Canby Recognizes Historic Preservation Month
Seven organizations, working together, have created multiple events to recognize the value of historic preservation. The kick-off at the May 1 city council meeting will include recognition of Canby heritage advocates, Peggy Sigler and Dawn Eleen Coleman.
During the pandemic, Canby’s recognition of Historic Preservation Month waned. Seven Canby organizations have come together to make this year’s recognition a special event. Trying to avoid a one-dimensional approach, the groups are offering multiple, diverse opportunities to engage residents and business owners.
Canby Economic Development Department’s Tyler Nizer took the lead, hiring Northwest Vernacular to update the historic property survey of the original townsite. Belinda Goody, Chamber of Commerce Director, has arranged for the presentation of the survey’s findings and recommendations at the May Chamber Luncheon, which will be held on May 7th at 11:30 at Cutforth’s Old Town Hall.
The Canby Historical Society and the Canby Library worked together to develop a program that would appeal to many residents. They invited Michael Schmeer of the Oak Lodge History Detectives to hold one of his presentations on Discovering the History of Your Home. The workshop will be held on Saturday May 18th at 1:00pm in the Willamette Room of the Library. If you would like to attend, please sign-up at the Canby Library reference desk or call 503.266.3394. Per Marisa Ely, Canby Library Director, "We are excited and so lucky to be collaborating with the Canby Historical Society on this project, and we look forward to working with them on future heritage-based programs."
Tyler Nizer, coordinator for Canby’s First Thursday Night Market, decided that event would be the perfect way to reach people who would enjoy an evening of food, fun and shopping rather than a workshop or a luncheon. As a part of the event, there will be historic site walking tours of the downtown. The guided tour will begin at the Historic Holly Street City Hall at 6:15 and, if needed, a second tour will start at 7:15. If you want to participate, reserve your spot at https://www.canbyoregon.gov/bc-hlc/webform/downtown-historic-walking-tours.
Canby’s three non-profit heritage organizations, Mark Prairie Historical Society, Friends of Carus School, and Canby Historical Society are participating in the First Thursday Night Market and will have tables set up on the corner by Gwynn’s Willamette Coffee House to share information about their organizations and the projects they have in progress. Additionally, they will be included in the First Thursday Night Market scavenger hunt. Per Nizer, “our non-profit organizations are community treasures, and it is wonderful to have them included in a First Thursday Night Market.”
Finally, the evening will feature placement of a time capsule in the City Arch, which will begin at 5:00. Canby Area Beautification is organizing a companion event that begins at 5:30 on the grounds of the city’s most important historic site, a 2023 DeMuro Award Winner, Holly Street City Hall. This will include placement of a time capsule, a heritage tree planting, and placement of a plaque. Live music will follow.
The City Council proclamation, the kick-off event, will be on May 1. In addition to the proclamation, the council will recognize the Canby Historical Society volunteer of the year, Board Treasurer Dawn Eleen Coleman, and the winner of the biannual Oregon Heritage Excellence Award for an individual, Peggy Sigler (pictured), Volunteer Project Manager for the Mark Prairie School Restoration, and a veteran of three decades of city, county, regional and state heritage work. Oregon Parks and Recreation Department’s Oregon Heritage Commission member, Anne Levant Prahl will be at the meeting to join the council in thanking Sigler and Coleman for their contributions.
.
MEDIA CONTACT: Carol Palmer carolpalmer24@gmail.com 503.504.2638
Comments