March 2025

HRPS News & Updates

Dear HRPS Members and Friends,

A tip o' the hat to those with Irish ancestry (St. Patrick's Day), to our female members and ancestors, including all of HRPS' Past Presidents (Women's History month), and to founders and members of the Nevada Women's History Project, celebrating their 30th anniversary later this month. And of course, Spring officially arrives on the 21st, so we have much to anticipate.

Speaking of Spring, and especially our mild weather these past couple of weeks, many are thinking about home improvement projects. If you have an older home that needs some exterior work, we may be able to help with a Heritage Fund grant. See below for more information.

The Richard Hill presentation with home movies of old Reno was a huge hit last month. On March 9, we'll take a tour of local stained-glass installations with our own Pat Ferraro Klos and Sunny Minedew. I hope you can join us.

We are sad to report the loss of longtime member, HRPS supporter and former board member, Gene Williams. We have not received word of a memorial service, but the family requested donations be made to HRPS in his memory. Scroll down for a link to his obituary. Our deepest sympathy goes out to Gene's family.

Also in this issue, information about the Nevada Historical Society's 120th birthday gala in April, City of Reno neighborhood grant opportunities and more. Our Reno Historical section features The Tyson House, a home with an Irish connection, and for a reflection on our area's Irish history, read Susan Skorupa Mullen's story from 2014 - Nevada's Irish heritage born on the Comstock.

Cheers!

Joy Orlich, President

president@historicreno.org

775-544-0686

Donate to HRPS

MARCH PROGRAM

Pat Ferraro Klos

Sunny Minedew

Through Colored Windows: Stained Glass in Reno

With Pat Ferraro Klos & Sunny Minedew

Sunday, March 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 program is the result of Sunny Minedew asking Pat Klos for a video idea that could be done indoors in the winter in Reno. The stained glass windows in St Thomas Aquinas Cathedral depicting the beginnings of Nevada seemed a logical start.

As the project progressed, they divided into two parts: Houses of Worship and Other Places. Be prepared to see some of Reno’s stained-glass gems.

Pat is a retired teacher and librarian, author, and founding President of HRPS. She has served on the Reno Historical Resources Commission, the boards of Preserve Nevada, the Lake Mansion, and Nevada Humanities, among others.

Sunny is a writer, photographer, and videographer who has produced more than 70 programs about Nevada, especially rural Nevada, and enjoys sharing them on her YouTube channel.

Come early to get a good seat!

Heritage Fund Grants Available

Is your home over 50 years old?

Does it need exterior improvements, such as paint,

roofing, door replacements, or windows?

Could you use some help paying for those improvements?

Details and Application

Questions? Contact Cindy Ainsworth at cainsworth2271@att.net.

HRPS has established the Reno Heritage Fund for just such a need!

There are a number of requirements, including that the structure be at least 50 years old, exterior improvements only, owner must be a Nevada resident, work must be consistent with the building's original architecture, and work must be done by a licensed contractor.

Grants are typically in the $1,000-$7,500 range and must be matched by the homeowner.

Click the link at left for complete details and to download an application.

Jesse Eugene (Gene) Williams

Gene grew up in Arkansas, getting a degree in Economics at Arkansas Tech University before enlisting in the Army and serving in Germany, where he met his future wife, Ellen. Gene followed Ellen to Reno in 1981 where they subsequently married, and Gene began his long career at Sierra Pacific Power Co (now NV Energy).

Gene and Ellen became interested in old houses and visited neighborhoods and toured houses at every opportunity. Finally, Gene convinced Ellen to purchase an old home which became Gene’s hobby and project house. It was during this time that the Historic Reno Preservation Society was formed, and Gene took an active part in the organization. He never lost his fascination with historic architecture and antiques.

Gene would like to be remembered by donations to Historic Reno Preservation Society - DONATE

Jesse Eugene Williams Obituary - The Reno Journal-Gazette and Mason Valley News

Nevada Historical Society Events

Join Nevada Historical Society

The Nevada Historical Society is closed through May 2026. Regular in-person programs are being hosted at alternate locations. Click the program links below for full details.

March 6, 10:30am - Docent Council meeting

Bearier Solutions

March 12, 6:30pm - Writer's Wednesday, American Burial Ground: A New History of the Overland Trail

March 20, 12:00pm - High Noon with Neal Cobb

Bohos, Hucksters, and Hippies - Oh My!

Events from January 1 – May 3 | Nevada Historical Society

2025 Writers Wednesday On-the-Go Schedule

2025 Nevada History On-the-Go Schedule

NHS 120th Anniversary Gala

WHEN: Friday, April 11, 2025, from 5:30 to 8:00 pm

WHERE: Reno Elks Lodge, 597 Kumle Lane, Reno, NV 89509.

COST: $75.00.

To purchase tickets or ask questions, contact Ramit Ali, Administrative Assistant at 775.688.1190 ext. 221 or email rali@nevadaculture.org.

Sorry, online ticket purchase not available.

Here’s your chance to dress up in your favorite vintage attire while watching historic gambling demonstrations and trying your hand at lady luck!

Tickets will include hors d’oeuvres, a signature beverage, wine, a selection of desserts, and NHS souvenir gambling chips. A silent auction will be held during the evening, featuring items donated by local businesses and sponsors.

More details: Museum Gala | Nevada Historical Society

Nevada Women's History Project Turns 30

Founded by former Nevada State Senator, Jean Ford, who, upon retiring from political life, became Acting Director of Women Studies at the University of Nevada.

In the spring of 1992, she designed and taught a new course: “Nevada Women on the Frontier,” which dealt with the study relating to the historical and current aspects of women’s history in Nevada. In the course development process, she was amazed to find that there was a glaring absence of information specific to Nevada women.

That led to an effort to establish an organization dedicated to "writing women back into history", and in 1995, the Nevada Women's History Project was born!

Photo courtesy of Nevada Women's History Project

When: Saturday, March 29, 2025, 11:30am - 1:30 pm

Where: Hidden Valley Country Club

Cost: $60 NWHP Members | $70 Non-Members

Details and Registration

City of Reno - Ward 3 Grant Opportunity

The City of Reno, in partnership with the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University, introduces the ‘Love Your Block’ Mini Grant Program.

This initiative invites residents to apply for assistance for neighborhood improvement projects in Ward 3.

Applications will be accepted from February 14, 2025 through March 22, 2025. Selected applicants will be notified by April 22, 2025

Applications are open to individual residents over the age of 18, groups or organizations
Applicants do not need to own the property to apply (renters welcome), but they must be willing to obtain permission from the owner
Project budgets must be between $500 to $3,000
Project must benefit the Ward 3 community and improve the neighborhood
Projects must be completed by July 18, 2025

Love Your Block | City of Reno

Update - Underrepresented Communities Project

The City of Reno has secured an Underrepresented Communities Grant from the National Park Service to learn more about the historical narratives of the Black and African American communities in northeast Reno.

The City has hired Stories in Place, LLC to prepare a historical narrative of the African American experience in Reno, document important sites, and identify significant historical properties linked to Black history to support a new National Register Nomination.

Stories in Place, LLC will provide an update on the latest research on African American history and heritage in northeast Reno, including places identified as associated with this history and eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. There will be an opportunity during the virtual presentation for public participation.

The presentation will be held via Zoom on Thursday, March 6. 2025 5:30pm - 6:30pm

Underrepresented Communities Grant Project | City of Reno

Historic Gardnerville Building to be Demolished

At the south end of Gardnerville rests a dilapidated brick and wood building with no signage. Hundreds of cars go by every day without noticing it.

Known as the old Nishikida laundry, the building holds ties to the detainment of Japanese Americans during World War II and is one of the state’s rare properties associated with Nevada’s Japanese American heritage.

The blighted building is set to be demolished sometime this year.

Gardnerville laundry building linked to Japanese American heritage to be demolished - The Nevada Independent

Tyson House - 242 W. Liberty St.

Photo credit - Paula Boghosian

Tyson House - Born in Ireland, Ellen McNamara ran her comfortable rooming house on Liberty Street for two decades. | Reno Historical

What makes this house especially interesting is its association with Ellen McNamara, who typifies the rooming house manager during Reno’s divorce heyday. Ellen McNamara was born in Ireland and sent to Eureka, Nevada to find work to help support her family back home.

Join HRPS Today!

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