Tuesday, the Poplarville Board of Aldermen heard a presentation from Mississippi Department of Archives and History Architectural Historian William Gatlin regarding historic preservation.
The purpose of historic preservation is to identify and document historic resources throughout the state, Gatlin said.
“There can be value to our historic buildings,” he said.
Gatlin said there are three reasons the MDAH conducts historic preservation; for aesthetics, economic development and public policy.
Historic buildings are pretty, fun to look at and exciting, Gatlin said. They tell people about their past.
With regard to economic development, Gatlin told the Aldermen that they probably want people to come eat, shop and spend money in Poplarville.
“Show them that your community has something different, something to come and see,” he said. “Jobs also arise at a local level. They tend to be smaller jobs and crafts people purchase their supplies locally.”
Historic preservation is also good public policy, he said. Gatlin said if the average two-story commercial brick building is torn down in a historic district and dumped in a landfill, then the recycling of 1,344,000 aluminum cans has been undone.
He then showed Board members photographs of historic buildings that have been converted into something more economically useful.
Gatlin then told Board there are things MDAH can help the city with, the first being the National Register of Historic Places.
One thing they can look at, Gatlin said, is the National Register of Districts, which is a collection of commercial and residential buildings, along with churches and schools. Those buildings could be listed on the national register after a survey and nomination process.
“The good thing about the National Register is that it doesn’t put any restrictions on the owner,” Gatlin said. “They don’t have to come to the city, county or us if they want to make a change to their building.”
Gatlin said individual registration might be a more realistic goal for Poplarville.
A local Historic District would require the city to pass a historic preservation ordinance and appoint a historic preservation commission, Gatlin said. There are some grants that come with having a local ordinance. However, there is only about $70,000 in that grant funding available and 65 other communities are vying for it, he added. The support of local business owners and homeowners would also be required.
Gatlin said they often suggest looking at a National Register first. Gatlin also spoke about the Antiquities Law, which requires owners of publicly owned buildings to obtain a permit from MDAH prior to altering the building.
Gatlin said he’s seen the former City Hall building at 101 N. Main St.
“I haven’t been inside,” he said. “That would be the real key to see how much has been changed over time. One of the issues we have to look at is integrity, does the building retain the characteristics, materials, workmanship and quality to qualify to be an historic building? From the exterior I think that’s the truth. I think that’s certainly possible.”
Mayor Brad Necaise asked Gatlin if there were any grant opportunities for the old City Hall building. Gatlin said he couldn’t think of any. In recent months, Aldermen approved making exterior repairs to the building at 101 N. Main St. due to a termite problem. During the May 17 meeting, Necaise signed a check for contractor Keith Lott to begin repairs to the exterior of the building.
The next Aldermen meeting will be held on July 5 at 5 p.m. in the boardroom at City Hall.