From the Dartmouth Heritage Preservation Trust, Preserving Dartmouth’s
Heritage from the Foundation Up
DHPT Receives IRS Non-Profit Status
For Additional Information
Please Contact Diane M. Gilbert, President, the Dartmouth Heritage
Preservation Trust, (508) 993-1216 or Peggi Medeiros, Clerk, (508) 992-9624
The Dartmouth Heritage Preservation Trust, P.O. Box 87026, Dartmouth, MA
02748
THE DARTMOUTH HERITAGE PRESERVATION TRUST
RECEIVES NON-PROFIT STATUS FROM IRS
Diane M. Gilbert, President, the Dartmouth Heritage Preservation Trust,
announced today that the Trust was granted non-profit status by the IRS as a
public charity. According to the IRS “contributions to you are deductible
under section 170 of the Code. You are also qualified to receive
tax-deductible bequests, devises, transfers or gifts.”
Ms. Gilbert said, “The DHPT, its members and the communities we serve from
Dartmouth to Westport, Acushnet to New Bedford have received an early
holiday present by reaching a critical milestone for the organization. The
IRS ruling means donations to the Trust are tax deductible to the extent
allowed by law. Equally important it allows us to move into the New Year
fully focused on our mission with this necessary requirement satisfied.”
She went on to say, “This has been an important first year for the DHPT,
putting us on a solid foundation. Our board came together, determined our
mission, filed our organizational papers with the Commonwealth in March, and
in May, held our first press conference on the site of Dartmouth’s historic
Russell Garrison. This summer we partnered with Dr. Christina Hodge,
Visiting Lecturer at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth and Senior
Curatorial Assistant at Harvard University’s Peabody Museum, for the first
Elihu Akin House archaeological field session and helped secure the house
from further structural damage. Early in 2008 the Trust will lease the Akin
House from its new owners, the Town of Dartmouth and move forward with
completing the house’s interior and exterior conservation.”
Ms. Gilbert closed by saying, “We hope that with the attainment of our
official non-profit status new members will join the DHPT before the end of
the year and our founding members will consider an additional gift to the
Trust with the assurance that their donation is tax deductible and will be
put to good use in the coming year.”
During 2007 the Dartmouth Heritage Preservation Trust began work on its
mission to “protect and preserve architecturally and historically
significant structures and sites located in the town of Dartmouth,
Massachusetts and surrounding communities, through the acquisition of such
structures and sites, and easement interests therein, through providing
financial and technical assistance in connection with the preservation and
restoration of such structures and sites, and through education and
advocacy.”
DHPT 2007 Achievements:
- May 17, 2007 - Introduced the organization to the public at the historic Russell Garrison in Dartmouth
- Conducted community outreach during summer 2007
- Assisted Dr. Christina Hodge with the first Elihu Akin archaeology field session. During July and August Dr. Hodge, her students from the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth and a volunteer work crew excavated sites surrounding the house uncovering artifacts ranging from 18th century pottery to glass and metals. This summer’s field session is only the beginning of work at the site and the Trust looks forward to a second field session in 2008. (For an update on the project visit akinhouse.blogspot.com)
- In September, Dr. Hodge arranged for volunteers from Brown University and the University of Massachusetts Boston to return to the site. They used a total station to record the location and elevation (height above sea level) of every unit dug during the summer field project. Experts also conducted another remote sensing survey, this one measuring electrical conductivity in a portion of the north and west yards.
- In November Dr. Hodge arranged for Josh King of Hager GeoScience Inc. to conduct Ground Penetrating Radar, or GPR. GPR sends radar waves underground from a box-like radar antenna (red in the adjacent photograph) and reads the waves reflected back from underground soils and objects. Mr. King donatedhis services and the results give the clearest documentation yet of the Akin House site.
- Worked with the Town of Dartmouth and WHALE for the smooth transition of the Akin House to the Town and the Trust. On October 29, 2007 the Select Board voted formally to accept the Akin House, and in a second vote, to lease it to the DHPT.
- Created the Trust’s preservation restriction program. Program guidelines will be introduced in 2008. The Dartmouth Heritage Preservation Trust will aggressively pursue and hold private preservation restrictions. Private restrictions are the best way for owners to protect historically and architecturally buildings from inappropriate alterations and in the worst-case demolition by future purchasers. Dartmouth and its surrounding communities have all to often lost irreplaceable buildings. The Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust and their success in protecting and preserving land is the Trust’s model for protecting historic buildings.
- Partnered with Preservation MA in their statewide advocacy and planning work as members of its coalition group and regional advisory council.
- Began assisting the Town of Dartmouth and the Russell’s Mills Village stakeholders with plans for an appropriate use of the historic, 1871 Russell’s Mills Library. In early 2008 the DHPT will lead a mini-charrette to explore the best way to protect one of Dartmouth’s most important structures.
- Established the Beverly Glennon Memorial Fund. The Trust was honored to receive donations in Mrs. Glennon’s memory. The fund will be used for children’s preservation education.
President Diane M. Gilbert
Vice President Daniel C. Perry, Esq.
Treasurer James R. Pratt, Jr., CPA
Clerk Peggi Medeiros
Dartmouth Heritage Preservation Trust Board Members are:
Anne W. Baker Brenda R. Dias Michael J. Gagne
Susan Guiducci Hannah Haines Elsie A. Haskell
Suzanne Jacobsen Eileen T. Marland Margaret M. Megowen
Please support the DHPT as we conclude 2007 by taking advantage of our
non-profit status.
Donations and gifts are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Dartmouth Heritage Preservation Trust Membership
Levels of Membership:
Contributing: $25
Partner: $50
Sustaining: $100
Sponsors: $250
Benefactors: $500
Patron: $1,000 +
Senior Citizen: $15
Senior Citizen and Student Volunteers receive free membership.
Membership checks can be sent to the:
The Dartmouth Heritage Preservation Trust, P.O. Box 87026,
Dartmouth, MA 02748
Posts
