Dear HRPS Members, September usually brings the much-anticipated Harvest of Homes Tour. We regret the tour had to be postponed again, and hope to be back in 2022. Meanwhile, you can revisit the homes on the 2019 tour in the Fall 2019 FootPrints edition. By the way, if you own an historic home and would like it considered for a future tour, please e-mail me at the address below. We're always looking for eligible homes! Our monthly speaker programs return this month with "The Archeology of Burning Man, The Rise and Fall of Black Rock City", by Carolyn White. Please note, our programs are now held on the second Tuesday of the month and will be conducted virtually via Zoom for the rest of 2021. In addition, you'll find links to several other presentations worth attending, including a documentary on the legendary Jessie Beck, an overview of the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, a coin press demonstration at the Nevada State Museum (in person), and more. In this edition, we ponder the definition of "historic preservation" and the role of the Historical Resources Commission (HRC). Be sure to read our profile of HRC Chair and HRPS board member, Bradley Carlson. Both the HRC and Bradley are instrumental in keeping HRPS informed on important developments affecting historic properties and neighborhoods around Reno. Following that you'll find an interesting quiz and something from our history file. We hope you're frequenting Reno Historical - whether online or on your phone - as new stories are added regularly, and please check out our Facebook and Instagram pages as well. Sharing these stories is encouraged! Lastly, you should receive your digital or print edition of Fall FootPrints any day. It is also available on our website. If you have suggestions for future articles drop a line to Managing Editor, Debbie Hinman, at paris652@nvbell.net. We're always on the lookout for interesting story ideas. |
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Let's hope September brings cooler weather, an end to the fires, and a reduction in new COVID cases. Please stay safe and be well.
Sincerely,
Carol Coleman, President
Historic Reno Preservation Society
board@historicreno.org |
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937 Jones Street, featured in Home Tours #1 & #10 |
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HRPS Programs Resume This Month! |
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Program is free and open to the public but advance registration is required. |
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The Archeology of Burning Man The Rise and Fall of Black Rock City Tuesday, September 14, 2021 5:30pm Via Zoom |
September's program features a fascinating look at the annual construction and deconstruction of Black Rock City, which for two weeks each year becomes the sixth largest city in Nevada. Author and speaker Carolyn White has employed archeological methods to analyze various aspects of life and community around Burning Man and Black Rock City. |
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Nevada Historical Society Presents
"Lady Jessie, A Vietnam Story"Thursday, September 9, 2021 10:00am via Zoom Hosted by Neal Cobb and CJ Risley |
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Jessie Beck purchased the famed Riverside Hotel in 1971 and made gaming history. What's lesser known is her support of servicemen during the Vietnam War.
Neal Cobb and Jessie's grandson, CJ Risley, will introduce this enlightening documentary and field questions after the program. |
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Jessie Beck receiving award from Disabled American Veterans
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Program is free but advance registration is required |
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High Noon With Neal Cobb
Friends of Nevada Wilderness and the Sheldon National Wildlife RefugeThursday, September 16, 2021 Noon-1:00pm via Zoom |
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Pat Bruce joined the staff of Friends of Nevada Wilderness in February of 2006 as Field Project Coordinator. Pat oversees Friends of Nevada Wilderness’ growing and nationally recognized wilderness stewardship program, and the FNW safety and training program. Since 2008 Pat has coordinated volunteers and crews on the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge.
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Programs are free and open to the public but advance registration is required |
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Sparks Heritage Museum 3rd Thursday September 16, 2021 4:00-7:00pm |
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The Sparks Heritage Museum, located at 814 Victorian Ave. in downtown Sparks, continues their 3rd Thursday events through September.
The August event was cancelled due to smoke, so HRPS has been invited back for September.
Come upstairs and stop by the HRPS table and say hello. This would be a good time to introduce a friend to what we do and acquaint them with this gem of a museum. |
Did you know.....? Sparks was officially founded in 1904 when the Southern Pacific Railroad moved their Roundhouse and locomotive erecting shop from Wadsworth, Nevada, to shorten travel routes. The City of Sparks sprung up overnight as employees literally picked up, moved, and reassembled their homes in a matter of days, lured by the promise of a deeded plot of land for $1 as a reward.
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What is 3rd Thursday? 3rd Thursday is a celebration of downtown Sparks. Festivities include good food, cold drinks, live entertainment, crafts, chef demos, movies on the big screen and all the art you can handle! Downtown Sparks is the place to be this and every 3rd Thursday of the month — all year round!
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Nevada State Museum Events |
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Historic Coin Press #1 Demonstrations
9/04 and 9/11, 11am - 3pm
Join us on Saturday, as we resume minting our replica 1870 half dollar, the first half dollar coin produced by the Carson City Mint on Coin Press No. 1. Each Saturday from 11 AM to 3 PM, volunteers power up Coin Press No. 1. Visitors have an opportunity to see it operate and, if they wish, to purchase a silver blank in the museum store and watch as it is minted on the press. |
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Interested in becoming a tour guide?
Tour guides needed! Become a part of the Nevada history experience! Training will be on Monday, Sept. 13th, Tuesday, Sept. 14th, Monday, Sept. 20th and Tuesday, Sept. 21st from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Participants will learn from museum curators about the collections and exhibits. Interpretation and presentation skills are also taught. The only requirement for this training is time and a love of learning.
Training is required for new and existing volunteer Tour Guides. New volunteers will be contacted by the Education department to complete paperwork in advance. All new volunteers receive a training manual and name tag. |
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What is Historic Preservation?
"Historic preservation is a conversation with our past about our future. It provides us with opportunities to ask, 'What is important in our history?' and 'What parts of our past can we preserve for the future?' Through historic preservation, we look at history in different ways, ask different questions of the past, and learn new things about our history and ourselves. Historic preservation is an important way for us to transmit our understanding of the past to future generations." - from the National Park Service website |
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Downtown Reno Post Office building |
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842 Nixon Ave. RHF grant recipient |
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What is the Historical Resources Commission? |
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You may see references from time to time in HRPS newsletters, the Barber Brief, and local news stories about the City of Reno Historical Resources Commission, but few residents know this board exists, what its function is, or that HRPS has a very close working relationship with the HRC.
The purpose of the Historical Resources Commission (HRC) is to act as the official advisor to the City of Reno on matters relating to the historic preservation of cultural resources and buildings. The Commission recommends to the Council possible uses and funding options for historic buildings, places and sites. The HRC also suggests policy and ordinance changes to the City Council relating to historic building and sites.
The Commission is composed of 7 members, all of whom must be Nevada Residents with at lest 5 residing in the City of Reno at all times. The Commission consists of:
- One position held by a person who is a registered architect in the State of Nevada;
- One position held by a person who is recommended by the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO);
- One position held by a person who is a licensed structural engineer in the State of Nevada and has at least two years of related work experience; and
- One position held by a person who has a graduate degree in history and at least two years of related work experience.
- Two positions held by persons who have historic preservation or related expertise.
The regular term of membership is three years.
Two HRPS Board Members sit on the HRC. Bradley Carlson, AIA holds the registered architect position and serves as the current HRC Chair, and Debbie Hinman holds one of the historic preservation positions. Other members include: Melinda Gustin, Paul Ferrari, Gregory Erny, Emerson Marcus, and Debra Campbell.
Typical Duties
- Protect the historic integrity of the City of Reno for the citizens of the community, visitors, investors, and property owners.
- Promote the economic, cultural, historical, and educational well being of the community.
- Enhance pride in the historic accomplishments within the City of Reno.
- Provide mechanism for identifying and preserving the historic and architectural resources of the City of Reno which represent elements of the city's cultural, social, economic, political, and architectural history.
- Educate the citizens of Reno to the benefits of historic preservation of structures, areas, sites, neighborhoods, and other historic resources correcting existing and preventing further urban blight.
- Establish a preservation plan which includes all historic districts, structures, areas, sites, and other historic resources which are listed or are eligible for the National State or City Register of Historic Places
- From the Historical Resources Commission website |
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Board Member Profile - Bradley Carlson, AIA
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Native Nevadan Bradley Carlson is a native Nevadan who can trace his family history on his mother's side back to the 1860s, arriving in 1862 after crossing the plains from Illinois. His 3rd great-grandfather's family was present at the Central Pacific Railroad auction of town lots on May 9, 1868, establishing the new town of Reno.
Bradley's father came to Reno during the Korean War and was stationed at Stead Air Base. He later moved the family to San Jose, where Bradley attended grade school and high school, ultimately earning a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
International Career Bradley obtained his Nevada Architect license in 1986, apprenticing with noted architect, Ray Hellmann. Hellmann designed the Fleischman Planetarium, the Reno Gazette-Journal Building (just purchased by City of Reno for the Reno Police Department), the Desert Research Institute, and the Nevada Historical Society, all significant mid-century modern buildings.
His career focus is on hospitality design and international projects. After jobs in Reno, Honolulu, Newport Beach, and Cairo, his wide-ranging experience led to a position based in Chicago as Design Director at Hyatt International Corp., where he worked for over 14 years. Bradley has worked in 23 countries on four continents, with longer stays in Cairo, Beijing, and Dubai.
Locally, Bradley had a hand in the design of the Washoe County Jail, Holy Cross Lutheran Church on South McCarran, the former Comstock Hotel, and the Eldorado Hotel Casino expansion.
Importance of Historic Preservation Although the history of a community can be read in books, having tangible historical resources as links to where our community has been and how it developed, provides a context for what we see today. Bradley feels losing significant historical resources can chip away at who we are, affecting the soul of our community and how future generations will understand its past.
"As dynamic and unique as Reno's development has been, our community was shaped and developed like no other. This is why I feel that historic preservation is important now, more than ever", says Carlson. |
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"With deep family roots in Reno and Nevada, I have always been interested in the history of our area and my family’s ties and involvement in the development of our city. Our historic legacy shapes our community and defines who we are and where we are going."
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Grand Hyatt Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia |
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Community Involvement Bradley serves as a board member of HRPS, conducts a number of HRPS historic walking tours, and chairs the City of Reno Historical Resources Commission, bringing a keen appreciation of Reno history to the job. "Actively being involved in these organizations enables me to participate in shaping decisions and influencing how Reno grows in the future, while maintaining a strong footing in where we have been and how that has made us who we are today", he says.
Professionally, Bradley is a member of the American Institute of Architects and serves as the 2021 President of the Northern Nevada chapter. He has established two companies here in Reno, one for his architectural practice - Bradley Dean Carlson, Architect, LLC - and one for design management services - Carlson Design Management - drawing on his international expertise.
In addition to local history, Bradley's hobbies include astronomy, geology, classic automobiles, travel, opera, and exploring Nevada. He is a board member of the Astronomical Association of Nevada and along with his father, Clay Carlson, a member of Vintage Fords of Northern Nevada. Vintage Fords of Northern Nevada has supplied some of the vintage autos for our Harvest of Homes tours. Thank you Bradley, for all you do to educate the public and advocate for historic preservation! |
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QUIZ: Which Famous Architect Should Build Your Dream Home? |
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Photo courtesy of the Santa Barbara Independent |
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Behind every great house is a great architect…
If you’re prone to fantasizing about building your dream home, this is the quiz for you! Do you value vivid colors, bold lines, and maybe a splash of neon (à la Helen Liu Fong)? Or maybe a grand home that complements its natural environment (à la Julia Morgan)? From Brutalism to Colonial Revival, Futurism to Renaissance Revival, we have you covered. |
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Reno Weekly Gazette And Stockman September 3, 1891 |
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How Much Do You Know About Reno? |
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Download the Reno Historical app or go to the Reno Historical website for an instant mini-history. Reno Historical is a great way to introduce friends to historical homes, buildings and neighborhoods, or educate yourself. The content is always being updated. |
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Encourage Your Friends to Join HRPS! |
The Reno landscape is changing every day, new buildings going up, and sadly, some old ones coming down. HRPS is "Dedicated to Preserving and Promoting Historic Resources in the Truckee Meadows through Education, Advocacy and Leadership" HRPS has nearly 500 members, and your membership is a vote for historic preservation.
Do you have friends, neighbors, or family members who share an interest in our mission? If so, forward a copy of this newsletter and encourage them to join HRPS!
A single membership is just $25/year ($45 for a family membership) and you can now join and pay online. Members enjoy monthly e-mail newsletters, our information-packed quarterly FootPrints magazine, free admission to walking tours and certain other HRPS events, plus the knowledge you are helping support historic preservation in Reno. |
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The Historic Reno Preservation Society is your voice for historic preservation in the Reno area. We strive to keep members up to date on interesting buildings, development that threatens historic structures, and provide you with timely and interesting information to enrich your appreciation of local history, whether you're a multi-generation Nevadan, or brand new to town. |
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Historic Reno Preservation Society is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting historic resources in the Truckee Meadows through education, advocacy, and leadership. |
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Historic Reno Preservation Society | P.O. Box 14003, Reno, NV 89507 board@historicreno.org | 775-747-4478
Virginia Street Bridge photos courtesy of Nevada Historical Society
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