News Staff Writer

Charmain Billy, who is on the Chilocco Board for Historic Preservation, attended Thursday's meeting of the Ponca City Historic Preservation Panel.

She said the board is trying to get funds to maintain and restore the one-time multi-tribal boarding school in northern Kay County.

Billy said she also was interested in getting information about submitting her family's homestead to be named as a historic property. She said she was closely related to Clyde Warrior and the homestead had been in her family for many generations.

The board referred her to the Centennial Farm and Ranch Program through the State Historic Preservation Office for further information on how to submit an application.

In other business, the panel heard a recommendation from member Jayne Detten about a possible tour of the classroom restoration projects in progress at Ponca City High School.

Members also discussed potential future projects relating the WPA buildings at Lake Ponca Park and Lake Ponca Marina. Grants Administrator Rhonda Skrapke said the Certified Local Government application for this fiscal year has already been submitted, so any planning would have to be for a project in the future.

Detten also recommended the board keep a running list of potential historic preservation projects, which would be included on each meeting's agenda. The first such list would include Ponca City High School, the Ponca City Post Office, the structures at Lake Ponca and the train depots. The board approved the recommendation.

Skrapke presented an update on the Wentz Camp and Pool nomination for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.

Following the approval of the state Historic Preservation Review Committee last week, the nomination has been forwarded to the Keeper of the Registrar in Washington, D.C. Skrapke said the city should hear something in September or October.

"The committee really liked this project," Development Services Director Chris Henderson said. "It was the shining star of the meeting."

The panel also reviewed a draft of the Downtown Ponca City Commercial District National Register nomination.

Skrapke said she and Detten had met with consultant Kelly Gaston and toured the proposed district.

Gaston had recommended streamlining the area included in the proposed district to include the area between Seventh Street and Pine Street from Cleveland Avenue to Central Avenue, as well as four blocks from First Street to Fifth Street from Cleveland Avenue to Chestnut Avenue.

The initial survey and draft is being reviewed by the State Historic Preservation Office. Gaston's finished proposal will be completed by the end of August and will be reviewed in its entirety by the Historic Preservation Advisory Panel.

Members of the panel also discussed the ongoing project of the potential creation of a historic district on Whitworth Street located in Acre Homes.

Members of the panel said residents who live on the street will consider the design guidelines that were created by the residents on Sixth Street's Gateway Historic District. Those guidelines are offered as a starting place for the Whitworth residents to consider in the formation of their district.