Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Board to Meet to Consider Nomination / Designation Will Continue to Attract Jobs, Tourism
Washington, DC- Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) called on the Pennsylvania Bureau for Historic Preservation to give strong consideration to the Bangor Borough Council and Slate Belt Community Partnership Main Street Program’s application to include the Bangor Historic District in the National Register of Historic Places. The designation would highlight Bangor’s role as the commercial and industrial center of Pennsylvania’s “Slate Belt,” and help the borough in its efforts to preserve its history.
“Bangor has a rich history that speaks to the important industrial progress made in Pennsylvania’s Slate Belt region during the 19th and 20th centuries,” Senator Casey said. “It is my hope that the National Register of Historic Places will recognize the significance of the Bangor Historic District as they continue to expand upon efforts to celebrate their past and attract jobs and tourism to the area.”
The text of Senator Casey’s letter is below:
Dear Ms. Frantz:
It is my understanding that Bangor Borough Council, in conjunction with the Slate Belt Community Partnership Main Street Program, has submitted an application for the Bangor Historic District to receive a designation on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also my understanding that next month the Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Board is meeting in Harrisburg to consider this nomination. The purpose of this letter is to urge you to give full and fair consideration to this proposal.
I have been informed that Bangor, a borough of 5,273 residents in Northampton County, traces its development to the founding of a large slate quarry in 1866. Many quarries were soon started in what is now known as Pennsylvania’s “Slate Belt.” Many believe that Bangor became the commercial and industrial center of the Slate Belt, as slate was sought after for construction, education and decorative materials well into the 20th century, which in turn attracted thousands of immigrants to the area. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Bangor became a major center of textile and apparel manufacturing in the United States, providing jobs after the slate industry slowed.
I have been advised that the Bangor National Register Historic District includes Bangor’s significant downtown commercial architecture and its older residential neighborhoods. The historic district also includes several factories and the former Bangor Slate Quarry. In all, over 1,300 resources will be listed, which I understand is quite large by historic district standards. Further, it is my understanding that the National Register designation will be used to recognize the significance of Bangor’s slate, textile and apparel industries. As it appears, the current commercial buildings in downtown Bangor, the surrounding residences and factories are already celebrating Bangor’s past and future. Additionally, this nomination should help Bangor’s ongoing participation in the Slate Belt Community Partnership’s regional Main Street Program and its efforts to revitalize the entire 10-municipality Slate Belt area, rehabilitate historic buildings, and continue to attract jobs and tourism.
Thank you in advance for the consideration of my views. Please include this letter in the official record of the application. Consistent with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, I also respectfully request that you keep me informed of the status of this grant application. Finally, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to contact me or my staff.
Sincerely,
Robert P. Casey, Jr.
United States Senator
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