Old church could get new lease on life

Carson City and First Presbyterian Church officials are working on an agreement that may allow a portion of the historic church to remain standing and the rest of the structure eventually to be rebuilt.

Church officials initially objected to outside financial help. Donations for such an endeavor could be better spent on such as things missions or to otherwise benefit the community, church officials have said previously.

According to Ken Pearson, head of the church's building committee, the church will allow the city to seek money to rehabilitate the old structure while the church goes ahead with plans for a separate sanctuary project on the Division Street end of its property.

Representatives of the church were scheduled to present their argument for demolishing the building Thursday to the Historic Resources Commission.

"We're continuing to talk to each other," said Supervisor Robin Williamson, chairwoman of the Redevelopment Authority Citizens Committee. The church, located at 110 N. Nevada St., is within the downtown redevelopment area.

The structure was originally constructed in 1864 with financial help from Samuel Clemens, also known as the famous writer and orator Mark Twain. His brother, Orion Clemens, was a Presbyterian. Proceeds from Twain's first paid speech were used to complete the church's roof, which had stood unfinished for two years because the congregation couldn't afford to finish the work, according to Nevada state Archivist Guy Rocha.

The original section is the oldest church structure in Nevada and had sections added on in the 1890s and late 1940s. It is one of three buildings still standing in Nevada with ties to Twain: The others are Orion Clemens' house, also in Carson City, and the JohnD Winters ranch in Washoe Valley, Rocha said.

The church wants to spend no more than $1.7 million for a new sanctuary. Estimates for rehabilitating the historic church building have ranged from $2.1 million to $5 million.

Carson City brought in experts to look at the structure to evaluate what can be done to rehabilitate the building and allow the church's congregation a comfortable place to worship, Williamson said.

One is Paul Ferrari, of Ferrari Shields and Associates, a structural and civil engineer in Reno who worked on the restoration of the Riverside Hotel in Reno and is now working on St. Mary in the Mountains Catholic Church in Virginia City. The other is Peter Wilday, a well-known Reno architect who has worked on an array of hotel and resort projects.

Both men donated their time to the effort, Williamson said.

Historic buildings facing the ravages of age is a problem facing the parishioners of St. Peter's Episcopal Church and First United Methodist Church, too. Both churches are situated near First Presbyterian, and all three were built within a few years of each other.

They are important to the community historically, aesthetically and financially. First Presbyterian's plight could provide the city with helpful information when officials of these other old churches seek to improve or make other changes in their structures, Williamson said.

"We're looking at ways to secure funding to stabilize and rehabilitate the historic church for use by the community and the Presbyterian community," she said.

That might include a joint-use agreement between the church and the city, depending on the sources of money raised, Williamson said.

Any money raised would be used only for preservation because separation of church and state is paramount. And preservation focus likely will be on preserving the outer walls built during the 1800s, she said.

The churches "are part of the charm and what makes our historic district special," Williamson said.

"We feel we are making concessions according to our first desires, but we are certainly excited that we seem to have a workable plan the city can agree to. Hopefully it meets with community approval," Pearson said.

-- Contact reporter Terri Harber at tharber @nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111, ext. 215.

What's new

Carson City and First Presbyterian Church officials are working together to save the church's 19th century sanctuary.

If you go

What: Carson City Historic Resources Commission

meeting

When: 5:30 p.m. Thursday

Where: Sierra Room, Community Center, 851 E. William St.