Tell the Lincoln University Board of Trustees to Consider LUHI's Proposal To Create the Lincoln University Historic District
LUHI's has submitted a proposal to the Board of Trustees of Lincoln University and the Chair, Ms. Kimberly Lloyd to assist the University in developing an economically viable Lincoln University Historic District that will not only attract visitors, scholars, school groups, business and employment to the campus/region, but will also qualify for preservation grants for much needed repairs to some of the historic buildings. Ms. Lloyd has chosen to set the proposal aside and not bring it before the Board or have it considered the Buildings and Property Committee. Please sign our petition to let Ms. Lloyd and the Board of Trustees know that the proposal should be considered as soon as possible. A copy of the LUHI proposal is below.
| LUHI Proposal for Lincoln University Historic District |
UPDATE: To date, December 18, 2013, there has been no further response from Ms. Lloyd, the Chair of the Lincoln University Board of Trustees (BOT) regarding the Lincoln University Historic District proposed by LUHI. Further, except for two trustees who privately indicated there should be discussion of the proposal, the members of the Board of Trustees have not responded to a request to refer the proposal to the BOT Buildings and Property Committee for consideration, which was sent to each them on November 15, 2013. Below is text of the letter to the trustees:
"Dear Trustees of Lincoln University:
The recognition and preservation of the Lincoln University community’s historic legacy in our culture, history and education is a paramount goal of the Lincoln University Historic Initiative (LUHI). LUHI has been working to preserve the 15 historic buildings on campus, some of which were constructed immediately after the Civil War into the first quarter of the 20th century. As you know Lincoln has been challenged financially over the last few decades and the resolve to preserve our university history seems to be in jeopardy.
By way of background, in June, 2013, through the efforts of Friends of Lincoln Village and the AALU-ROAR Initiative, two previous entities interested in Lincoln University historical preservation, LUHI learned that 15 buildings on our campus were determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) nearly 25 years ago. Those buildings are: Azikiwe-Nkrumah Hall (1865), Lincoln Hall (1866), Alumni House (1870), Cresson Hall (1870), Cannon House (1874), Houston Hall (1881), Mary Dodd Brown Chapel (1890), University Hall (1891), Bond House(1891) Vail Hall (1899), Amos Hall (1902), McCauley Hall (1904), President’s House (1906), Life Sciences Building (1925) and Rendell Hall (1931). After consultations with these entities, LUHI is exploring the possibility of extending the boundaries of the eligible Lincoln University Historic District to include Hosanna AUMP Church, The Lincoln University Train Station and other site remnants of Hinsonville, a 19th century Black village upon which the current site of Ashmun Institute/Lincoln University now sits, known as the “old campus.” These buildings are now in various stages of deterioration and the oldest building, Azikiwe-Nkrumah Hall, has been targeted for demolition since May, 2013.
LUHI has been working with the Alumni Association of Lincoln University (AALU) and the administration to preserve the historic Bond House. As you know, the Bond House is named for Dr. Horace Mann Bond ’23, the first Alumni and African American President of our university. The Bond House has been vacant for a number of years and is in need of repair.
LUHI sees our historic campus and its buildings as an economic development opportunity that would generate tourism, new businesses, jobs, and a cultural destination. As a member of the Lincoln University Board of Trustees, we are asking you to support our request to the Chairlady of the Board to bring our proposal for the Lincoln University Historic District to your attention and have it considered by the Buildings and Property Committee so that we can further discuss and develop a path to preserve, develop and finance this ambitious cultural and economic development effort. We sense hesitation from the Board and think this issue is too critical to the future of our university to delay or postpone our progress. We trust that you will grant LUHI the opportunity to present its vision."
Please, continue to sign the petition.
"Dear Trustees of Lincoln University:
The recognition and preservation of the Lincoln University community’s historic legacy in our culture, history and education is a paramount goal of the Lincoln University Historic Initiative (LUHI). LUHI has been working to preserve the 15 historic buildings on campus, some of which were constructed immediately after the Civil War into the first quarter of the 20th century. As you know Lincoln has been challenged financially over the last few decades and the resolve to preserve our university history seems to be in jeopardy.
By way of background, in June, 2013, through the efforts of Friends of Lincoln Village and the AALU-ROAR Initiative, two previous entities interested in Lincoln University historical preservation, LUHI learned that 15 buildings on our campus were determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) nearly 25 years ago. Those buildings are: Azikiwe-Nkrumah Hall (1865), Lincoln Hall (1866), Alumni House (1870), Cresson Hall (1870), Cannon House (1874), Houston Hall (1881), Mary Dodd Brown Chapel (1890), University Hall (1891), Bond House(1891) Vail Hall (1899), Amos Hall (1902), McCauley Hall (1904), President’s House (1906), Life Sciences Building (1925) and Rendell Hall (1931). After consultations with these entities, LUHI is exploring the possibility of extending the boundaries of the eligible Lincoln University Historic District to include Hosanna AUMP Church, The Lincoln University Train Station and other site remnants of Hinsonville, a 19th century Black village upon which the current site of Ashmun Institute/Lincoln University now sits, known as the “old campus.” These buildings are now in various stages of deterioration and the oldest building, Azikiwe-Nkrumah Hall, has been targeted for demolition since May, 2013.
LUHI has been working with the Alumni Association of Lincoln University (AALU) and the administration to preserve the historic Bond House. As you know, the Bond House is named for Dr. Horace Mann Bond ’23, the first Alumni and African American President of our university. The Bond House has been vacant for a number of years and is in need of repair.
LUHI sees our historic campus and its buildings as an economic development opportunity that would generate tourism, new businesses, jobs, and a cultural destination. As a member of the Lincoln University Board of Trustees, we are asking you to support our request to the Chairlady of the Board to bring our proposal for the Lincoln University Historic District to your attention and have it considered by the Buildings and Property Committee so that we can further discuss and develop a path to preserve, develop and finance this ambitious cultural and economic development effort. We sense hesitation from the Board and think this issue is too critical to the future of our university to delay or postpone our progress. We trust that you will grant LUHI the opportunity to present its vision."
Please, continue to sign the petition.