The first public meeting about the national heritage area designation hosted by the EMHR was held at the Dietrich Theater in Tunkhannock (top photo). The next meeting will be held at the Keystone Theatre in Towanda on Wednesday, March 14.
Touring the Bradford county Historical Society and Museum with Tom Shuster (right) in January were (from left) PointHDC consultants Nancy Morgan and Peter Samuel, EMHR administrative assistant Marci Dake, and PointHDC consultant Augie Carlino.
The Endless Mountains Heritage Region (EMHR) is taking another step towards a National Heritage Area (NHA) designation with the scheduling of a second public meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 14 at the Keystone Theatre in Towanda. EMHR executive director Cain Chamberlin will be joined by three consultants from Point Heritage Development Consultants (PointHDC).
During the meeting, which will begin at 5:30 pm, results of a recent public survey will be discussed, as well as the next steps in an endeavor that, if successful, has the potential to bring significant federal funding to the EMHR to enhance and expand on its heritage resources and programming. More than 500 responses were received from the public survey which, Chamberlin noted, indicates solid interest in the project.
“We have received an incredible amount of support from our legislators, heritage partners, and the general public,” Chamberlin stated. “We had great attendance at our public meeting in February and hope for the same for the Aug. 14 meeting.” Attendees answered questions from the consultants about themes and resources they feel should be included in the study, which provided ample fodder for the NHA Advisory Committee to continue their work.
“We go through a process that looks at whether a region has nationally significant stories, the places left on the landscape to tell those stories, and a network of partners that can work together to develop and carry out a regional vision,” lead consultant Nancy Morgan explained. “As a state heritage area that has been in existence for 25 years, the EMHR has a really strong foundation on which to build.”
Qualification is by no means automatic, noted PointHDC associate Augie Carlino, which is what makes public input and cooperation so important. “All of our communities have historical societies, museums, and unique stories,” he said. “It’s not a test of how many, but what. After our visit and research, we believe it is the geological features – the clash of the continental plates that formed the landscape, the Susquehanna River and its tributaries, and the resulting life that developed in the (Endless Mountains) region that sets it up as nationally significant.”
“The region’s most historical trends are all tied to geography – the rivers and the mountains that rose up around it,” Morgan continued.
“This estuarine system is the source for one of the world’s most important ecosystems in the world – the Chesapeake Bay,” said Carlino, adding that, in his opinion, “If it wasn’t for the Endless Mountains creating the Susquehanna, there most likely wouldn’t be at least two other national heritage areas south of the Endless Mountains, along with a few state heritage areas, that all tie their significance to the river and the bay.”
Carlino and Morgan agree that attendees of the first public meeting were engaged and willing to share the places and histories that are important to their communities, and they are looking forward to their return.
“Sometimes, at the beginning of a feasibility study, we have to really dial back the concept to the very basics of what a heritage area, in general, can do,” Carlino related. “The fact that the EMHR has a long, successful track record helped tremendously. People quickly understood that a NHA designation would take to the next level what is already underway.”
“Additionally, the EMHR board and staff are really strong,” said Morgan, citing Chamberlin as the type of leader who can get the project across the finish line.
Peter Samuel rounds out the trio of PointHDC consultants. While he is involved in all aspects of the project, his primary focus will be assisting the EMHR in meeting National Park Service guidelines. Samuel has more than 30 years experience working with the Northeast Regional Office of the NPS and has watched the number of national heritage areas grow from one to 26.
The Aug. 14 meeting will lead to the development of a draft feasibility study that will then be released to the public for review and additional input. “It’s important for the public to realize that they ARE the heritage area,” Carlino maintained. “Sure, there is a staff and board that manages the day-to-day work, but it’s the public and communities within a national heritage area that not only are involved in the planning but must remain involved after the designation occurs. Those NHAs that the most successful have a strong partnership with communities, residents, local governments, businesses, schools and other organizations.”
Chamberlin noted that the general public can continue to voice their opinions with the EMHR through its website (EMHeritage.org). “They can also become members of the organization for free and receive our monthly e-newsletters, join us for EMHR events, and contribute financially to our non-profit organization to help us continue our mission,” he stated.
The Endless Mountains Heritage Region strives to celebrate, preserve, and enhance the unique rural character of Bradford, Sullivan, Susquehanna, and Wyoming counties in northeast Pennsylvania. Though registration for the Aug. 14 meeting is not required, interested readers may RSVP or direct questions to contact@EMHeritage.org.
Vosburg Neck State Park manager Nick Sulzer (left) and park educational coordinator Amanda MacTarnaghan welcomed PointHDC consultants (continuing from left) Augie Carlino and Peter Samuel and EMHR administrative assistant Marci Dake.