Some of Ray County’s oldest buildings sit at a crossroads between long-term preservation and slow deterioration. As concerns grow about how many sites may have gone unnoticed, local advocates are calling for a deeper understanding of the National Register of Historic Places. The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. “Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate and protect America’s historic and archeological resources,” said Ray County grant writer Heather George. The program also reviews nominations submitted by states, Tribes and federal agencies and maintains national standards for documenting historic places. George noted properties are evaluated using national criteria. The process looks at both age and historical…