Public invited to learn about historic building survey Jan. 25

The Douglas County Heritage Conservation Council is hosting a public meeting about the Historic Building Reconnaissance Survey that was recently completed in Marion and Willow Springs townships. The meeting will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 25, at Marion Springs School Building, 316 E. 900 Road, near Baldwin City.

In 2012, the Douglas County Heritage Conservation Council (HCC) began a countywide survey of natural, cultural and historic sites and structures by townships.

In 2018, historic preservation consultants conducted a Historic Building Reconnaissance Survey of the north portion of Marion Township and a western section of Willow Springs Township. This work was conducted under the supervision of the HCC. Surveyors looked for properties, buildings and structures that are at least 50 years old and are architecturally and historically significant. They also documented natural resources that have influenced cultural development in Douglas County.

Consultant Stan Hernly will facilitate the meeting, where attendees will receive a survey report, learn what factors make a building, farmstead or site eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and learn about the benefits of historic designation.

Property owners are encouraged to bring historic images or historical information about their property to share. Part of the data collected during the survey process is uploaded to the Kansas Historic Resource Inventory at: https://khri.kansasgis.org.