Field Session: Path of the Flood: Journey Around Lake Conemaugh Van Tour and a Walk Through the Ruins program DCNR’s Trail of the Year! [10 remaining]

Journey Around Lake Conemaugh:
Participants will board the van at the Visitor Center, travel to the North and South abutments of the South Fork Dam, as well as a stop at the Club House building. Visitors will learn the history of the dam, interesting facts about the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club and its members, and the events of Friday, May 31, 1889.

The tour takes place in a 15-passenger van. Personal space may be limited depending on the number of participants signed up. Please note that maneuvering on and off the van may be difficult.

A Walk Through the Ruins:
The walk takes participants through the ruins of the South Fork Dam. It goes to the bottom of the dam, through the breach and back up out of the dam on the other side. Participants will learn about May 31, 1889, the hillside across from the dam, and more. The walk is approximately 1/3 mile.
Please note that the last portion of the walk contains a steep section back to the parking lot from the bottom of the dam. There are also several sets of wooden stairs that go into the dam.

Tour will begin at the Johnstown Flood National Memorial Visitor Center, 733 Lake Rd, South Fork, PA 15956

NOTE: This is off site and requires a 20 minute drive.

Tour Leader: Elizabeth A. Shope, NPS Ranger

Pennsylvania’s Sacred Places: Helping Congregations and Their Communities in a Shifting Religious Landscape

For over thirty-five years, Partners for Sacred Places has helped faith communities navigate new challenges, especially challenges related to their buildings. A national non-denominational, nonprofit organization with staff working all over the country, based in Philadelphia that develops new programs and services that are relevant to anyone within the faith, community development, or human and social services fields. Three staff members from Partners will provide overviews of different capacity-building programs and consulting services that Partners provides congregations, with special reference to case studies from Pennsylvania’s rural, suburban, and urban communities. Programs and services that staff will address include: the National Fund for Sacred Places; a long-running fundraising workshop series entitled New Dollars/New Partners; Halo Studies on economic impact; Community-Asset Mapping and Space-Sharing Assessments; and the Philadelphia Fund for Black Sacred Places. All of these programs and services are grounded in Partners’ core belief that sound building stewardship and active community use are inextricably connected.

Speakers:
Kevin Block, Director of Special Initiatives, PFSP
PFSP Staff TBD

Big Projects for Big Impacts: SHPO studies your community can use

PA SHPO staff will introduce two reports coordinated through our office: the Deindustrialized Communities Study, which focuses on how preservation can be a part of community re-investment strategies, and Measuring the Impact of Historic Preservation Efforts, a study which was aimed at helping local communities understand how preservation aligns with their local planning goals and how to be well-positioned to make policy decisions around design guidelines, historic designations, zoning, support, and other preservation- related policies and programs. Attendees will learn about how to implement the recommendations from these studies in their own communities and leave with a list of prompts to start discussions on strengthening their own preservation programs.

Speakers:
Elizabeth Rairigh, Preservation Services Division Manager, PA SHPO
Community Preservation Coordinators

Shifting the Paradigm: Historic Cemeteries as Community Anchors ANDNon-Invasive Cemetery Identification for Preservation

Shifting the Paradigm: It’s time to rethink cemeteries as more than final resting places and recognize their potential as vibrant community spaces. Laurel Hill, a pioneer in redefining American cemeteries, includes two historic properties spanning the Schuylkill River—Laurel Hill East in Philadelphia and Laurel Hill West in Bala Cynwyd—both nationally recognized for their cultural and historical significance. With over 200,000 interments, Laurel Hill serves a diverse population and also functions as an outdoor museum, public park, and accredited arboretum, offering walking paths, educational tours, and public programs year-round. This session will highlight how strategic preservation and community engagement at Laurel Hill have made it a model for viewing cemeteries as inclusive, multifunctional places that foster connection, equity, and civic pride.

Non-Invasive Identification - Context is one of the most important considerations for a geophysical survey; anomalies are, in the simplest terms, observed deviations from the background. In practice this typically means that the geophysical survey area should be as large as possible so that the background of the site is known. Not all projects are ideal however and the survey area may be constricted by property boundaries, vegetation, slope, extant structures, etc. Instrumentation choice may also be limited by the above factors as well as the client's budget and project schedule. Despite these restrictions, quality archaeological geophysical survey is often still possible. We aim to demonstrate through several datasets which span Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia, how to approach small cemetery surveys, manage expectations, and derive successful outcomes.

Speakers:
Nancy Goldenberg, President & CEO of Laurel Hill Cemetery
Stephanie Zellers, Archaeologists and Geophysics Specialist, Skelly and Loy, a Terracon Company

Modernizing our Preservation Code – Two CLGs Spill the Tea

Two Certified Local Government (CLG) municipalities from opposite
ends of the Commonwealth, one small borough and one large township, applied their CLG
grants towards updating antiquated preservation ordinances. The Chairs of both historic
preservation boards will present their strategies, planning, partnering, outcomes and
lessons that are leading to future success. Commonalities abound but unique approaches
are required tailored for each. In both towns, engaging historic property owners as well as
community partners are woven into a fabric to advance preservation practices and owners
stewardship.

Speakers:
Megan McNish, Eastern Region Community Preservation Coordinator, PA SHPO (Moderator)
Teresa Duff, Borough of Sewickley, Chair, Historic Review Commission,
LINEAGE Historic Preservation Services
Rob Williams, Tredyffrin Township, Chair, Historical Commission
Angelique Bamberg, Clio Consulting, architectural historian and historic preservation consulting
John Snook, Former land use planner for Brandywine Conservancy and Chester County Planning Commission

What Now? Charting a Path Through Federal Funding Cuts

Federal support for history, preservation, the arts, and humanities is under threat. What does this mean for your work—and how do we respond? This open panel discussion brings together advocacy leaders from across Pennsylvania to explore the real-world impact of proposed federal funding cuts on our shared heritage. Rather than prepared presentations, this session will unfold as a dynamic conversation shaped by audience insight and participation. Panelists will pose forward-looking questions to spark dialogue, elevate challenges, and surface creative solutions. The session will close with a collective call to action—outlining how we can advocate more effectively, collaborate more strategically, and ensure our voices are heard at every level.

Discussion Leaders:
Paul Steinke, Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia
Mindy Gulden Crawford, Preservation Pennsylvania
TBD

Welcome Reception

Kick off the conference with a warm welcome from our partner organizations, followed by an hour of casual networking, drinks, and light refreshments. A chance to reconnect, make new connections, and ease into the event ahead.

Plenary Session with Keynote Speaker

Dave Hurst, The Steeples Project will introduce the Plenary space after some opening remarks by Parners.

Just Don’t Build: The Case for Imaginative Reuse
Renowned critic and author Aaron Betsky makes a compelling case for rethinking our approach to the built environment. Drawing from his book Don’t Build, Rebuild, Betsky will explore how imaginative reuse—not new construction—can offer more sustainable, creative, and culturally resonant solutions to today’s architectural and urban challenges.

Walking Tour of Johnstown

Details on meeting place to come.

Old Venues, New Visions: Overcoming Barriers in Adaptive Use for Performing Arts AND The Yorktowne Hotel Story, Saving a Downtown Anchor

Old Venues, New Visions - This session will illustrate some of the challenges and opportunities of rehabilitating existing buildings for performing arts uses. The presentation will utilize case studies, including the Columba Theatre Project in Johnstown, to discuss unique solutions to overcome these barriers in innovative ways. These may include balancing the preservation of key character-defining features with modern/functional needs, code and accessibility upgrades, building systems replacement, specialty equipment installations, and acoustic modifications.

The Yorktowne - Explore the ambitious, years-in-the-making effort to bring York’s historic Yorktowne Hotel back to life. This case study highlights how community vision, public-private partnerships, and creative problem-solving transformed a threatened landmark into a dynamic downtown destination. Learn from the challenges, milestones, and lasting impact of this complex preservation success.
Speakers:
Jessica Stuck, RA, LEED AP BD+C, AIA, Associate and Senior Project Manager, LGA Partners
Amy Ahn Baade, RA, WELL AP, AIA, Project Architect, LGA Partners
Dave Hurst, Executive Director, The Steeples Project
Kim Hogeman, Assistant Vice President of Economic and Community Development, York County Economic Alliance and Preservation Pennsylvania Board Member

Ins and outs of Uncovering the Roots AND The Marvels of Mitigation: The Story of the Mustin Field Seaplane Hanger

Ins and Outs - The Lumber Heritage Region will share their journey to uncover the roots of their organization in this engaging storytelling session. Through photos, props, and candid reflections, attendees will learn what worked, what didn’t, and the valuable lessons gained along the way. This presentation offers practical tips for selecting the right researcher, navigating the research process, and making the most of your findings. A Q&A will follow, providing time to dig deeper into how to start—or strengthen—your own research journey.

Marvels - Between 2019 and 2023, the PennDOT, Port of Philadelphia, the PA SHPO, Wordworth Productions, and Terracon collaborated to produce successful mitigation for the demolition of the Mustin Field Seaplane Hangar, a World War II-era hangar located on the property adjacent to the Philadelphia Navy Yard. By combining traditional media and innovative technology, Terracon produced a suite of products to interpret the history of the large seaplane hangar, as well as historic topics surrounding it. The topics included the hangar’s design and construction, its relationship to the Philadelphia Navy Yard and the U.S. effort during World War II, and the history of seaplane aviation on the Delaware River. The realities of preservation work is that not everything can be saved but it is vitally important to ensure that the stories are preserved.

Speakers:

Holly Komonczi, Executive Director, Lumber Heritage Region
Jenna Thomas-Cline, Architectural Historian, Skelly and Loy, a Terracon Company