Project Director's Report
Making Our Past Accessible
New England Historical Trivia:
- What is the location and name of the longest standing home in New England?
- Can you name the oldest American public school?
- Which major league ballpark is the oldest in America?!
- How many of the above sites are accessible?
New Englanders can boast not only about their historic heritage, but also about the people who are working to make historical sites accessible to people with disabilities. These concerned citizens recognize that cultural and historical sites have a powerful role in uniting all of us as a people and help us understand our past, and that access to these sites must be made possible for all people. One example of a site recently made accessible is Fort Adams in Newport, RI, built in 1824. The fort was the largest coastal fortification in early 19th century United States. A distinguishing characteristic of the fort was 'the lack of steps', as the fort was specifically designed to maneuver large cannons into position. Today, a 'lack of steps' means access for people with mobility impairments.
With the passage of the ADA, access to properties open to the public became a civil right. However, providing access (exterior and interior) for persons with disabilities in ways that preserve the character of an historic property is a challenge and requires ingenuity and determination. For example, during the 1980's, a seamstress in Vermont, Judy Krum, decided to attend an antique sewing machine display at the Bennington Museum (built in 1924). Judy, a wheelchair user was unable to access the show, because it was located on the second floor. After ADA's passage, Judy returned to talk with the museum's director about how to make the display accessible. The museum director welcomed her suggestions and made access to the sewing machines, as well as the rest of the museum, possible. Judy went on to form a 'local access committee' and made it her mission to transform the Town of Bennington. Thanks to her and the committee, the town hall, the library and businesses are now accessible.
In this issue of Access New England, the Massachusetts Office on Disability describes efforts to make the Boston Opera House accessible and the challenge of "preserving the ambience" (See: Increased Access in Two Massachusetts Performing Arts Centers). Also, small businesses strive to be creative in New Hampshire's historical districts. The New Hampshire Governor's Commission on Disabilities describes businesses' efforts to become accessible while preserving the town's character (See: Access and Historical Preservation in NH).
From colleges, to monuments, to museums, people with disabilities are gaining more and more access -- and it took the passage of the ADA to make it happen. Visit an accessible historical site in your neighborhood and tell us about it.
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Answers:
- Balch House (c. 1636) located in Beverly, Massachusettss
- Boston Latin School is the oldest public school in America with a continuous existence. It was founded April 23, 1635 by the Town of Boston.
- Fenway Park in Boston, MA.
- Two of the three, the Balch House is not accessible.
