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December 20, 2005    January 3, 2006    February 4, 2006

S T A F F    R E P O R T

For the Business Meeting of December 20, 2005

 

November 21, 2005

Ref: C-1545, a-1792

 TO:               William A. Becker, City Manager

 FROM:         City Planning Commission

                     Martin D. Kohler, Secretary

Prepared by: Joanne M. Mejias, Historic Preservation Administrator

 

COUNCIL ON LANDMARKS & HISTORIC DISTRICTS Recommendation on HISTORIC DESIGNATION MIDDLETOWN CEMETERY, FIRST AVENUE

 PURPOSE

 The purpose of this report is to forward a recommendation from the Council on Landmarks and Historic Districts to City Council for the designation of the Middletown Cemetery located at Richmond Street and First Avenue in Middletown’s Fourth Ward as a Historic Site.

 BACKGROUND

 The original four acres of Middletown Cemetery was laid off and surveyed by James Heaton in 1827.  In 1863 two more acres were added to the cemetery and in 1869 another five acres were purchased.  The Middletown Cemetery Association was organized on May 25, 1878 under the special act of the Legislature which among others consisted of renowned Middletonians such as W.B. Oglesby, B. Rathman, C.S. Barnitz, and C.F. Gunkel.  Many of Middletown’s founding fathers and their families are buried at the cemetery; the names Doty, Vail, Sutphin and Tytus are just a few of the tombstones found throughout the plots. 

The Cemetery became Middletown’s responsibility when the Association was no longer able to manage the upkeep.  The City, in recent years, has only been able to do a minimum amount of maintenance and vandalism has been extreme high at the facility.  Vivian Moon, a local resident, has since taken this on as a personal challenge to return the Cemetery to some semblance of its former status.  New lighting has been put in place that has helped significantly with deterring undesirable elements from vandalizing the area.  New signage and landscaping has been installed at the entrance.  Exterior lighting has been run to the existing Vault and a plan is being developed to renovate the interior and exterior of the Vault as well as the immediate area surrounding the entrance to the structure. 

FINDINGS

At the request of Vivian Moon, the Council on Landmarks and Historic Districts has found that the Middletown Cemetery meets the following criteria for designation as a Historic Site: the site has major significance as part of the City’s development; it is identified with several persons who have significantly contributed to the development of the City; and it is an example of the social heritage of the City as per section 1210.03(f) and 1210.05.

 

FINANCIAL IMPACT

 None

OTHER

The significance of the designation is that modifications to the cemetery would fall under the review of the Council on Landmarks and Historic Districts.  This Council, however, does not have budget authority for the cemetery and has no supervisory authority over the City maintenance personnel.  This designation does not impair the purposes of the City’s current Master Plan or negatively affect the surrounding neighborhoods.

City Council may at its discretion hold public hearings on the proposed designation.  If approved Council may then designate by ordinance as a historic site and direct the Law Director to cause a record of such designation to be filed with the County Recorder.

If approved, the cemetery would join two other historic sites (Doty House and Crawford Street Firehouse) and one historic district (South Main)

RECOMMENDATION

The Council on Landmarks and Historic Districts recommends the Middletown Cemetery also known as Middletown Pioneer Cemetery be designated as a Historic Site per section 1210.05.

EMERGENCY/NON_EMERGENCY

This action does not require emergency legislation.

 

ATTACHMENTS

Map

cc:  Les Landen

      Betsy Parr