HPO eyes Capital Hill architectural survey

Posted on Apr 06 2015

Tag: Don Farrell, HPO, Merti Kani, Northern Marianas History

The Historic Preservation Office has identified Capital Hill for a potential archaeological survey. This, according to the HPO director Merti Kani, would be to “document the architecture of buildings that are 50 years or more old.”

In a Historic Preservation Review Board meeting last week, member Don Farrell noted that the U.S. Navy constructed these buildings back in the early 1950s. But the history of those times has largely been withheld, he noted.

He noted that perhaps a survey could help “break that barrier” down with the federal government.

“Perhaps documenting will be another door opened” to get the federal government to release “sensitive documents” from those times, he said.

Northern Marianas History tracks have a 10-year blank spot, he claimed.

“We don’t know what really happened,” he said.

Dennis B. Chan | Reporter

Dennis Chan covers education, environment, utilities, and air and seaport issues in the CNMI. He graduated with a degree in English Literature from the University of Guam. Contact him at dennis_chan@saipantribune.com.

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