From our friends at Preserve Nevada comes this year's 11 Most Endangered Sites in Nevada:

PRESERVE NEVADA ANNOUNCES NEVADA’'S 2008

“ELEVEN MOST ENDANGERED HISTORIC PLACES”

Preserve Nevada, a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of Nevada's cultural, historical, and archeological heritage, announced their 2008 choices for Nevada’s “Eleven Most Endangered Historic Places” today. The announcement will took place at the Nevada Historical Society'’s Biennial Conference on Nevada Hisotry.

Preserve Nevada selected Nevada'’s “Eleven Most Endangered Historic Places” as a part of its program to bring attention to historically significant buildings, sites, and landscapes under threat of destruction. “

"Nevada is in danger of losing many of its cultural and architectural treasures to the state’s unprecedented development,"” said former Sen. Richard H. Bryan, chairman of the Preserve Nevada board. "“I hope that as we build awareness of the importance of these historic places, they will serve as testaments to our preservation successes in the future.”"

Additionally, Preserve Nevada has created updates on several past “Eleven Most Endangered” sites in order to bring attention to their current situations. Finally, Preserve Nevada has indicated several success stories regarding historic preservation in the state.

Preserve Nevada is a non-profit preservation organization associated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Public History program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ College of Liberal Arts.

The 2008 “Eleven Most Endangered Historic Places” in Nevada

Maude Frazier Hall, Las Vegas

Built by Zick & Sharp Architects, Maude Frazier Hall held the first classes at UNLV. The building is named after Maude Frazier, who persuaded the State of Nevada to provide funds for a fledgling university system in southern Nevada. Despite an insensitive later addition, the building is an excellent example of the Mid-century Modern Style with its long profile ribbon windows, and asymmetric façade. UNLV is currently developing a fifty-year plan for the university, with Maude Frazier Hall slated for potential demolition in the coming year.

The Paradise School, Las Vegas

Constructed in 1949, the Paradise School and associated buildings are located in the Paradise Township of Clark County, and is owned by Clark County. The school is Modern Ranch Style and may be attributed to Richard Stadelman, AIA and Associates. Stadelman designed many local elementary schools between 1949 and 1956, and a Moderne room tower addition to the Flamingo Hotel in 1947. The Paradise School remains one of the oldest intact elementary schools in Clark County. Currently, the proposed placement of the elevated monorail and track structure alongside the gym has the potential to threaten its National Register for Historic Places integrity.

The Las Vegas Historic District, Las Vegas

Listed on the National Register in 1991, the Las Vegas High School Neighborhood Historic District began development during the late 1920s. The neighborhood includes examples of several different Revival and Traditional styles of architecture. Since much of the original housing has been demolished or converted into professional offices, the historical integrity of the neighborhood has suffered significantly. Many times, the new development is too large for the neighborhood or does not reflect existing historic styles. Recent attempts to adopt recommended (non-regulatory) design guidelines for new development and alterations failed.

Building 100, Date Street Complex, Boulder City

Built in 1941, Building 100 served as the administrative offices of the Bureau of Mines Metallurgy Research Laboratory. The building is located within the Bureau of Reclamation’s (BOR) Date Street Complex, and is listed as a contributing resource within the Boulder City National Register Historic District. Currently owned by the BOR, the building has been gutted and roof removed, with the agency citing hazardous materials and other issues. The BOR has decided to demolish the building. However, as of press time, the demolition has been temporarily delayed until the Section 106 Review process is completed and its future is uncertain.

Rhyolite, Nevada

Rhyolite was a typical, ephemeral Nevada mining town, platted in 1905 and essentially deserted by 1912. The town is historically significant because many of its buildings were constructed of stone and concrete, which was not a common practice at the time. Additionally, the town represents historic mining in Nevada. Most of the existing historic structures are deteriorating and in need of stabilization and/or rehabilitation. Additionally, the town is threatened by vandalism as well as increased tourism. Rhyolite is in need of financial support from the Bureau of Land Management as well as a full-time, one-site caretaker to protect the town.

The Nye County Courthouse, Tonopah

Built in 1905 at the cost of $55,000, the Nye County Courthouse was the seat of Nye County government until approximately ten years ago. The land had been donated to the county by Jim Butler, who is recognized for discovering the silver deposit that led to the formation of the town of Tonopah. When a new courthouse was built, the historic courthouse was virtually abandoned, except for housing a few non-profit organizations and a state agency field office. After it quickly feel into despair, Nye County Commissioners pledged nearly $200,000 to stabilize and replace the roof to arrest the decay. Currently, the building is an excellent candidate for restoration and rehabilitation projects.

Nevada Northern Locomotives 93, 40, and 81, Ely

For almost a century, locomotives 93, 40, and 81 hauled ore and passenger trains for the Nevada Northern Railway. Yet, mechanical difficulties have currently sidelined all three locomotives. Without the original companies and individuals who manufactured and maintained these locomotives, the challenge is fabricating new parts from steel, brass and iron to put these machines back in service.

Stokes Castle, Austin

Stokes Castle is one of the state's most recognizable historic landmarks. The three-story granite tower was built in 1897 for Anson Phelps Stokes, the driving force behind the Nevada Central Railroad and Austin's mining industry at the end of the nineteenth century. Currently, it is owned by the Austin Historical Society, which has limited resources to maintain the structure. Stokes Castle faces threats from general decay and vandalism.

The Lagomarsino Rock Art Site, Storey County

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, the Lagomarsino Rock Art Site is among the most impressive collection of petroglyphs in the western Great Basin. Located roughly 12 miles north of Virginia City, the site consists of more than 2,000 panels of rock art. Relative inaccessibility and watchful ownership by Storey County have protected this site from overuse and vandalism in the past. Recently proposed suburban development, however, could encroach on site and expose fragile resources to increased vandalism and abuse. While the developer of the proposed housing complex has worked with the Nevada Rock Art Foundation to lessen the potential impact, many parties are concerned about how a large new community can not adversely effect such a fragile and important resource.

Commercial Row, Wells

Founded in 1869 by Central Pacific Railroad, Wells retains an enthusiastic grassroots preservation community that preserves the town’s numerous historic structures. However, following a magnitude 6.0 earthquake in the Northeast corner of Nevada on February 21, 2008, the Commercial Row is in need of significant help. Even though the earthquake damage remains widespread, there is a lack of economic support for repair and rehabilitation.

Mid-Century Roadside Motor Courts, Southern Nevada

Following the Federal-Aid Road Acts of 1916 and 1921, which created a national network of two-lane highways, automobile driving as well as the motor courts became popularized among American tourists. Built from the 1920s and 1960s, these buildings often exhibit the “Wild West” and western lore, with weeping mortar, faux adobe, Spanish tile roofs, and covered arcades with heavy post and beam construction. The now-aging motor courts are often located in areas of town not frequented by tourists, and relegated to long-term residential use or even abandoned altogether. They are threatened by rising land values which encouraged new development rather than adaptive reuse.

Updates on past “Eleven Most Endangered Historic Places” Sites

Virginia Street Bridge , “Eleven Most Endangered” List 2003, 2006-2007

The Virginia Street Bridge, opened to traffic in 1905, spans the Truckee River in downtown Reno. The bridge combines traditional decorative design and modern electric light fixtures. In March 2007, the Reno City Council voted to demolish and replace the Virginia Street Bridge. However, the city is still awaiting a decision on which flood project alternative the U.S. Congress will fund before the Section 106 process can begin.

Kiel Ranch, North Las Vegas, “Eleven Most Endangered” List 2006-2007

The Kiel Ranch, located in North Las Vegas, contains one of the oldest historic adobe buildings remaining in Nevada. While the city of North Las Vegas has publicly stated that it will preserve and open Kiel Ranch to the public, little has been done at the site since the city made the commitment in 2005.

Huntridge Theatre, “Eleven Most Endangered” List 2006-2007

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993, the Huntridge Theatre provided the Las Vegas community with entertainment both “live” and on the silver screen for almost five decades. As one of the few surviving examples of Art Moderne theater architecture in Nevada, t he future of the Huntridge Theatre will be decided this year. The current owner is seeking to buy his way out of covenants on the deed that prevent him from demolishing the building.

Nevada Ranches, “Eleven Most Endangered” List 2004-2005

Nevada ’s ranches are quickly becoming compromised by the nation’s infrastructure projects. Long seen as a backwater, rural Nevada contains long valleys, bordered by magnificent mountain ranges. Recent world events are causing federal agencies to be inundated by proposed power and other infrastructure projects likely to impact hundreds of thousands of acres. Many of these projects, which are dubbed “green,” will forever remove the ruralness that makes these open landscapes unique in character, which contain significant ranches and other historic resources. Preserve Nevada is supportive of green energy projects and energy diversification but advocates for projects that are sensitive to preservation of the rural Nevada landscape and its ranches.

Successes Stories

Bethel AME Church, Reno

Historic Bethel AME Church in Reno barely survived a devastating fire in 2004. Through the efforts of the church and the Bethel Housing Development Corporation, and with funding from the Nevada Commission for Cultural Affairs, the building's rehabilitation has just been completed. The building will open to the public on June 8, 2008 as the Reno African-American Cultural Center. The first exhibit, sponsored by the Nevada Humanities Committee, will be on Frederick Douglass.

Nevada Northern Railway National Historic Landmark Building

The Nevada Northern Railway Engine house has now been stabilized in the words of the structural engineer, the structure “should provide another 100 years of service.” Additionally, the McGill Depot’s walls have been repaired, has a new roof, and the building envelope is sealed. There continues to be plenty of work to be done on both structures, and now they will be around for the work to be done.

La Concha Motel Lobby, Las Vegas

After several years of hard work, and against long odds, Paul Williams’ La Concha has risen again at the Neon Bone Yard. The preservation of La Concha ranks as one of the most interesting moved building stories in the annals of American preservation. The reconstructed building is an excellent example of appropriate relocation.

Preserve Nevada’s board members include former U.S. Sen. Richard H. Bryan; Andrew Kirk, Director of UNLV’s Public History program; Sue Fawn Chung, Professor of History at UNLV and Southern Nevada advisor to the National Trust for Historic Preservation; Robert A. Stoldal, Vice President of KLAS TV-8; 

UNLV, Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs, and private donations provide financial support for Preserve Nevada. For more information about Preserve Nevada send emails to PreserveNevada@gmail.com.

Special thanks to UNLV Special Collections and RoadsidePictures for letting us use these images! 

 

You know how we kept remarking in the last few entries about how hot it has been here the last few days.

Well, we were right.  We weren't sweating for nothing and the air-conditioning in our cars were working overtime to keep us cool.

Why?  Because the official temperature on Monday was 108.  Yeah, you read that right.  One more degree hotter and it would have tied a record set for May 26, 1951.

Luckily, it looks like rain may be headed our way for the next couple of days so we will get some respite from the heat.

But all the old-timers are saying it is going to be a hot one this summer.

Posting may be sporadic for the next couple of days but it's not because I'm not trying.  My mom is in the hospital for the next couple of days but I will try to keep blogging! 

Special Thanks to the Review-Journal for letting us use that image! 

Well, besides us, that is.

At Saturday's Cultural History Fair we picked up brochures and such with the idea of sharing some unknown gems with you.  Despite what many people think (and despite the way the city is marketed), there is a lot of unique history here.  If you are a regular reader here you know that helping preserve that history is not easy in a place that races to re-invent itself seemingly every five minutes.

But, we keep at it because at the end of the day, we all know that our history matters and we hope you feel that way to.

So, here are some sites and places that we would like to recommend you check out (as long as you promise to  keep coming back to us!):

The UNLV Test Site Oral History Project:

We had the cold war right here in our own backyard and many of those atomic scientists, soldiers and residents still live here.  There are very few Americans who have actually seen a real atomic explosion but if you were living here or working at the Test Site from 1951 to 1963, when above-ground testing was going on, you are one of those few Americans who have witnessed such an event.

For the rest of us, this site is a treasure trove of photos, interviews and archive of those years.  Here's the description of the website:

"The Nevada Test Site Oral History Project at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas is a comprehensive program dedicated to documenting, preserving and disseminating the remembered past of persons affiliated with and affected by the Nevada Test Site during the era of Cold War nuclear testing.

From September 2003 through January 2008 a wide range of oral history narrators participated in the project including: national laboratory scientists & engineers; labor trades and support personnel; cabinet-level officials, military personnel & corporate executives; Native American tribal & spiritual leaders; peace activists and protesters; Nevada ranchers, families & communities downwind of the test site.

Interviews with more than 150 people totaling 335 hours, related transcripts, documents and photographs are housed in UNLV Lied Library's Department of Special Collections. Searchable transcripts, selected audio and video clips, scanned photographs and images are available on this website."

Sounds pretty cool, huh?  We thought so, so we checked it out and it is very cool.  Here's the link:

http://digital.library.unlv.edu/ntsohp/

The Atomic Testing Museum: 

If the UNLV project wets your whistle for more knowledge of the Test Site we recommend that the next time you are in town, stop by the Atomic Testing Museum.   Here you will find a treasure trove of artifacts, equipment and maps on display.  This museum is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institute.  Be sure to check out the Ground Zero Theater and experience a simulated atomic test.  One of our favorites was the map of all the craters on the Test Site.  

From the website;

"The Atomic Testing Museum portrays world history through varied representations of the story of the Nevada Test Site and its programs.

The museum features many not seen before, first-person narratives, large iconic artifacts, environmental re-creations, theatrical devices, and interactive elements for personal exploration.

It also presents multiple viewpoints expressed in multimedia presentations and stunning graphics.

Founded in 1998 to preserve the legacy of the Nevada Test Site, the museum's parent organization, Nevada Test Site Historical Foundation was founded with a mission to document and interpret the unique history associated with 50+ years of nuclear weapons research and testing conducted at the Test Site.

The Atomic Testing Museum is located at 755 East Flamingo Rd. in Las Vegas, Nevada. The museum is only minutes from the Las Vegas strip, located just East of Paradise Road."

If you want to check them out on-line go here:  http://www.atomictestingmuseum.org/

Tule Springs and Floyd Lamb Park:

This was an oasis in the Mojave Desert for miners, explorers, Indians and animals.  There were five lakes that offered a glittering respite from the brutal sun.  It dates back to the pre-Columbian period and archaeology digs have occurred there over the years.

In the 20th century, it was used as a dude ranch, a divorcee ranch and a private residence.  There are approximately 20 buildings still remaining on the property from its days as a dude ranch.

When I was much younger, the Girl Scouts used to camp out there.  Peacocks wander the property and the grounds are just beautiful.

Check out the history of the site here:  Tule Springs History

For information on using the park: Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs

Special thanks to UNLV, Atomic Testing Museum, Don English's family and Tule Springs for letting us use their images!

Our good friend Bill Johnson, formerly with the Atomic Testing Museum, sent us this information and we wanted to share it with all of you.

Retro Vegas opens its doors to the public on First Friday, June 6, 2008. Our unique retail venue features a fully-restored pink kitchen including original metal cabinets, stainless steel stove-top, ovens and more. Our museum-quality furnishings capture time-honored traditional pieces with eclectic accessories. Locals and tourists alike will be amazed by our selection.

When neighbors dream together, they team together. Bill Johnson  and his partner, Marc Comstock, have joined with their neighbor Ben Nation (of Very Vintage Vegas fame) to open Retro Vegas. As long-time residents of the downtown area, we recognize the special qualities of our historic neighborhoods and the need to capture significant pieces before they vanish. New residents of the downtown core will find everything they need to furnish and accessorize their homes.

Retro Vegas is a retail boutique featuring antiques, furniture, accessories and art that capture the vibe of Las Vegas’s Rat Pack Days. Classic furnishings with decorative appointments are set in unique arrangements to compliment the burgeoning arts scene. We are located at 1211 South Main Street in the Las Vegas Arts District.

We are going to be there and we look forward to seeing you there as well! 

Whew!!!!

What a week!  It's hard to believe how much cool stuff went on this week and how much fun we all had.

Here's a little recap in case you weren't able to join us for all the fun, festivities and good times.

Tuesday's Roundtable Discussion of the History of Helldorado at the Clark County Museum was a great deal of fun (and a much appreciated shout-out to Glen Gamer and the mechanics at the Exxon station at Basic and Boulder Highway for a great assist).

Our panelists Emmett Sullivan, Don Payne and Tim Cashman all shared great stories and the audience was filled with people who shared their own Helldorado memories as well.  Thanks to everyone who participated and came out.  Special thanks to Mark Hall-Patton for moderating!

Wednesday night was a busy evening.  The Neon Museum had a special event and showcased the unveiling of the restored La Concha lobby.  It looks absolutely beautiful from what I hear and the way they sited the building is going to show off the entire museum when it opens hopefully a few years from now.

While the Neon Museum event (complete with Hard Hats with a La Concha logo) was underway, we were over at the Nevada State Museum with our Roadshow event, "Southern Nevada and the New Deal".  The docents had prepared Depression era snacks (the cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches were the big hit) for everyone to enjoy.

The historians on the panel, Dennis McBride and Peter Gough did a great job of talking about the importance of the New Deal, the Alphabet Soup programs and our old-timers Johnny Pinjuv, Mike Pinjuv and Bonnie Rams told some wonderful and often humorous stories of what it was like growing up here during that era.  We talked about everything from the CCC boys (whom Ms. Rams said of "When we passed them on the street, my mother would tell me "Don't look at them" but I did because some of them were cute") to the infamous Roxie's at Four Mile.  

Someone in the audience asked what Roxie's was and without missing a beat, Dennis took the microphone, looked straight at the lady and said "It was a whorehouse" in his best dead-pan delivery.  It brought the house down.

Friday afternoon found us all at Brian Paco Alvarez's 'Re-Invention' exhibit opening at the Bridge Gallery in City Hall.  There are some great photos of the evolution of the Golden Nugget, the Horseshoe and the Morelli House along with wonderful historical information.  (Special thanks to all for including us as one of the information sources!) 

Collector Carey Burke, former Lt. Governor (and collector) Lonnie Hammergren, VeryVintageVegas fashion maven Mary Joy Alderman, Pam Hartley, Jack LeVine, Bob Stoldal and more turned out to hear Paco talk about the importance of the architecture downtown and the importance of the historical photos.  

This exhibit is up until the end of the month so if you get a chance be sure to check it out!

Yesterday was Preservation and Cultural History Day.  Our volunteers at the Huntridge were unable to give tours of the building due to safety and power issues.  So, instead, they answered questions and gave a history of the building to those that stopped by and in-between pulled weeds and generally cleaned up the grounds.  It was nearing 100 degrees by 11:00 am, so we thank them from the bottom of our hearts for all that!

At the Springs Preserve, the Paiute Indians were performing their Pow-Wow Dance and it was great.  Indoors (thank the Lord) were all the museums and historic preservation groups.  We had a great time passing out information, spreading the word about how important it is to become involved in helping to save our history and answering questions.

The Film Festival's afternoon screenings included a History of Helldorado (a collaborative film by the Nevada State Museum and FCLV) that included some great shots of Helldorado parades from the 1950s (including the Sambo's that used to be on the corner of Bonanza and Las Vegas Blvd. North).

Dennis McBride showed home movies from the Abe Weinstein collection.  Weinstein owned a 16mm movie camera back in the 1950s and in addition to shooting the usual home movies of his family, he shot some great color footage of the iconic neon signs of the Las Vegas Strip at night, wonderful shots of the original Flamingo and Tropicana Hotels and more Helldorado Parades.

Historian Bob Stoldal showed two short films. "Is Anybody Listening?" was a series that KLAS did 25 years ago on the preservation issues of the day back then.  A young George Knapp was the reporter on some of them.  Great footage of the old Ice House, the old Las Vegas Hospital and Kiel Ranch main buildings before they were lost to fires of a suspicious nature.

His second film was a series of ads and commercials from his private collection on the way Las Vegas was advertised in the 1950s.

"The Story of Classic Las Vegas", our own documentary, followed.

We got to the Helldorado Parade staging area about 6:30.  It was hot but we were having a great time.  Dr. Lonnie Hammergren brought his float with signs from the Frontier and the Nevada Palace.  He had a Granny Clampett bench seat welded to the top of the cab.  Jack LeVine drove the float while Dr. Lonnie and Mary Joy Alderman rode up top.  Dr. Lonnie's wife, Sandy, sat along side.

We were there in our Pink Cadillac with Lorraine Hunt and her husband, Dennis Bono.  Walking alongside passing out Classic Las Vegas Tee-shirts were Pam Hartley, Jeff King, Jenny and Zane Donaldson.

About half-way down the parade route, due to how slow the parade was going, the Caddie overheated.  We were pushed to the side but got to watch the parade go by.  The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority's float included a miniature of Fremont Street at night.  By far, our favorite float.  The Paiutes with their Pow-Wow Dance were our favorite group.  The Long Beach Mounted Police with their beautiful Palomino horses were ahead of us.  Following behind were two young boys with the world's largest pooper-scooper wagon and shovel.  Kudos to those boys for keeping the parade route cleared!

We ended up at Mickie Finnz on Fremont Street where we could hear the fireworks going off over the East Fremont Entertainment District.  Dr. Lonnie and Sandy were there along with Paco. pam, Jack, Mary Joy and the rest of the gang including Dennis McBride and our good friends from Los Angeles, Eric Lynxwiler and Phil McKinley.

We cooled off and enjoyed the band.  By the end of the night we were all singing along to the Johnny Cash and country-western tunes.

It was a great way to end a terrific week of preservation, culture and fun.  Thank you to all who helped make this the best attended Historic Preservation Week yet.  We look forward to next year!

A special shout-out to Allen Sandquist (RoadsidePictures):  Everybody Misses YOU!!!  Hurry back!!!

In the meantime, as soon as I get some of the photos from Jack LeVine and Eric I will post them.  I also have video of the parade that I will try to post early this week. 

In the meantime,

"You don't have to call me darling,  Dahrling, I wonder why you don't call me, you never even call me by name!"