Sublimity residents are invited to an open forum to save the city’s heritage.
“Heritage meaning ‘valued objects and qualities’ such as cultural traditions, unspoiled countryside and historic buildings, that have been passed down from previous generations,” said Mary Carskadon, who is working on the project with Ron Etzel.
The duo invites community members to “come and help us save what matters most to our community.”
The forum will take place at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18, at Sublimity City Hall, 245 NW Johnson St.
According to the flyer on the upcoming forum, Sublimity is “a small sublime city with a wealth of history, knowledge and stories of its past: St. Boniface Church, Ditters Store, and one of the first state post office locations” in the area.
Discussion at the meeting will focus on forming a Sublimity heritage and history organization, comprised of interested community members who want to “celebrate our past” and to “dedicate our future,” Carskadon said.
“As Carl Sampson said, in last month’s Our Town, ‘Community is a term heard often, but many times we are robbed of the opportunity to actually be one,’” Carskadon said. “We care about Sublimity history. We hope this meeting moves us forward.”
A picture of the Paul Toews’ blacksmith shop mural, permanently mounted in Sublimity on Feb. 26, will be displayed at the meeting.
Attendees will learn how the organization may become eligible to become a nonprofit 501(c)3, part of the Oregon Cultural Trust; how to qualify for Oregon Heritage grant programs such as an Oregon Museum grant; Historic Cemeteries grant; grants to match cities that have certified as historic preservation partners for things such as historic resource surveys, preservation education, building restoration, and planning.
“There are grants for financial assistance for residents to attend preservation-related conferences, workshops, and training, with travel expenses, registration fees, transportation lodging, and meals, eligible,” Carskadon said.
“A grant to provide funding assistance for construction and restoration of veterans’ and war memorials. There are other grants you’ll hear about as well, including the Preserving Oregon grant, the Diamond in the Rough grant, and the Oregon Main Street Revitalization grant.”
The new group will also research how to fund future murals around town, Carskadon said.
“Stayton is doing it,” she said. “Silverton has done it for years, with independent funding.”
Along with the displayed picture of the blacksmith shop mural, the audience is invited to bring an article or artifact to share.
“Something of Sublimity’s history and heritage you are proud of, something you’d like to see preserved, something you’d be sad to lose,” Carskadon suggested.
For more, contact Carskadon, 503-769-4521, [email protected], or Etzel, 503-551-8893, [email protected].
