Historic Reno Preservation Society

The HRPS Board wants to thank our many members who responded to the recent renewal mailing. Our membership now tops 600 and we are still seeing renewals trickle in.

We wasted no time in 2010 getting to business at the monthly Board meeting on January 7th:

Community Involvement:

• Nevada Humanities Grant: The Board was pleased that our proposal was funded for $2,203 in a highly competitive field. HRPS will use the funding to underwrite costs for the Education Project (especially buses and educational items for the children) and for the website and research.
• KUNR and the StoryCorps project: HRPS representatives will attend a Community Partnership meeting to learn more about how we can participate.
• Washoe County Courthouse Activities book: the Board authorized to spend up to $2,000 for these booklets, as needed by the County. Funding from the County is in question and the Board thought the booklets are useful for our Education Project.

This past year, Rosie Cevasco and I have been immersed in research about the early history of  Nevada's state hospital (now called Northern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services). Our goal is simple: collect as much history as possible, in the form of photographs, historical documents, and oral histories, and make them available online for everyone to view and use. Although we have accumulated a great deal of data on the 125+-year-old institute, we're sure there are HRPS members and other local residents who might have some stories or artifacts they would like to share with us. Our initial concern was to draw attention to the wonderful historical buildings on the hospital grounds at the corner of Glendale Avenue and Galletti Way in Sparks. I wrote an article about the history of those buildings in the Summer 2009 FootPrints newsletter and Rosie recently gave several tours to NNAMHS employees of the old "Stone House" on the property.

The HRPS Board closed out 2009 at its monthly meeting on December 3rd:

Community Involvement:

• HRPS made a $1,000 donation to VSArts and the Lake Mansion for services rendered.

The City of Reno Historical Resources Commission met on November 12, 2009. Some of the issues presented to the Commission included:

• The historic Jones Ranch structures and 1845 immigrant trail property:

  This property is supposed be acquired for the Flood Control Project. It was noted that a condition of sale of the Jones Ranch may be for the relocation and preservation of the historic buildings. These structures include the 1865 barn and an 1859 stone creamery. During public comment, Jack Hursh, a HRPS board member, discussed the importance and history of the Jones Ranch property buildings. The buildings are featured in his publication Truckee Meadows Remembered.

  Due to the difficulty of moving such structures, the Commission recommended to the Flood Control Project staff and City of Reno City Council that every effort be made to maintain in place the historical structures on the Jones Ranch. With some modification and rehabilitation, these ranch heritage buildingscould be the centerpiece for a scenic park along the Truckee River. The Commission is also concerned that a visible portion of the 1848 Immigrant Trail to the east of the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility could be lost in the terracing for the Flood Project. The Commission recommended that every effort be made to preserve the trail.

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The HRPS Board celebrated the end of another successful Tour Season at its monthly meeting on November 5th:

Community Involvement:

• HRPS provided a customized tour of downtown for the National Tour Association which was in Reno in November, attracting 2,000 tourism industry professionals.
• HRPS has requested that we be contacted with updated information about the Virginia Street bridge project. The lead federal agency has shifted to the Army Corps of Engineers.

Community Involvement:

• HRPS is getting involved with the Mt. Rose School's Centennial Celebration in 2010, responding to a request from school volunteer Jenny Brekhus. The Board approved $250 to support her work to curate a display case in the school, which she plans to periodically change. Jenny also encouraged volunteers to help with the Celebration since the school doesn't have a PTA.
• HRPS sent a $200 donation to the Keck Museum at the University of Nevada Reno, as thanks for the successful tour and social held there.