2009 NTHP 11 Most Endangered Historic Sites

In April, the National Trust for Historic for Historic Preservation issued its annual list of the Eleven Most Endangered Historic Sites. The SIA had previously been asked to support two of these sites, the Memorial Bridge btw Portsmouth, NH and Kittery, ME, and the Ames Shovel Shops in North Easton, MA, which we did through the Historic Preservation Committee reviewing the requests and having our President, Mary Habstritt, draft a letter in support. The process, created in 2007, allows a timely, considered response in which the SIA can review and endorse significant industrial heritage preservation activities. I'm pleased that these sites made the list, though that's a dubious honor, as they are still very much in danger, and worthy of continuing efforts to preserve them. I'm also happy that the SIA was able to respond to the requests of the organizations supporting the preservation of these sites in a timely way, but with careful review and internal comment. Can't win 'em all, but this is an important role for the SIA.