Public Notice Regarding the National Endowment for the Humanities’ Section 106 Review of Restorations at the Historic Jefferson College to Establish the Natchez Center for American History
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has offered the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, in Jackson Mississippi, a Challenge Infrastructure and Capacity Building grant (CHA-295982). The Challenge project will rehabilitate and renovate the Historic Jefferson College (HJC) to establish the Natchez Center for American History.
NEH is an independent grant-making agency of the United States government dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. This public notice is issued as part of NEH’s responsibilities under 36 C.F.R. Part 800, the regulations which implement Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966, as amended, 54 U.S.C. 306108. NEH, a funding agency, is required by regulation to identify and assess the effects of any proposed actions on historic properties. If any proposed action will have an adverse effect on historic resources, NEH works with the appropriate parties to seek ways to avoid, minimize, or mitigate any adverse effects. Additionally, the Section 106 regulations require NEH to consider the views of the public on preservation issues when making final decisions that affect historic properties.
The HJC is located at 16 Old N. Street, Washington, MS, 39190. It is listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places (NHRP# 70000316) and is a State landmark. The HJC campus consists of 8 buildings on 78.5 acres of land. Work involves restoration and renovation of the buildings on the campus to create the Natchez Center for American History. The Mississippi Department of Archives plans to utilize funds granted by the National Endowment for the Humanities to conduct interior and exterior repairs on seven buildings located at the Historic Jefferson College campus in Washington, MS. The scope of work includes the following:
-Carpenter Hall—interior and exterior work
- The building will be renovated as sleeping quarters for field school students.
- Requires new systems, finishes, ADA access, and remediation of the exterior envelope
- Regrade landscape at foundation vents, install vents
- Repair brick fractures, open brickwork
- Repair, and paint steel lintels
- Repair/replace wood windows/exterior wood
-President’s House—interior and exterior work
- The first floor will be renovated to rebuild the rear porch and create new ADA-compliant quarters.
- Will serve as office space for staff
- Requires new systems work related to reconfiguration on the first floor and new construction of the porch.
- Envelope repairs to address the roof, water infiltration at the front gutter system, etc.
- Repair/replace wall sill and framing
- Foundation Repair
- Replace roof base flashing, chimney flashing, cricket, counter flashing
- Replace integral gutter at south elevation, install diverter flashing
- Repair wood roof shingles
- Reset, repair, and replace wood siding; flashing
- Repair, and replace gutters and downspouts, fascia, and soffit
- Repair, and replace exterior wood at doors and windows; replace sills
- Prune trees overhanging roof
-Prospere Hall—interior and exterior work
- Regrade landscape at foundation vents, install vents, repair foundation penetrations
- Repair brick fractures, open brickwork
- Repair, paint steel lintels
- Repair/replace wood windows/exterior wood
-West Wing—interior and exterior work
- Repair fractured marble window sills
- Repair brick fractures, open brickwork
- Repair/replace wood windows/exterior wood
-East Wing—interior and exterior work
- Repair brick fractures, open brickwork
- Repair/replace wood windows/exterior wood
- Reset the east gable vent
-Kitchen and Steward’s Quarters—interior and exterior work
- Repair brick fractures, open brickwork
- Repair, and replace door jambs
- Repair/replace wood windows/exterior wood.
On July 22, 2024, Amy D. Myers, Preservation Planning Administrator for the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, indicated that the project will have no adverse effect, "provided that plans and specifications are submitted to the SHPO for review as they are developed." After reviewing Section 106 documentation and SHPO findings, NEH issues a determination of no adverse effects, conditioned on the submission to the SHPO and NEH for review and approval as they are developed. As required by Section 106, NEH is providing the public with information about this project, as well as an opportunity to comment on any knowledge of, or concerns with, historic properties in the proposed project area, and issues relating to the project’s potential effects on historic properties. Comments may be submitted to the NEH by e-mail to FPO@neh.gov. The deadline for submitting comments is September 2, 2024.