Preservation: History Up in Smoke
Categories: Preservation: You Can Help
By: Mark Boardman 01/01/2008
Folks in Seligman could learn from a project up the road in Needles, California. Last March, a $10 million restoration of the El Garces Harvey House began. It’s funded by the City of Needles and Allan Affeldt, who already brought back the La Posada Hotel in Winslow, Arizona. El Garces will house a restaurant, visitors center, museum and hotel, and should be finished by the end of 2008—just in time to celebrate the building’s 100th anniversary.
760-326-0583 • elgarceshotel.com
Faith and Hope
St. Augustine’s Church has served Austin, Nevada, since 1866. The sanctuary is about to find a new purpose—thanks to Jan Morrison.
The Catholic Diocese in Reno closed the building in 1981. Local residents fought to keep it away from the wrecking ball, while church members continued to hold lay services in the building.
In 2004, Morrison bought the church for $26,000. She formed the nonprofit St. Augustine’s Cultural Center and obtained more than $350,000 in state grants to fund renovation. First up: a new roof, installed last October. Currently underway: reconstruction of the bell tower and restoration of 14 murals dating to the 1930s that depict the Stations of the Cross. She also plans to reacquire St. Augustine’s statues, vestments and chalices stored by the Reno Diocese.
The project should be finished this summer. Eventually, St. Augustine’s will host community functions, classes and even the occasional church service.
775-964-1100
Walls Came Tumblin’ Down
Money couldn’t save the Denison, Texas, High School.
In late September, the wrecking ball knocked down the structure, which was built in 1913. The school was closed in 1986; at the time of demolition, the facility was owned by the City of Denison.
In June, the building began to crumble. A grassroots organization mobilized, and within a month, it had raised $700,000 with commitments of up to $2 million. A conditions assessment report was in the works, but officials still demolished most of the Spanish mission-style structure.
The site will now be used for a community center or library. A 30-foot clock tower salvaged from the school may be placed in a commemorative garden.
877-639-8237 • savedenisonhistory.comDIGG | del.icio.us | REDDIT
That is sad news about the school in Denison. The Superintendent of schools here in St. Joseph is proposing a "visionary" new plan which includes closing and razing three 100-year-old school buildings which are still very much in use. New is better, don'tcha know? There is a group forming now to mobilize to save these viable neighborhood schools, but time is of the essence. I am really dismayed to read that, even with funding in hand, this venerable old Texas building was lost.