Nevadans recognized for preservation work

The State Historic Preservation Office will honor 10 Nevada individuals and organizations this month for their contributions to the state's historic preservation efforts. State Historic Preservation Officer Ron James presented awards during the Annual Preservation Silver at Tea Virginia City's Fourth Ward School.

"These awards are presented each year to recognize the hard work of individuals and organizations who make a difference in our state," James said.

"We are all grateful for what they have done to maintain our quality of life through preservation of Nevada's heritage,"he added.

The following individuals and organizations will receive this year's Nevada Historic Preservation Awards:

n Joni and Dennis Eastley for their work on the historic Raycraft House in Tonopah. The home was built in 1906, and featured in a recent House and Garden Channel program about some of the best restored houses in the country. Eastley is a Nye County commissioner.

n Darrell and Terri Wade of Mesquite have played vital roles as volunteers fostering programs which encourage proper management of prehistoric sites on public lands.

n Cheryl M. Martin has served as president of the Archeo-Nevada Society since 1999. During that time, the organization has played an active role toward preserving archaeological sites.

n Tom Perkins of Gardnerville donated hundreds of hours photographing historic sites throughout Nevada for the Department of Cultural Affairs. His photographs document all 70 buildings that have benefited from Commission for Cultural Affairs funding.

n Robert E. Kendall of Sparks was recognized for his lifelong dedication to Nevada history. A former student of Virginia City's Fourth Ward School and a graduate of the Mackay School of Mines, Kendall has been generous in his support of the Fourth Ward School Museum. He recently established an endowment for the institution. Kendall has also spent many volunteer hours at the University of Nevada, Reno's Keck Museum identifying, cataloguing, and photographing the museum's entire collection of mining artifacts.

n The U.S. Forest Service's Spring Mountains National Recreation Area has completed commendable work with its Site Stewardship program. USFS archaeologist Kathleen Sprowl played a particularly important role.

n The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is being recognized for its preservation work on the Jack Longstreet Cabin north of Pahrump. The agency's efforts to restore the dilapidated cabin will enhance the experience of visitors to the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge and illustrate Nevada's historic past with an accurate restoration of a pioneer cabin.

n The Comstock Cemetery Foundation raised funds to begin the process of securing and rehabilitating the cemeteries of Virginia City, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management and its staff archaeologist Gary Bower. The foundation also worked with property owner Hugh Marshall of Reno and Virginia City, who donated his share of the cemeteries to the foundation.