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Dear HRPS Members and Friends,
We get mail!
The subject line read, "Hi there and thank you from Bill Blanchfield's family in Ireland." It was addressed to Cindy Ainsworth, charter member of HRPS, active member of the Sons and Daughters of Erin. We don't normally allot this much space to a single item in our digital monthly, but you have to read the full email and accompanying articles, especially Cindy's article from the Summer 2024 FootPrints issue. It is a reminder of just how much the present is wonderfully and inextricably connected to the past.
Also, this from a longtime member upon her membership renewal: |
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Dear Board members,
I think I have been a HRPS member since 1999 or thereabouts. Just want to thank you ALL for the wonderful work you do, and have been doing, for all these many years. It is truly a blessing to those of us interested in historic preservation but only able to support your work monetarily!
I have enjoyed every issue of my Footprints and have many back copies that I keep to re-read from time to time. What a treasure of Reno history! |
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Kudos to Carol Coleman, Debbie Hinman, and all who contribute articles to FootPrints, as well as to Frank Ozaki at Double Click Design for making us look good!
Speaking of history, I recently had the opportunity to record a podcast about HRPS with PBS Reno's Dave Santina and his Wild Nevada podcast series. At the end of the podcast, Dave indicates they are considering a new edition of "House with a History". We will definitely have an opportunity for input!
Speaking of houses with a history... Don't miss our February 9 program with Richard Hill, whose family built some of Reno's grand old houses. Details below.
Winter is when many people start planning their home improvement projects. If yours includes exterior improvements on a qualifying older home, HRPS may be able to help! Read about our Reno Heritage Fund grants and see if this program might assist.
Derek Partridge, chair of the Home Acquisition Committee for the 2025 Harvest of Homes Tour, is looking for nominations of homes to be included on this year's tour. If you would consider having your home on the tour, or know someone who would, please reach out to Derek at derekpartridgere@gmail.com or 515-490-3222. Not a house, but a Hotel January 30 marked the 25th anniversary of the Mapes Hotel implosion. Built in 1947, this landmark property became a Reno institution where the rich and famous came to rub elbows, and the locals came to have a good time. Several articles from that day, as well as archival footage of the implosion itself, describe the Mapes' rise and fall as Grand Dame of Reno.
Additional items of interest:
The City of Reno Historical Resources Commission has just announced that applications are open for their 2025 awards. This is a chance to nominate a building, project, individual or business for an award - Historic Preservation Awards | City of Reno. Nominations are due by March 30, 2025.
Calling all researchers! The City of Reno has just published new maps to help residents and property owners identify and preserve the city's historic and architectural resources. The maps include historical context, images, and detailed information about historic properties, and are an excellent new resource!
Can you read cursive writing? If winter finds you indoors with a little extra time on your hands you might be interested in becoming a Citizen Archivist for the National Archives.
We lost a pillar of our community in Ken Dalton, who passed away on January 7. HRPS members may know Kenny through Our Story, Inc., and the Northern Nevada African American Firefighter Museum in Black Springs. Scroll down for a link to his obituary. In honor of Black History Month, we have included several articles on local Black history from Our Story, Reno Historical, and FootPrints archives in this issue.
On a personal note, I just lost my 101-year-old aunt from Missouri. She was the last surviving sibling on my dad's side, and for the last three years a group of family members held Zoom calls every two weeks to keep in touch. My aunt had an amazing memory right up to the end and it was wonderful to pepper her with questions about our family history, growing up in northern Minnesota's Iron Range as children of immigrants in a community filled with immigrant families - much like those who originally settled northern Nevada.
As we celebrate Valentine's Day and those we love, let's also think about the people who came to this community before us, and through love and hard work created the place we now, or have always, called home. |
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Come early to get a good seat! |
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Old Reno Home Movies With Richard Hill Sunday, February 9, 2025, Noon-1:30pm Downtown Reno Library, 301 S. Center Street Free street parking on Sundays Programs are free and open to the public |
This fascinating program is a collection of old home movies from the Hill family, going back to the 1920s, and documents some of Reno's golden age history. Richard Hill was born and raised in Reno, went
to local schools, attended college in Oregon and law school in Eastern
Washington. He has practiced law in Reno for more than 43 years. His family
moved to Reno in the 1920s when his great-uncle came here for a divorce and
liked what he found.
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Literary Reno Book Club is Up and Running |
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The newly formed Literary Reno Book Club held its inaugural meeting on January 15. There were a few cancellations from among the original sign-ups so a few lucky registrants on the waitlist got to move up! Here is the group's initial reading list for those who want to follow along: - girl child, by tupelo hassman
- The Better Half, by P.W. Borgman
- Mending the Moon, by Susan Palwick
- Motel Life, by Willy Vlautin
- Raising Wild, by Michael Branch
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Nevada Historical Society Events |
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As a reminder, the Nevada Historical Society is now closed through May 2026. Regular in-person programs are being hosted at alternate locations. Click the program schedule link below for full details.
February 6, 10:30am - Docent Council meeting
Bill Berrum - Moana Springs and Berrum Family History
February 20, 12:00pm - High Noon with Neal Cobb
Jet-setting to Bucket List Destinations with film critic Robin Holabird
Events from January 1 – April 11 | Nevada Historical Society
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The Bill Blanchfield Story |
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Email dated January 4, 2025, addressed to Cindy Ainsworth via Sons and Daughters of Erin, and also sent to HRPS on January 23. Hi there, I hope this email gets to you guys at the Sons and Daughters of Erin In Nevada.
My name is John Deasy and I'm Bill Blanchfield's great nephew. I'm a former member of the Irish Dail for 18 years and former Irish government envoy to the US Congress. I also used to work in Washington on Capitol Hill, House and Senate back in the 90's.
The reason I'm contacting you is I promised my uncle (Fr. Billy Deasy) who is 94 years old and named after Bill Blanchfield, that I'd contact you guys before he passes, to thank you for keeping Bill Blanchfield's memory alive for over 100 years. It's truly an honour for our family to have him still remembered by your organisation that we know does so much for charity in the Northern Nevada area.
These days I write for the Irish Business Post covering politics and come to the US pretty regularly. At some point, I'd really like to meet you guys if I'm out West to thank you personally. My aunt June died a couple of years ago and passed on some photos and documents to me that I'd like to give to your organisation. I'll be in the US in March covering the St. Patrick's Day meetings in Washington as usual, but at some point should organise myself to visit Reno and the surrounding area. Who knows, maybe we can coordinate one of these days!
The picture I've attached is a 9 feet long German propeller from a plane Bill Blanchfield shot down in WW1. I'm finally getting a chance to renovate and restore it. It used to sit over my grandmother's fireplace, Billy gave her the propeller when he came back from France in 1918.
Thanks again from all of us for everything you have done. We are all incredibly grateful. |
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William F. Blanchfield - Smithsonian Museum |
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William Blanchfield was born on December 29, 1895 in Ireland. He was flying as early as 1914, and joined the British Royal Air Service during the First World War. Blanchfield came to the U.S. after the war and on January 3, 1921 was appointed an airmail pilot on the Reno – Elko, Nevada airmail run. On August 21, 1923, Blanchfield flew the airmail from Reno to Elko on the first day and night transcontinental airmail service. Blanchfield started out from Reno at 7:50 am and arrived at Elko at 10:14 a.m., when he turned the mail over to the next pilot, who was taking off three minutes later. Blanchfield died tragically in a plane crash just one year later, on August 1, 1924. Blanchfield, William F. | National Postal Museum |
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Courtesy, Sons & Daughters of Erin |
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Ken Dalton served on the City of Reno Fire Department for 27 years and was in the first group of paid Black firefighters in Northern Nevada. But his accomplishments extended far beyond his professional life.
Ken was a tireless volunteer and a leader in numerous organizations, including President of the Reno/Sparks NAACP, President of the Reno Black Firefighters Association, Advisor for the National Conference of Christians and Jews, President of Our Story, Inc., Member of the Reno Civil Service Commission, Member of the Washoe County School District Re-Zoning Committee, founder of the Northern Nevada African American Firefighter Museum and Member of the Northern Nevada Black Cultural Awareness Society.
His death is a loss for our entire community, and our condolences go out to his wife, Demetrice, and the Our Story community. |
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Celebrating Black History Month |
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February is recognized as Black History Month, and there is no better way to get a sense of local Black History than to turn to Our Story, Inc. Our Story has compiled histories of dozens of local residents whose accomplishments have helped shape our community. People such as Bernice Mathews, Jim Beckwourth, Juanita Westbrook, Marion Motley, Lonnie Feemster, and Angie Taylor, to name a few. The stories of Black community members and other minorities have historically been ignored or minimized, but thanks to Our Story and its contributors, these stories are now being told. You can read about them here: Did You Know? More about Our Story: Our Story preserves unsung history of Reno's Black community |
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Ken and Demetrice Dalton, creators of Our Story, Inc. Amy Alonzo, RGJ/p |
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Chief Lobster and Fire Commissioner Coppa, courtesy of Our Story, Inc. |
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Members of the Black Springs youth group P.O.W.E.R.
stand in front of the house that they purchased from the
State of Nevada and had moved to the neighborhood
in 1970 to serve as a community center.
Image courtesy of Andy Gordon |
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The Mapes Hotel - 1947-2000 |
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"The history of the Mapes is the history of Reno," said Harry Spencer, a former public relations man for the property.
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Old Renoites would agree with that statement. Take a look back at its rise and fall of the Mapes through these articles and videos. |
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Valentine's Day Nostalgia |
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Chapel of the Bells. One of Reno's First Wedding Chapels.
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When George Flint opened the Chapel of the Bells in 1961 at its original location at 540 W. Fourth Street, there were only two wedding chapels in town, the Park Wedding Chapel and a small chapel farther out on West Fourth Street. In a 1998 interview, George Flint explained that for an average young couple, a traditional wedding would cost about $10,000. If they came to Reno and brought 20 guests, got flowers and photos, it would cost them $200.
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HRPS is "Dedicated to Preserving and Promoting Historic Resources in the Truckee Meadows through Education, Advocacy and Leadership". With over 500 members, your membership is a vote and a voice for historic preservation.
Do you have friends, neighbors, or family members who share an interest in local history? If so, forward a copy of this newsletter and encourage them to join HRPS! Or have them go to our website - Historic Reno Preservation Society - and click on the "Join Us" tab at the top of the page.
A single membership is just $25/year ($45 for a family membership), and you can now join and pay online. Benefits of Membership - Monthly e-mail newsletters
- FootPrints, a quarterly publication on local properties and history
- Free admission to walking tours and certain other HRPS events
- The knowledge you are helping support historic preservation in Reno.
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Officers President - Joy Orlich Vice President - Derek Partridge Secretary - Deedee Pace
Treasurer - Bill Newman
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Directors Brett Banks Patrick Cantwell Tim Gilbert Melissa Hafey Sharon Honig-Bear Kathy Williams Immediate Past President - Carol Coleman |
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Historic Reno Preservation Society | P.O. Box 14003, Reno, NV 89507 board@historicreno.org | 775-747-4478 HRPS is a 501(c)3 Non-profit organization, Tax ID 88-0428751
Virginia Street Bridge photos courtesy of Nevada Historical Society
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