Preservation efforts to be honored

People and places that perpetuate the city's history through architecture will be honored by the Carson City Board of Supervisors on Thursday.

Among them will be those who worked to preserve the historic portion of the First Presbyterian Church. This group includes members of the church's building committee, people involved with the city's redevelopment authority and planning division, and professional volunteers who helped redesign the church grounds to allow for a new church and preservation of part of the old church.

"There's a lot of work left to do, but we've gotten off to a good start," said Michael Drews, chairman of the Historic Resources Commission.

"We all worked together and everybody compromised a little bit," said Robin Williamson, chairwoman of the city's redevelopment authority.

The original section of the church was completed in 1864, which makes it the oldest church in Nevada. It is also one of a handful of buildings in Nevada linked to author Mark Twain.

After years of discussing repair options with the city, church officials decided late last year to request a demolition permit and build a new church in the same location. Parishioners had been using their Family Living Center for worship since 2001.

News the building might be destroyed caused a furor. A preservationist during one commission meeting suggested the city or state buy the church campus and allow the parishioners to relocate in a fashion similar to St. Teresa of Avila, which left the downtown and moved to Lompa Lane.

Parishioners had no intention of leaving downtown, especially after their new Family Living Center has been completed only several year's prior and the loan for it only recently paid off. All they wanted was a safe, comfortable place to worship.

The building, while in the city's historic district, also is part of the city's downtown redevelopment district. So the redevelopment authority decided to see what it could do to help ease the situation because the church and other historic buildings also have economic significance to the city, Williamson said.

They were able to persuade area development professionals, Paul Ferrari, of Ferrari Shields and Associates, a structural and civil engineer in Reno, and Peter Wilday, a Reno architect, to donate their talents and help the church's design team create a site where a new church building and most of the old one could stand together.

While church parishioners are working to raise money for their new church, the redevelopment agency is helping to create a nonprofit organization that will focus on preserving the old church.

Other winning buildings include:

• Adele's: The wood-framed structure, red with black and white trim, was originally built in 1875 has received several changes and additions. Co-owner Charlie Abowd says he believes it might be a little older. The restaurant has operated there for 28 years. Recent additions were done without "ruining the building's architectural integrity," according to Jennifer Pruitt, senior planner for the city. Installation of modern-day roof-mounted restaurant equipment was camouflaged.

• Dr. Gibbons Optometry: Dr. Thomas Gibbons has been conducting his medical practice in the Victorian square-house structure since he acquired it the late 1970s. Commission members cited it as being highly maintained, and were impressed with the way it was made handicap-accessible without overwhelming the architecture of the structure. Gibbons made an array of improvements to the property himself early on, such as painting and refinishing the hardwood floors. Over time, his practice thrived and his family grew, so hiring professionals to do the work became a necessity.

• Old Masonic Lodge, 113 E. Washington St.: This mustard-colored structure with brown trim was built in 1872 and is the city's last remnant of the V&T Railroad, having been the depot site until 1950. The Masons have done "a lot to keep it up," Drews said.

• Resource Concepts Inc.: The Colonial Revival house is white with gray trim and is a rare style in Carson City. It was built in 1906. The firm came there in 1978 and was an early inhabitant of the Historic District. Additions have been carefully thought out and the entire property beautifully maintained, according to the commission.

"It's fun to be part of an area like this," said Bruce Scott, of Resource Concepts Inc. "We feel very fortunate to own it. It's a neat old place."

The awards are presented as part of National Historic Month in May.

While only five efforts were highlighted this year, commissioners would be happy to accept nominations year-round, Drews said.

All owners of the city's historic structures deserve recognition because it's most often a time-consuming labor of love, he said.

And "historic buildings aren't cheap to maintain," Drews added.

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

Historic resources awards

First Presbyterian Church: 110 N. Nevada St., completed in 1864

Adele's: Slater House, 1112 N. Carson St., built circa 1875

Dr. Thomas Gibbons Optometry: 111 S. Division St., built in 1896

Masonic Lodge: V&T Depot, 729 E. Washington St., built in 1872

Resource Concepts Inc.: Dr. S. L. House, 340 N. Minnesota St., built in 1906