Reed
Reed Laurence Engle
d. November 14, 2017
Reed Laurence Engle died on November 13, 2017, of lung cancer. His family is grateful to Dr. Jennifer Yannucci and Dr. Michael D. Mullins of Lewis Cancer Center for their treatment over the last five years, and to Savannah Hospice Homecare and Tasha Jansen, RN for their care during the last month of his life.
Engle was born in Philadelphia, PA on January 4, 1944, to Alice Pickell Engle and Alexander Reed Engle, Jr. He received a BA in geology and biology from Lafayette College, a Master's in American History from Lehigh University, and a Master's of Landscape Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania, studying under Ian McHarg and Laurie Olin.
He worked for seven years for Restoration Architect John M. Dickey, FAIA, specializing in historical architectural research, x-ray analysis, historic paint analysis, and restoration of historic structures and landscapes. He wrote many Cultural Landscape Reports and Historic Structure Reports for 17th, 18th, 19th , and 20th century landscapes and buildings. In 1979, Engle was appointed the National Park Service's first Regional Historical Landscape Architect. Responsibilities included providing technical advice and researching and designing restoration projects for 27 national parks in the Mid-Atlantic Region. He also was the Regional Acting Historic Architect. In 1989 Engle was made Chief of Cultural Resources at Gettysburg National Military Park, in charge of historic buildings, monuments, landscapes, library, and archives.
In 1994 Engle was made Director of Cultural Resources at Shenandoah National Park, where he oversaw archaeology, architecture, landscape architecture, historic preservation compliance, and archive and museum collections. Shenandoah was considered a natural park, with little or no emphasis on its cultural history. During his time there the park went from zero structures on the National Register of Historic Places to 349, and its Archive collection grew from 500 cataloged items to 460,000. Engle wrote three books on Shenandoah: Everything Was Wonderful, on the Civilian Conservation Corps, and In the Light of the Mountain Moon, a history of Skyland, both of which won the National Association for Interpretation's First Place Award in its Interpretive Media Competition, and The Greatest Single Feature, a history of Skyline Drive. He also co-authored two additional books on the park. Engle's research was critical in the effort to have Skyline Drive declared a National Historic Landmark. He was responsible for the restoration of historic Massanutten Lodge and Rapidan Camp (Herbert Hoover's Presidential retreat). Engle led projects encompassing archeological research in conjunction with the College of William and Mary and James Madison University on the early mountain settlements, CCC buildings, and a World War ll training camp, and the resultant interpretive programs and exhibits. He also restored many buildings in the park, and many of the Skyline Drive historic overlooks. Among numerous other design and research projects, he developed landscape plans and replaced lighting fixtures to improve the protection of the night skies in the Skyland Historic District.
During his National Park Service career, Engle produced dozens of historic studies and reports, restored several dozen cultural landscapes and buildings, was the recipient of many performance awards, and in 2005 was presented with the Director's Appleman Judd Lewis Award, the highest cultural landscape award given by the NPS. He was on the national NPS committee to establish National Register standards.
He retired to Savannah in 2008 with his wife, Dolores Dyson Engle. He was a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects, Georgia Historical Society, Historic Savannah Foundation, Telfair Museums, National Parks Conservation Association, and the Sons of the American Revolution (PA and GA chapters) and served on the Savannah Historic District Board of Review.
He is survived by his wife, daughter Elizabeth (Lily) Engle and son-in-law Peter Dingman of Alexandria, VA, daughter Louisa Engle Boyle and son-in-law Stephen Boyle of Annapolis, Maryland, sister Judith Engle of Ocean View, New Jersey, brother Ralph Engle of West Chester, PA, and his faithful dog Ace.
Family burial will be held in Virginia.
Contributions may be made in his memory to: The Savannah Tree Foundation and/or The Conservation Fund.
Engle was born in Philadelphia, PA on January 4, 1944, to Alice Pickell Engle and Alexander Reed Engle, Jr. He received a BA in geology and biology from Lafayette College, a Master's in American History from Lehigh University, and a Master's of Landscape Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania, studying under Ian McHarg and Laurie Olin.
He worked for seven years for Restoration Architect John M. Dickey, FAIA, specializing in historical architectural research, x-ray analysis, historic paint analysis, and restoration of historic structures and landscapes. He wrote many Cultural Landscape Reports and Historic Structure Reports for 17th, 18th, 19th , and 20th century landscapes and buildings. In 1979, Engle was appointed the National Park Service's first Regional Historical Landscape Architect. Responsibilities included providing technical advice and researching and designing restoration projects for 27 national parks in the Mid-Atlantic Region. He also was the Regional Acting Historic Architect. In 1989 Engle was made Chief of Cultural Resources at Gettysburg National Military Park, in charge of historic buildings, monuments, landscapes, library, and archives.
In 1994 Engle was made Director of Cultural Resources at Shenandoah National Park, where he oversaw archaeology, architecture, landscape architecture, historic preservation compliance, and archive and museum collections. Shenandoah was considered a natural park, with little or no emphasis on its cultural history. During his time there the park went from zero structures on the National Register of Historic Places to 349, and its Archive collection grew from 500 cataloged items to 460,000. Engle wrote three books on Shenandoah: Everything Was Wonderful, on the Civilian Conservation Corps, and In the Light of the Mountain Moon, a history of Skyland, both of which won the National Association for Interpretation's First Place Award in its Interpretive Media Competition, and The Greatest Single Feature, a history of Skyline Drive. He also co-authored two additional books on the park. Engle's research was critical in the effort to have Skyline Drive declared a National Historic Landmark. He was responsible for the restoration of historic Massanutten Lodge and Rapidan Camp (Herbert Hoover's Presidential retreat). Engle led projects encompassing archeological research in conjunction with the College of William and Mary and James Madison University on the early mountain settlements, CCC buildings, and a World War ll training camp, and the resultant interpretive programs and exhibits. He also restored many buildings in the park, and many of the Skyline Drive historic overlooks. Among numerous other design and research projects, he developed landscape plans and replaced lighting fixtures to improve the protection of the night skies in the Skyland Historic District.
During his National Park Service career, Engle produced dozens of historic studies and reports, restored several dozen cultural landscapes and buildings, was the recipient of many performance awards, and in 2005 was presented with the Director's Appleman Judd Lewis Award, the highest cultural landscape award given by the NPS. He was on the national NPS committee to establish National Register standards.
He retired to Savannah in 2008 with his wife, Dolores Dyson Engle. He was a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects, Georgia Historical Society, Historic Savannah Foundation, Telfair Museums, National Parks Conservation Association, and the Sons of the American Revolution (PA and GA chapters) and served on the Savannah Historic District Board of Review.
He is survived by his wife, daughter Elizabeth (Lily) Engle and son-in-law Peter Dingman of Alexandria, VA, daughter Louisa Engle Boyle and son-in-law Stephen Boyle of Annapolis, Maryland, sister Judith Engle of Ocean View, New Jersey, brother Ralph Engle of West Chester, PA, and his faithful dog Ace.
Family burial will be held in Virginia.
Contributions may be made in his memory to: The Savannah Tree Foundation and/or The Conservation Fund.
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