Who Owns the Past?

Our memories are some of the most personal and unique things we can possess. We may share common experiences with other people, but the idea that memories of our own past could belong to anyone else seems ridiculous.

But what about the objects and places that shaped those memories? By providing a tangible link to the past, these items have meaning to the people who value them by evoking important memories, and can serve a powerful unifying function for people who share common experiences. They can also reach beyond individual lifespans to help people, families, and communities understand their past, and shape their identities.

These things may be owned – but can also be bought, sold, lost, destroyed or otherwise made unavailable – and due their very nature, often cannot be replaced if lost, permanently losing their association with the past and the people who value them.

Obviously the question of ‘who owns the past?’ is complicated, and lacks a single, tidy answer.

Nevertheless, after discovering a time capsule in Edwardsburg, Michigan, a man is asking this very question.

While restoring his home, Kerry Jones discovered a time capsule placed in the cornerstone of the former church when it was dedicated in 1892 (see the video here for a short news story). 

He is asking the public for help deciding what do to with it – he lists four options.

-      Sell it and keep the money;

-      Sell it and use the money for the current church, which has moved down the road;

-      Donate it to the historical society or the church;

-      Replace it and leave it for future generations.

Jones says he’s seeking input because the time capsule is part of the history of the community despite technically belonging to him.

At first this situation seems fairly straightforward – after all, a time capsule is meant for someone else to find. The people who placed it in the cornerstone did so imagining what the world would be like when it was finally opened. But what happens after the initial excitement of discovery? After opening the time capsule, who should decide what happens to the contents?

By asking this question, Mr. Jones realizes that he may own these objects, but not their history. Think about your own family heirlooms, about places that places important to you, or your family. It’s easy to imagine this items as our “own”, but many times we’re just caretakers, temporarily holding them until others come along to receive them, and their history.

  

The Role of Trees in Historic Neighborhoods

Trees were on the minds of many Michiana residents following the storms in early July. Fallen limbs and toppled trees damaged homes and property, knocked out electricity, and required extended cleanup.

Like many things in the background of our day-to-day life we may not think about the trees in our neighborhoods very much – until we’re forced to, either by storms, or the calendar, when it’s time to rake – again…

It’s easy to think of our neighborhoods as made of separate individual pieces - our homes, businesses, streets, the open spaces, parks and trees - but in reality they are not independent.  All of these parts combine to form the unique places we live and work. Think about recent changes in your own neighborhood; the last time a new building went up, or one came down, think about recent (or ongoing) road construction, or maybe look at the empty space down the street where that tree stood until the last storm.

These sorts of changes can affect the entire neighborhood, for both residents and visitors. The impact can be more dramatic in historic neighborhoods, where the trees themselves may be historically significant as well as contributors to the overall character of the landscape.

This was the case in many historic neighborhoods in downtown South Bend.  The Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend and Saint Joseph County  (HPC) documented damage in a number of historic districts and local landmarks including downed trees and damaged homes and cars.  Just one example is in Howard Park, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, where efforts are underway to clean up several downed trees and repair significant storm damage to the Works Progress Administration-era cottage.

Of course, safety, restoring electricity, and repairing damage are top priorities in the recovery efforts, but keeping preservation in mind when making these decisions goes a long way toward avoiding any unintended impacts to our neighborhoods. Damaged limbs and other tree hazards must be taken very seriously as a risk to public safety, but once the immediate threat is addressed, several options are available to proactively manage trees, balancing preservation and safety.

The HPC has prepared guidelines for each of the nine local historic districts in South Bend (available on their website). These address the unique histories, buildings, and environment of the individual neighborhoods, and include standards for maintaining elements that reflect the district’s character, regarding both structures, and natural elements. In general, the guidelines recommend removing trees only due to damage, disease, or if the tree threatens a structure, or is otherwise unsafe.  When planting new trees the guidelines also recommend choosing certain tree species that reflect the historic character and correspond to the ecological setting of the district.  Preventative maintenance can extend the life of a tree, some of which may be performed by homeowners or volunteers, such as proper mulching, or simple regular inspections. Others, such as pruning, cabling, or aeration should be performed only by a certified arborist.

Many properties in these districts have trees, either individually in yards, standing along streets and sidewalks, or in greenspace. Some of these trees were likely planted immediately following the initial construction of homes, or individually chosen to remain in place by the builders. Others though likely predate construction, such as the large stand of oak trees in the Riverside Drive District that may date to the late 1800s.

These trees contribute to the character of these neighborhoods in many ways. The overhead canopy in the Edgewater District creates the effect of an entrance to the neighborhood, distinguishing it from the surrounding area.  The trees planted along the sidewalks in the River Bend District help create a separate space for pedestrians by separating the sidewalk from the street. Trees also help to link many of these neighborhoods to the St. Joseph River, to open spaces such as Leeper and Shetterly Parks, and to adjacent districts.

Whether in a formally designated historic district, or other neighborhoods, trees shape the character of our community. Along with providing ecological benefits, shade, and space for recreation, they also connect us to our past  - either by allowing us to stand in the same place as the French explorer LaSalle at the site of the former Council Oak in Highland Cemetery, or to simply climb the same tree that your grandfather did when he was young. By incorporating a little preventative maintenance and enlisting a professional arborist when necessary, we can help preserve the important places in our community.

Note - I would like to thank Elicia Feasel, Assistant Director of the Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend for her input and suggestions, including providing details about the storm damage.

Ten Sources for Background Research - why you shouldn't look for archaeological sites on your desktop

Checking the list of previously recorded archaeological sites at the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) is usually one of the first steps of a “Phase I/Class I, etc. archaeological survey”.  Background research like this prepares the archaeologist for the types of sites that might occur in the survey area.

The problem comes when such lists make up the only source of background research. SHPO archives are full of these reports. This is perfectly okay of course, assuming that the only type of archaeological site you wish to know about are those:

• located in area of the previous surveys;
• recognizable to the expertise and interest of the archaeologist who performed the survey, and;
• properly recorded as archaeological sites in the SHPO records.

On the other hand, if your goal is to develop better expectations about the types of sites that might be expected in the project area, additional resources warrant consideration.

The following suggestions, shown in no particular order, do not represent an exhaustive list, nor are they appropriate for every situation. Simply, they are additional sources you can use to help provide a clearer picture of the types of archaeological resources that may be present in a particular area.

1 - Consider what types of resources that might be affected by the project

The first, and perhaps, most important source is the project itself. You may not be an expert in archaeology, but you can make a good faith effort to think about what types of archaeological sites might be impacted by your project.

Will the project create something very tall, or will it be something in the ground; is it something long and linear, or something restricted to a small parcel? Don’t forget about effects that might extend beyond your project boundaries – like noise, visual, or atmospheric effects.

If your project involves extensive excavation, it has the potential to impact sites that may not be visible on the ground surface.

Which is important to know since during previous archaeological surveys in your project area the archaeologists simply walked over the ground, looking for sites on the surface, unaware of the prehistoric sites deeply buried by flood deposits.

2 - Consult historic maps

Historic maps can provide information about previous land use and the location of features that may no longer be immediately obvious.

A map might tell you that the lonely county road intersection once was a crossroads town with a half-dozen structures, or that the cluster of trees in the farm field is really close to the mapped location of a small family cemetery.

3 - Consult local histories

Local histories can add more information about events that shaped places in your area.

Perhaps explaining that the crossroads town declined when it was bypassed by the railroad, in favor of the next town over. Or that the family cemetery contained some of the county’s earliest settlers.

4 - Talk to local historians

Similarly, local historians can provide additional detail and information that may not be widely available. 

The historian might be able to show you sources explaining that most of the buildings from the crossroads town were carefully dismantled and moved after the railroad went in to the next town.

5 - Talk to long term local residents

Local residents can provide perspective that is simply unavailable to someone from outside the community. 

They can share their concerns about a particular site, they can tell you the rectangular depression is a borrow pit for topsoil dug within the last 20 years, not a historic feature. They can also tell you about the stories their grandfather told them about the earthen mound back in the woods.

6 - Talk to tribal elders

Federal agencies have special responsibilities toward Indian Tribes because federally recognized tribes are sovereign governments entitled to “government to government consultation”. This is a formal process, but can be as informal as the tribe and agency agree. Regardless of who conducts the consultation, tribal elders can provide unique information about the history of your area. 

The can communicate their concerns about parts of the landscape with spiritual meaning. Particularly important if these areas lack the types of artifacts or features recognizable to archaeologists.

 

7 - Conduct a “windshield survey”

Simply driving through the area looking for sites or buildings that look old can help. Sometimes the intense focus on the specific project limits can cause you to miss things that are just outside the boundaries. 

A windshield survey can help you spot the cemetery located downhill and around the corner from the area planned planned for dewatering discharge.

8 -Talk to artifact collectors

Like local residents, artifact collectors can know more about your project area than any specialist. 

They can tell you about the artifacts eroding out of the creek bed or how they used to find artifacts every time it rained before the local farmers switched to no-till planting.

9 - Review environmental information

Information about the geology, physiography, and past climates is important to understand where sites may occur. 

People in the past may have been using places that no longer even exist – like the former banks of the now-channelized stream in your project area.

10 - Conduct remote sensing

Remote sensing provides information not visible from the ground. 

Aerial photography, satellite imagery, or other similar information can help locate the stream bank, or reveal the presence of prehistoric earthworks leveled by years of agricultural activity.

Conclusion

In addition to learning the locations of previously recorded sites background research can also help you:

• determine what types of sites might occur in your project area;
• understand what these sites might look like;
• learn what environmental, historic, or other factors might have influenced their location;
• decide what sort of expertise might be needed to locate and evaluate them, and;
• develop sufficient expectations about how to manage them.

Background research is integral to any archaeological project, but unless the information shows it is nearly impossible for archaeological sites to be present, research alone rarely eliminates the need for field investigation. Field verification is still necessary to confirm the background information, much of which may be subject to error and bias. But comprehensive background research can better prepare you to predict what types of archaeological sites are located in your project area and equip you to manage them.

These are just a few of the places you can look for background information about your project area. Each of these sources can provide unique information about the types of archaeological resources that might occur in or near your project. Some of them are more passive or are limited in the information they provide – historic maps for example, either will or won’t show certain types of information by their very nature.

The take home point here is to take the information from these, or other sources, and actually think about it. Put some genuine effort into the “good faith effort” necessary for meaningful consultation. It will help identify aspects of the archaeological record people care about and contribute to more informed decision-making.

Copyright J Ryan Duddleson 2014. All rights reserved.