Moravian Preservation Master Plan.indb - Society for College and ...

Moravian College • Preservation Master Plan
• Preserve the historic topography and geology
of the character area to the greatest extent
possible. Avoid significant cut/fill, particularly
to the bluff along which the historic buildings
of this area are situated.
• Preserve the native vegetation that lines
Monocacy Creek. This band of trees and plants
filters pollutants and helps prevent erosion.
Further enhance the water quality and plant
diversity of Monocacy Creek by establishing
buffers in areas where they are missing.
Spatial Organization
Opportunities are available for preserving or
re-establishing some spaces related to the history
of the Hurd Campus:
• Retain and maintain the open space between
the south façades of the Single Brethren’s House
and Main Hall to the parking lot driveway at
the south end of South Hall. This space is the
core of the historic Pleasure Grounds.
• Consider re-establishing the axial character of
the central green behind the Single Brethren’s
House by replanting the allée of trees that was
in that location and maintaining a lawn in that
area.
• Consider re-establishing the space once
occupied by the Rose Garden behind Main Hall
by using shrubs to delineate the space.
• Retain the open quality of the spaces between
the south façades of the historic buildings along
Church Street and the north retaining wall of the
new residence hall. It was within these spaces
that gardens and lawns were located during
the historic period. If accessory structures are
needed, consider adding them such in a way
that they do not intrude into or negatively
impact the historic character of these spaces.
• Consider re-establishing a series of gardens in
this area that could interpret the community
gardens of the Moravian settlement. On a
smaller scale, a garden could be created around
the end of the pedestrian bridge that connects
the new residence hall to the area behind the
Widows’ House (figures 7-1 and 7-2).
• Reinforce the linear character of Church Street
by maintaining the plantings of street trees
along this block.
Land Use
Re-establish the recreational use of the Pleasure
Grounds area behind the Single Brethren’s House.
Consider limiting service vehicles to access from
the west side of West Hall instead or limiting size
and frequency of use by service vehicles.
Buildings
The historic buildings found within this area include
Moravian’s College’s oldest academic buildings:
Single Brethren’s House and the Widows’ House.
However, all buildings on the Hurd Campus are
listed in the National Register of Historic Places
as part of the Bethlehem Historic District. While
specific building treatment recommendations
are contained in Chapters 8 and 9 of this report
it is generally recommended that these historic
building be rehabilitated for new and expanded
programming, that their historic exteriors
be preserved and maintained, and that new
Figure 7-1. Kitchen garden maintained at Colonial Williamsburg
(History.org).
Figure 7-2. Formal garden maintained at Colonial Williamsburg
(JMA Collection).
John Milner Associates • October 2009 • Chapter 7 • Treatment Recommendations • 156