CULTURAL LANDSCAPE TREATMENT PLAN: PROGRESS REPORT #7

This progress report summarizes work completed since November 2001 on the Hampton National Historic Site Cultural Landscape Report and focuses on the development of the cultural landscape treatment plan. This progress report will be published in the park’s newsletter and website.

Core Project Team:

• Paul Bitzel, Horticulturist, Hampton National Historic Site
• Cheryl Sams, Historical Landscape Architect, PHSO
• Shaun Eyring, Manager, Cultural Resources Group, PHSO

1. Project Update

General:

• The Hampton topographic survey has been completed by JMT of Towson. This electronic topographic survey is critical for completing accurate garden plans, developing treatments for other landscape areas, and addressing site-wide accessibility. This electronic survey provides the base for the Hampton garden rehabilitation plan. Eventually copies of the survey will be available for reference in the park and in the Regional Office.

• The Archeological Survey for Hampton National Historic Site was completed. This survey identifies actual or potential locations of archeological sites, which we must avoid disturbing with future projects. A Boundary Survey for the entire site was also completed.

• The final draft of the Hampton Cultural Landscape Report is being completed and will include recent findings.

Garden Rehabilitation Project:

• Cheryl Sams and Paul Bitzel have researched the Hampton Archives for further documentation of the historic conditions of the terraced garden during the period of significance.

• Many historic photos were found that indicated the layout and overall structure of the garden before 1900.
• Historic plant lists and garden plans were located with the year of implementation.

• Using historic documentation, Cheryl and Paul have prepared a conceptual plan for the terraced garden addressing issues such as:

• Overall spatial organization and layout of the rehabilitated garden
• Development of a Handicap Accessibility Plan sensitive to the historic design of the garden
• Discussion of appropriate plant materials

• A historic Plant Materials Database has been developed along with notes on possible substitutes. This list will be distributed to the HHI Garden and Grounds committee for review and input.

2. Spring and Summer Schedule

• Paul Bitzel and Lynne Hastings, Curator, are preparing the Determination of Eligibility for the Alden Hopkins parterres for review by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). The determination that this post-Ridgley era Colonial Revival Garden does not contribute to the national significance of Hampton must be completed with SHPO concurrence before any physical changes can be made to rehabilitate the gardens.

• Upon concurrence with the SHPO on the Determination of Eligibility, Cheryl and Paul will prepare the Rehabilitation Plans for the garden. A phased approach to rehabilitate the garden will be developed to maximize funding and manpower resources.

• Cheryl Sams is developing schematic design drawings of the garden rehabilitation to present at the June meeting. Comments and discussion from this meeting will inform the final construction drawings.

• A meeting is tentatively scheduled for June at which Cheryl and Paul will present to Historic Hampton, Inc. their research findings, historic plant materials database and the conceptual plan for the garden.

Please direct any questions or concerns regarding this progress report to Cheryl Sams, Philadelphia Support Office, 215-597-5822, e/mail: cheryl_sams@nps.gov or Paul Bitzel, Hampton National Historic Site, 410-962-4290 x234, or e/mail: paul_bitzel@nps.gov.