Location: Washington County, PA

Project Completed: 2017

McConnell Trails Development project involved a 107-acre proposed residential development. CDC was retained to perform cultural resource surveys as part of the requirements of the project’s U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Joint Permit. In less than two month’s time, CDC’s team completed a Geomorphological Survey, a Phase I Archaeological Survey, and a Historic Resource Survey Form for the McConnell Farm Property. No archaeological sites were discovered and McConnell Farm (Key No. 802097) was found to be not eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). All project reports and documents were submitted for review and accepted by the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (PA SHPO). 

Location: Washington and Greene Counties, PA
Project Completion: 2009

CDC completed all Section 106 documentation and coordination for Consol Energy’s planned new mine expansion project, totaling 1,453 acres of property.  A total of 52 archaeological sites and 3 historic buildings were identified within the Area of Potential Effect.  CDC conducted Phase IA and Phase IB Aarchaeological Surveys to identify all resources.  Phase II Archaeological Surveys were conducted on potentially eligible sites and Data Recovery was necessary for 5 eligible sites.  Three historic structures that were scheduled for demolition were documented according to PA SHPO standards.

Location: Steuben County, NY

Project Completion: 2005

CDC conducted a Phase I Archaeological Survey for the Wyckoff Storage Project, located in the Towns of Jasper and Troupsburg, Steuben County, New York.  The undertaking involved the construction of a gas pipeline and compressor station. CDC was retained by the Earth Tech, Inc. and ESS Group to perform cultural resource investigations for the project. The survey was conducted in compliance with the Federal Energy Regulation Commission (FERC), the State Historic Preservation Act (SHPA), and appropriate federal legislation. Based on the results of the Phase I survey, no archaeological resources were identified, and no additional archaeological survey work was recommended for the project.

Location: Lawrence County, PA

Project Completion: 2005

Following Section 106 Guidelines, CDC completed the cultural resource investigations for this bridge replacement project.  The Van Gorder Mill Road Bridge was a historic resource, eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.  A Cultural Resource Early Coordination Documentation, Phase I Archaeological Survey, Criteria of Effect, Memorandum of Agreement, and State Level Documentation were completed for this project.

Location: Southwestern Pennsylvania

Project Completion:

CDC completed a Historical Inventory of buildings over 50 years old along the corridor of U.S. Route 40, the Old National Road.  The park was planned, not as a recreational park, but as a linear historic cultural landscape, with visitors being guided to important historical sites along the way.  Emphasis was placed on transportation as an important factor in the settling and industrializing progress in the United States.  The information inventoried by CDC was included in the Management Action Plan (MAP).

Location: Allegheny County

Project Completion: 2008

CDC performed the Architectural Inventory, assessed project effects, and aided in the development of interpretive signage for four of Pittsburgh’s parks; Allegheny Commons, Frick Park, Riverview Park, and Schenley Park. The project consisted of park upgrades funded through the Federal Highway Administrations safety enhancement grant program, SAFETEA-LU. 

Location: Hancock County, WV

Project Completion: 2006

CDC completed Phase I Cultural Resource Survey and Phase IA Archaeological Survey for this project. The project consisted of the construction of a sewer line and sewage treatment plant.  Geotechnical boring records, archival documents, surface surveillance, shovel testing, and photo documentation of the project area was completed. This survey determined that no archaeological sites were present in the Area of Potential Effect.

Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Project Completion: 2005

CDC served as the Cultural Resource consultant for the Master Plan of Point State Park, a National Historic Landmark. The cultural resources at Point State Park are of national significance and have been deeply impacted by urban development, highway construction, and the creation of the Park’s landscape. What remains of Fort Pitt, Fort Duquesne, and other archaeological resources at the Point possess a high level of historical importance not only to Pittsburgh, but to the Commonwealth and the Nation. Pittsburgh’s famous Point was first a significant place to Native Americans and later to the French, English, and Virginians as well as to the thousands of immigrants who moved to the region in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The Point also was significant to the region’s industrial powers including the Pennsylvania Railroad and finally to the landscape designers of Point State Park.  In order to evaluate the archaeological integrity of Fort Pitt, all of these occupations were considered to interpret the findings and to plan for the recovery of archaeological sites that remained buried beneath the existing ground surface of this significant landmark.

Location: Broome County, NY

Project Completion: 2017

CDC conducted a Phase IA Archaeological Survey for this project which included upgrades to four existing pump stations within the City of Binghamton.  Based on the field visit and background research, all the areas were found to be previously disturbed.  There were no areas with intact soils within the project area; therefore, no additional work was recommended.

Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Project Completed: 2000

Christine Davis prepared all Cultural Resource documentation and coordination for the Hot Metal Bridge and adjacent Main Railroad Bridge.  The bridges were determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.  CDC completed the Criteria of Effect documents prior to the rehabilitation and conversion of the Railroad Bridge as a vehicular bridge and the Hot Metal bridge as a vital link on the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. 

As part of a Memorandum of Understanding, Christine Davis documented the bridges through a written history including archival photographs as well as photographs of existing conditions.  These materials are now in the collections of the State Historic Preservation Office in Harrisburg. As part of the project, Christine Davis prepared an exhibition for the Carnegie Mellon Research Center consisting of the original drawings, photographs, and paintings of the Hot Metal Bridge. Christine Davis completed all cultural resource studies for the project including the Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) Documentation, the Criteria of Effect Report, and an interpretive exhibit at Carnegie-Mellon University Research Institute.

The project received two American Society of Engineers Awards

Location: Pittburgh, PA

Project Completion: 2018

This development was undertaken ahead of HUD financed construction within an empty parking lot in the Uptown neighborhood of Pirrsburgh. For this project CDC completed Phase IA and Phase IB/Geomorphological investigations in the project area. A historic, artifact bearing horizon was identified above intact foundation remains and other features. These features were assocaited with two former rows of residential dwellings with assocaited outbuildings that were formerly located in the project area. The artifacts were deposited when the buildings were demolished and the area filled to level the lots. The archaeological site was determined to be not eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and no additional work was neccessary for this project. 

Location: West Virginia

Project Completion:

A Phase I Cultural Resource Survey was conducted for the proposed construction of Bethany Mine in Bethany and Buffalo Districts. A Phase I Archaeological Survey was conducted but no archaeological sites were identified. Nine historic structures were evaluated and the effect of the project on these resources was determined.

Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Project Completed: 2010

The Fairmont Hotel is located in Downtown Pittsburgh at Three PNC Plaza. CDC completed a Criteria of Effect Report for the Downtown Retail Historic District and conducted Phase I and II Archaeological Surveys and a Phase III Data Recovery for this complex urban project. The excavations revealed 13 archaeological sites dating from 1845 to 1868 and over 25,000 artifacts, which were recovered from multiple features buried up to 26 feet below Fifth Avenue. Amidst a sea of rock, concrete, and metal were fragile hand-painted dolls, gilded French urns, a sash pistol, and thousands of other unique artifacts.

While on site, CDC’s team coordinated with construction crews to ensure that archaeological work could be safely completed during construction, all under the watchful eyes of Pittsburgher’s who observed the site from their offices in nearby high-rise buildings. Once excavations were complete, CDC undertook the extensive artifact analysis and historical research needed to identify the businesses and people from Pittsburgh’s past to which the sites and the artifacts found within them once belonged.

The history of the Pittsburgher’s who built their lives and businesses in this part of the city were revealed through the artifacts that were recovered. Some of these artifacts are now on permanent display throughout the Fairmont Hotel: in each floor’s elevator lobby, in the main lobby, and in the Business Center. Exhibit cases were custom designed to showcase artifacts from each of the 13 sites. CDC prepared the text for the exhibit content, labels, and interpretive panels for all the exhibit cases.

Location: Greene County, PA

Project Completion: 2018

CDC cnducted Phase I and II Archaeological Surveys and Data Recovery for this project as well as Architectural Survey. The project involved the development of a refuse disposal area encompassing over 1,700 acres in Morris Township, Greene County, PA.  Twenty-three archaeological sites were identified during the Phase I survey, including 19 newly identified sites and three re-identified sites. Phase II survey was conducted on five of the sites with data recovery excavation being completed for two. Architectural Survey of the property identified nine farm properties. All nine were evaluated for the National Register of Historic Places and found to be not eligible.