologist April Boyer carefully excavates pottery remains,
August 2004.

HDC EVALUATES LOW-HEAD DAMS FOR THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS

HDC completed an inventory and National Register of Historic Places evaluation of nine low-head dams on the Mahoning River in the Youngstown and Warren, Ohio, vicinities. The dams included conventional concrete weirs, crude weirs made from piles of rocks, concrete fragments, gravel, slag, and earth strewn across the river to form crude weirs, timber crib arch dams, and a concrete weir attached to the piers of a now-defunct coke trestle. The dams were associated with nineteenth-century grist mills and sawmills, the early twentieth-century steel industry, late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century water utilities and hydroelectric power, and late twentieth-century industrial infrastructure.

View of Warren North River Road Dam in Trumbull County, Ohio.

HDC BEGINS WORK ON LINCOLN THEATRE STUDY

HDC has been awarded a contract to create a plan to renovate a historic downtown theatre into the home of the Columbus Children's Theatre. The building will be mixed-use with office, retail, and performing arts spaces including a 400- to 500-seat theatre. Work includes renovation of the lobby, orchestra pit, and fly loft as well as additions to house scenic shop/storage, dressing rooms, leading facilities, and a new Black Box Studio Theatre to supplement main stage productions.

Projected view of the front façade of the renovated Lincoln Theatre.

HDC TO DESIGN NEW SIGNS FOR HUFFMAN PRAIRIE

HDC planners and landscape designers are working on designing new signs directing visitors to the Huffman Prairie Flying Field National Historic Landmark. HDC designers are working with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base as well as the National Park Service to ensure that the sign meets the standards of both agencies. The initial design submission considered three different access road locations, four sign types, and five different materials.

“Modern Wing” sign option.

DONUT THE BEAGLE

Donut the Beagle joined the office on May 21, 2004, from the Franklin County Dog Shelter. She had been orphaned at four weeks and was just old enough to be adopted. Why would someone leave such a cute little puppy at the shelter?…Because she throws temper tantrums! Yes, that cute little face hid a pretty ferocious temper. Some of us still have scars from the training! The trainer nicknamed her "Cujo" and says Donut thinks of herself as a Rottweiler... she loves to play with the big dogs and is not afraid of anything.

After four months of intensive training, Donut is a playful and friendly puppy...as long as you don’t try to take her toys away. We're still working on that one, but Donut has already come a long way!

Donut on May 25, 2004, at about 8 weeks of age,
4 days after she joined the office.

Donut on September 29, 2004, at about 6 months
of age, dozing in her bed at the office.