Underrepresented Communities Grant

Background

The National Park Service has awarded the Town of Southern Pines a $75,000 Underrepresented Communities Grant. We’re proud that Southern Pines was the only municipality in North Carolina to receive these funds. The Town will use this grant to help survey and document important historic assets in the West Southern Pines community.

West Southern Pines was one of North Carolina’s first incorporated African American townships, and has a rich but widely unrecognized history. Identifying and documenting these historic resources is essential to understanding, illustrating, and honoring our local African American history. 

Historic resources in Southern Pines have been documented in the past, with the most recent project being a 2010 survey update of the Southern Pines Historic District. There is a need for the same type of effort in West Southern Pines, especially since there are no sites in that community that are currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This project will be an important catalyst for needed conversations among Town citizens and government about local African American history and its role in Southern Pines’ history and culture.

Our project is part of a grant cycle that awarded $1.2 million to 21 projects in 16 states and the District of Columbia. We’re proud to join these other communities across the country who are actively working to ensure the assets of diverse communities receive the protection they deserve through the National Register of Historic Places for diverse communities.  This project is being supported in part by an Underrepresented Communities grant from the Historic Preservation Fund administered by the National Park Service, Department of Interior.

Scope of Work

This grant will pay for consulting services to complete three important tasks:

  1. Create an architectural survey of West Southern Pines
  2. Prepare nominations for the National Register of Historic Places for these three properties, which have already been vetted by the NC State Historic Preservation Office: Trinity AME Zion Church; Amos Broadway Theater and Beer Garden; and Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church site.
  3. Complete up to six applications for the North Carolina Study List for sites previously unstudied within the West Southern Pines community.

Projected Timeline

Supporting Documents

Image of a building with two cars parked in front
Image of a building
Image of people gathering outside a church
Image of a church
Image of a school
Image of a school

FAQs:

What is the Underrepresented Communities Grant (URC)?

The National Park Service’s Underrepresented Communities Grant Program (URC) works towards diversifying the nominations submitted to the National Register of Historic Places. Projects include surveys and inventories of historic properties associated with communities underrepresented in the National Register, as well as the development of nominations to the National Register for specific sites. Grants are awarded through a competitive application process.

What is the National Register of Historic Places? Why does listing matter?

The National Park Service administers the National Register of Historic Places, which is the official Federal list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture. National Register properties have significance to the history of their community, state, or the nation. 

It’s important to note that National Historic Landmarks are a separate designation, but are automatically included in the National Register of Historic Places if not already listed.

What is an Architectural Survey? 

An architectural survey identifies and then records historic buildings, structures, objects, districts, and sites in a given geographic or thematic area. It’s important to document the built environment as it relates to local history for preservation of neighborhood and community character. 

How Can Survey Information Be Used?

Survey information can be used to identify historic resources that require further study, individual properties and/or districts eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, and individual properties and/or districts eligible for local historic designation. Architectural surveys are also critical to long range planning for the community.

How Can I Learn More?

We will continue to provide updates on this website, including important documents. We will provide opportunities for input from the community and identify individuals who can assist in the work. This project is an important community partnership between the Town and West Southern Pines community so that, together, we can document our local African American history and ensure we celebrate the value it has contributed to Southern Pines’ history and culture.

Contact Information

Rachel Mann
910-692-4003 X 7234
rmann@southernpines.net