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By DEBORAH GERTZ HUSAR Herald-Whig Staff Writer BARRY, Ill. -- Barry Mayor Pat Syrcle's grandparents lived about amile down the road from the New Philadelphia site. "As a kid, I went to New Philadelphia hundreds of times," Syrclesaid. "My granddad would talk about it a little bit. Occasionallywe'd get on his Ford tractor and go over to the cemetery. My motherwent to school at New Philadelphia." The family connections nurtured a long-standing interest in thecommunity, the first platted by an African-American. The New Philadelphia Association formed in 1996 to present anaccurate picture of Free Frank McWorter, his community and histimes. Syrcle joined the group, now serving as its treasurer, andhas seen the impact of its effort to spur a closer look at thesite. "I don't know that we ever thought back in the beginning thatarchaeologists would actually be there someday, but when the firstone of those (surveys) was done, the amount of stuff found wasphenomenal that first year. That just heightened the interest evenmore," Syrcle said. Archaeological work began a decade ago with the association'srequest for help to preserve and interpret the long-abandoned townsite. Initial surveys followed by two field schools supported bythe National Science Foundation's program of Research Experiencesfor Undergraduates proved what people like Syrcle already knew. "Archaeological research begun at New Philadelphia in 2002confirmed local residents' long-held belief that the integratedtown founded by Frank McWorter was an exceptional place," saidCharlotte King, who worked at field schools at the site andcoordinated and drafted the historic landmark nomination."Designation as a National Historic Landmark in 2009 affirmed thehistoric town site's extraordinary national significance." The long-range goal calls for the site to become part of theNational Park Service. "As a unit of the National Park Service, New Philadelphia willinspire current and future generations for its representation ofideals treasured by all Americans -- freedom and opportunity foradvancement," King said. Legislation seeking a feasibility study for national park statushas been introduced, but "it's probably not going to happen thisyear," New Philadelphia Association President Phil Bradshaw said."We have good support for it, but the financial constraints are sotight right now, it's hard to get government to look at it." In the meantime, a pledge of $7,500 a year for 10 years fromIllinois Rural Electric Cooperative is funding improvements at thesite, including a visitor kiosk, a walking trail and landscaping.The Marvin J. and Thomas Leo Likes Memorial Lecture Series is beingheld this month. Chris Fennell, a field school director and associate professor,director of graduate studies and associate head of the Departmentof Anthropology at the University of Illinois, said continuedexploration uncovered "additional remains of the residences andbusiness operations conducted there in the 19th century." He said new initiatives of geoscience studies and aerial "LiDAR"laser surveys of the town site and surrounding landscape providedmore details to aid ongoing research. Archaeologists and historiansare also collaborating now with local and descendant communitymembers to develop exhibits to convey the stories of NewPhiladelphia. Paul Shackel, director of the Center for Heritage Resource Studiesat the University of Maryland, College Park, led the first fieldschools at the site and has seen growing community support for theproject, coupled with community healing. "When we did the original survey in 2002, on occasion, people woulddrive by and tell us to go home. After a few years on the project,people were stopping by the site to find out more about theircommunity history," he said. "There was a noticeable change incommunity acceptance of the project." -- dhusar@whig.com/221-3379. I am an expert from solidtimberdoor.com, while we provides the quality product, such as Commercial Fire Rated Doors , Straight Staircases Manufacturer, Solid Timber Door,and more.
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