Madison Boulevard Improvements

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Dovetail completed a historic architectural survey on behalf of the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) in preparation of proposed modifications to Madison Boulevard in Roxboro, North Carolina. The work was completed under an on-call contract to conduct studies statewide for the agency. Dovetail completed the first phase of the undertaking, a reconnaissance-level survey, in the summer of 2018, during which 300 resources within the area of potential effects (APE) were identified and documented with digital photographs, field notes, and limited archival research. Following the survey, each resource was mapped using Geographic Information System (GIS) software and recommendations for further study were made. Dovetail presented the findings and recommendations to NCDOT and the North Carolina Historic Preservation Office (NCHPO) during a consultation meeting and, as a result, 30 resources were recommended for further study.

In July 2019, Dovetail completed the second phase of this project, which involved an evaluation-level survey of these 30 resources. This list included a wide variety of resource types, including dwellings, mid-twentieth-century commercial buildings, gas stations, churches, a health center, a mill, a railroad, and historic districts.  During the intensive fieldwork component, Dovetail worked with property owners to gain access to the resources, including the interior, to fully assess historic integrity. Dovetail staff also completed in-depth archival research that included chains-of-title, local area history, and contextual documentation. Additionally, architectural historians worked closely with several members of the community to obtain oral histories on the recent past. Dovetail used all of this information to evaluate the resource’s historic and architectural significance at the local, state, and national levels.

Throughout both phases of this project, Dovetail has closely coordinated with NCDOT to ensure that the report and associated deliverables meet all reporting and survey procedures according to NCDOT and NCHPO standards. This multi-phased, large project illustrates Dovetail’s ability to complete different levels of architectural survey and coordinate with agencies to assure that cultural resource compliance has been completed.