NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@alpha.nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

10/10/2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES - The National Park Service's National Center for Preservation Technology and Training will formally dedicate its permanent home, Lee H. Nelson Hall, during two days of activities Nov. 6-7.

NCPTT recently moved into its permanent home in the former Women's Gymnasium on the campus of Northwestern State University. After an extensive rehabilitation by the National Park Service, the facility was renamed for Lee H. Nelson, a pioneer in the field of historic preservation technology and a career NPS employee. Constructed in 1923 to provide gymnasium space for students of the Louisiana State Normal School, it is the oldest existing building on the NSU campus.

The Women's Gym was used by female students from the 1930's until it was closed in 1970. The building had classrooms, a dance studio and a second floor gymnasium with a jogging track.

Events begin Nov. 6 at 6 p.m. with a cocktail buffet at Nelson Hall. At 8 p.m., the Mrs. H.D. Dear Sr. and Alice E. Dear Department of Creative and Performing Arts at Northwestern will present a concert gala, "A Celebration of America" in Magale Recital Hall. Limited seating is available for the gala.

Northwestern's combined choirs under the direction of Dr. Burt Allen will present a program of early American music, folksongs and spirituals along with 20th century composition. The choirs will perform "Chester" and "Kittery" by William Billings, "Sure on this Shining Night" and "Under the Willow Tree" by Samuel Barber and "And Peace at the Last" by Leo Nestor. Also on the program will be "Old Joe Clark" arranged by Mack Wilberg, Stuart Churchill's arrangement of "Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair," "Sinnuh, Please Don't Let this Harvest Pass" arranged by Eugene T. Simpson and "My Soul's Been Anchored in the Lord" arranged by Moses Hogan.

The NSU Fall Wind Ensemble under the direction of William E. Brent will present a program of patriotic music. The ensemble will perform "Overture" to "Candide" by Leonard Bernstein and Walter Beeler, "A Movement for Rosa" by Mark Camphouse, "Elegy for a Young American" by Ronald Lo Presti and John Philip Sousa's "The Stars and Stripes Forever." The ensemble will combine with Northwestern's combined university choirs on "Song of Democracy" by Howard Hanson.

National, state, local and NPS dignitaries will participate in the dedication and ribbon cutting ceremonies that are scheduled for Wednesday Nov. 7 at 9 a.m. followed by a reception and a tour of the new facility. The dedication and tour are open to the public. Those attending will have a chance to see Nelson Hall's laboratory facilities and learn how the state of the art facility will provide greater opportunities to fulfill the organization's mission of using technology to preserve America's cultural heritage.

NCPTT is located at 645 College Avenue in Natchitoches. For more information, call (318) 356-7444.

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