PRESERVATION WITH PURPOSE PRESERVATION MATTERS Park County Department of Heritage, Tourism & Community Development CONTENTS North London Mill ...... 1 On Stony Ground ...... 2 Preservation & the SPNHA ...... 3 Park County Cemeteries ...... 4 Paris Mill Update ...... 5 Fairplay Intensive Survey ...... 6 Tarryall Historic District ...... 7 Resources ...... 8

WINTER 2017 - 2018 VOLUME 5, NO. 4 Photo: Park County North London Mill Listed as Local Landmark In 1999, Park County became a also means that Park County staff and Preservation, Inc. contracted with the Certified Local Government, a the Park County Historic Preservation cultural resource management firm designation through the National Advisory Commission (PCHPAC) can Alpine Archaeology Consultants to Park Service that allows the county to comment on any construction permits. undertake the survey. With this officially develop its own preservation This ensures that representatives from additional data Kate McCoy completed standards for creating local historic the community have a say in what the local landmark nomination form landmarks. This designation has been happens to the county’s cultural which was then accepted by PCHPAC recognized for 44 properties in the resources. and listed on the register by the county. county. The latest of which is the North - Jason O’Brien London Mill. Kate McCoy and Jeff Crane of North London Preservation, Inc. regularly The local landmark designation is part consulted with local of a larger project by North London stakeholders and Preservation, Inc. and is a crucial first PCHPAC in this process. step in pursuing appropriate To better understand the rehabilitation for historic properties. resources that contribute Listing in the local register opens up to the property’s the potential to access grants awarded significance and the by History Colorado as well as federal boundaries of a local and state historic preservation tax designation PCHPAC credits. Both funding opportunities requested that a cultural require property owners to meet resources site survey be established standards for historic completed. With preservation and therefore help additional fundraising and safeguard the property’s historic a grant provided by integrity. The landmark designation PCHPAC North London Photo by Gary Nichols Preservation Matters 1 PRESERVATION WITH PURPOSE On Stony Ground: The Fairplay Placer Approaching Fairplay rom the north a placer mine in 1859, along Hwy 9 many people notice the making it one of the large mounds of gravel to the west. But earliest mining sites in the many also may not give them another state, and continued to be thought after passing by or might just worked nearly continuously think they are unsightly. But the terrain until about 1910. In many of the Fairplay Placer is a carefully ways the site illustrates engineered landscape far from the the story of mining itself, random piles of rocks some may take beginning with optimistic it as. Furthermore, the Fairplay placer individuals using simple embodies a history that is important to pans, transitioning to Fairplay, Park County, and Colorado as rockers, sluice boxes, and a whole. then hydraulic mining. Each evolution demand more In 2014, to better understand its capital and resource inputs, history and the actual artifacts and which in turn demanded engineering that make up the placer, the more organization and Park County Department of Heritage, corporate consolidation. Tourism & Community Development commissioned a study of the Fairplay The property is also Placer. The county hired Mountain noteworthy because of the States Historical (MSH), a firm with presence of Chinese miners. extensive expertise in mining resources, Chinese working in the Photo courtesy of Park Co. Local History Archives to conduct the study. MSH intensively Colorado mining districts were rare of placer workings and tailings, feeder surveyed the placer itself and did throughout the state’s history. In 1874, ditches, sluice beds, foundations of in-depth research. Through research, the Fairplay Gold Mining Company derrick platforms, remnants of worker setting the placer in its historical hired a crew of Chinese laborers which housing and more. To have such context, and the identification of the created a rift in the Fairplay community. extensive and high quality remains historical archaeology on the property, Despite the tensions the Chinese set for a placer mine is unique not just in MSH evaluated the placer as eligible for up what became a sizable settlement Colorado, but the country as a whole. the National Register of Historic Places across the river from town and took Many have been repurposed or have in the report completed in 2016. the Fairplay Placer to its heights of new workings—such as seen on the profitability. What makes the Chinese north end of the Fairplay Placer—or The property was first worked as presence even more exceptional was were simply washed away by the streams the fact that the company and rivers that made placer mining leased the property directly possible in the first place. to the Chinese in 1882. With a short interlude in The Fairplay Placer is a unique and the late 1880s the Chinese significant historic resource that can continued to directly lease contribute to the field of mining history the property until about on a broad scale and provides a unique 1900. piece of community identity on the local level. The site provides great potential Today, the Fairplay Placer for future public education and is a valuable archaeological interpretation of Park County’s mining site. The placer contains a history. Photo courtesy of Park Co. Local History Archives large and intact collection - Jason O’Brien 2 Preservation Matters PRESERVATION WITH PURPOSE Preservation & the South Park National Heritage Area Park County was designated as the * The “South Park Heritage South Park National Heritage Area in Experience” howcases the people, 2009 in order to protect and promote places, and events that make this area the nationally important historic, so special. Episodes range from Park cultural, and natural resources in the County graveyards and the Como area. Funding for the SPNHA comes Steam Train to Rocky Mountain Pack through the National Park Service String and summer recreation. All Heritage Partnership Program with these great videos on our Facebook “The South Park matching funds from the County page or YouTube. government. With this federal funding National Heritage the SPNHA has been able to * Brochures were produced to promote Area aims to accomplish a number of projects that the Heritage Area and historic walking support historic preservation, natural tours. Brand development was a large preserve South Park’s resource conservation, outdoor part of 2017 and resulted in content recreation, and heritage tourism. creation for the website, heritage western heritage, tourism advertising, and unique community Here are some highlights from 2017: interpretation through signage all featuring the SPNHA’s fresh new logo. identity, and * SPNHA partnered with the South Park Site Stewards to monitor * The South Park National Heritage outstanding natural significant archaeological sites in Park Area awarded twelve grants totaling wonders”. County. This volunteer run program $66,474 to local entities completing provided intensive training for projects which further the goals of the members and hosted a presentation on SPNHA. the archaeology of South Park. The Site Stewards are a growing and essential Completed local projects included: part of protecting prehistory in the Protecting natural resources, heritage area. conducting water quality research and botanical surveys, digitization of * The Paris Mill Rehabilitation historic newspaper articles, numerous project continues to progress with environmental and historical historic window replication and educational programs, promoting Park completion of construction documents County’s rich railroad heritage and for the next phase of work to take place more. at the mill in summer 2018. We are proud of the accomplishments of our SPNHA sub-grantee’s and * Maintenance of South Park’s recognize their vital contribution to GeoTour which features 73 caches our Heritage Area. Applications for the placed over 1,700 square miles of 2018 grant cycle will be open on our stunning landscapes, rich history, website by the end of January, 2018. and pristine natural resources in Please review the grant guidelines and the SPNHA. In 2017 locals as well feel free to contact Jennie Andrusin as visitors spanning from Alaska to with any questions. We are looking Florida to Canada were able to enjoy Photo: Park County forward to another great year! the tour. Find the South Park GeoTour at geocaching.com to play this outdoor - Jennie Andrusin adventure activity. Preservation Matters 3 PRESERVATION WITH PURPOSE Cemeteries tell the story of Park County Cemeteries are important repositories of community history and social ideals. Their importance is much more than the immediate purpose of housing bodies and accommodating funerals, and broader than solely as sites of individual remembrance. These quiet and contemplative locations outline the history of Park County from the early settlement of Euro-Americans through to today. As the county became more established, simple wooden markers erected out of necessity gave way to more permanent mate- Photo: Park County rials. First marble and then polished Cemetery into the National Register of property for the story it tells about the granite which remains popular Historic Places. exploration and settlement of the area, today. We can also learn much of local social history, and for honor- about past individuals. The artwork A Multiple Property Document Form ing the January 1893 industrial acci- and motifs etched into the grave serves as a tool to help nominate dent at the King Coal Mine. Addition- markers may reveal their livelihood, thematically-related historic ally, the cemetery is acknowledged for membership in a fraternal properties. They flesh out the history the artistic merit of its markers, organization, religious beliefs, and of particular properties, in this case monuments, and grave enclosures. The even socio-economic status. cemeteries, in order to provide the Como Cemetery was the only resource context for which to argue the sig- that fit the “Town Cemetery” property The importance of these places has nificance of properties and to outline type and represents a district whose been recognized by the National requirements they must meet in order character is expressed through its Park Service through the listing of a to be nominated. The Park County, landscape features such as paths and Park County, Colorado, Historic Colorado, Historic Cemeteries MPDF fencing, structures, and its variety of Cemeteries Multiple Property delves into the role cemeteries played grave markers. Documentation Form (MPDF), and in the settlement of the area, the with the entry of the Como specific histories of cemeteries in the Both documents were completed by county, typology of grave markers, and Photo: Park County Tom and Laurie Simmons of Front more. It is a rich doc- Range Research Associates, Inc. And ument that will help the work that went into the MPDF was nominate additional funded by a Certified Local cemeteries in the Government grant, a grant pool only future. open to communities that have taken the steps and responsibilities required The MPDF served as to be a Certified Local Government. a foundation for The listing of the Como Cemetery National Register will raise its profile and help protect it, nomination of the while the MPDF will continue to be an Como Cemetery important tool for future nominations. which was officially listed on April 10, - Jason O’Brien 2017. The nomina- tion recognizes the 4 Preservation Matters PRESERVATION WITH PURPOSE Paris Mill Update “Rome wasn’t built in a day” and neither was Paris… the Paris Mill that is. Construction and rehabilitation of the Mill began in 2013 but preservation efforts have been occurring since it was named as one of Colorado’s Most Endangered Places in 2004. Each year, efforts continue and although there is still a long way to go, this 1895 Mill remains a priority project for our department and community.

Currently, construction documents are in the final stages of completion to inform the Mill’s next phase of rehabilitation. A State Historical Fund grant was recently submitted for this next phase of construction and with receipt of funding it will Photo: Park County occur in the summer of 2018. The proposed scope of work includes site rehabilitation, addressing critical deficiencies, and exterior wall rehabilitation. This past summer, historic wood window replicas were fabricated and installed in the completed west wing and south wing extension of the Mill. All of these recent “It’s not good accomplishments are essential parts of the long road to completion. because it’s old, The overall goal of this project is to open the Mill to the public and allow for a unique perspective of the area’s rich mining history. To walk through this 120 year it’s old because old structure and witness the heavy steel machinery, the brilliant design of massive timbers, and to be surrounded by tall peaks containing once productive mines is it’s good.” truly an experience that connects people to the past. Not only will this important historic resource be used as a tool for education and interpretation but - Anonymous it will greatly benefit the local economy by attracting heritage tourists. The Paris Mill is one of the few intact mills remaining from its era and it has extensive original machinery, engineered Photo: Park County process systems, structural elements, and architectural aspects that are rare in Colorado. Completion of this project will be a tribute to those that have come before and a treasure for those to come after.

Park County has received private donations and several grants that have made this project a reality. We are fortunate to have a team of committed contractors, engineers, and architects who are just as passionate about this project as we are. If you havequestions or would like to support the Paris Mill Rehabilitation please contact Jennie Andrusin. - Jennie Andrusin

Preservation Matters 5 PRESERVATION WITH PURPOSE The Fairplay Intensive Survey You don’t have to tell Park County citizens that Fairplay has historic buildings that are important to telling the community’s history. But in order to better understand exactly what we have, the actual history of the buildings, and to determine whether said buildings are eligible for local landmark status, State Register of Historic Places, or the National Register of Historic Places, the Park County Department of Heritage, Tourism & Community Development undertook an intensive level architectural survey that centered on the Town of Fairplay’s historic Front Street. This project was funded by a Certified Local Government grant Photo: Park County Local Archives Preservation practice is built on a provided through History Colorado. hierarchy of essential steps, the foundation of which is the cultural The project was completed by Front resource survey. These surveys come in Range Research Associates, Inc. who “How will we many sizes and levels of has extensive experience in Park investigation. They range from broad County. They undertook an intensive know it’s us reconnaissance surveys that cast a survey of 28 properties, including 15 wide net to intensive level surveys that newly surveyed buildings. Field survey without our include thorough research into the that documented the style and type history and significance of particular of the buildings, the materials used past?” properties. cultural resource surveys in their construction, and historic are an important basis for planning integrity was combined with in-depth - John Steinbeck decisions and form an integral part of research to determine the history of protecting our cultural heritage. the properties and the historical narratives they fit within. Of the 28

Photo: Park County Photo: Park County Local Archives

6 Preservation Matters PRESERVATION WITH PURPOSE properties surveyed, six were evaluat- ed as eligible for listing in the National and State Registers and as eligible for the State Register. Additional properties in the survey may also qualify for a local landmark designation. Eligibility by itself helps protect historic resources from the impacts of federal activities, and actual listing will recognize the property’s importance, open the opportunity for grants and tax credits for rehabilitation, and may provide variance of certain building codes while placing no limits on owner uses.

If you are interested in finding out if your property was evaluated as eligible for a historic designation in this survey, or in pursuing nominations at the local, State, or 28,409-acres Designated National level please contact the Park County Department of Heritage, as Rural Historic District Tourism & Community Development. The Tarryall Rural Historic District miner’s cabins, cemeteries, and was entered into the National archaeological sites and ruins among Register of Historic Places on others. November 1, 2017. The rural district encompasses land along the Tarryall The Park County Department of Road and Tarryall Creek, stretching Heritage, Tourism and Community from just south of Jefferson down to Development received a State U.S. Highway 24 and running a length Historic Fund grant in 2013 in order of nearly 40 miles. The district to complete the nomination which was embraces one of the most scenic drives expertly done by Front Range Research in Colorado, but also contains a wealth Associates, LLC., and shepherded of historic features that speak to the along with enthusiastic support from day-to-day occupational activities that the state Office of Archaeology and shaped the historic area. Lining what Historic Preservation. This large and had once been a territorial wagon complex nomination will now serve road, these features include ranches, as an example for rural districts across the country. - Jason O’Brien Photos on this page: Park County

Preservation Matters 7 PRESERVATION WITH PURPOSE Preservation Resources Historic Tax (for a complete list of resources visit our website at parkco.us) Credits Local Organizations Colorado Grants and Financial Incen- tives Did you know... Park County Local History Archives http://www.historycolorado.org/ Historic Tax Credits are a dollar for (719) 836-4153 archaeologists/grants-financial-in- dollar reduction in the amount of http://www.parkcoarchives.org/ centives tax owed to the government.

Park County Historical Society Practical Guidance Colorado’s state historic http://www.parkcountyhistory.com/ Secretary of the Interior’s Standards preservation tax credits are for the Treatment of Historic Proper- transferable: You can sell them State Organizations ties upon completion of your project! http://www.nps.gov/tps/standards. Office of Archaeology & Historic htm Preservation Selling credits can bring in Preservation Briefs (303) 866-3395 additional funds for your project Technical guidance on preserving, http://www.historycolorado.org/ in either a cash match for a grant rehabilitating, and restoring historic oahp or a loan. buildings.

http://www.nps.gov/tps/how-to-pre- Colorado Preservation Inc. Residential historic tax credits serve/briefs.htm (303) 893-4260 can lower your tax bill which can http://coloradopreservation.org/ increase your tax refund. Preservation Tech Notes

http://www.nps.gov/tps/how-to-pre- Colorado Historic Newspaper Collec- Residential Tax Credits need a serve/tech-notes.htm tion project that is eligible and cost http://www.coloradohistoricnewspa- must exceed $5,000- Capped at Preserving Historic Wood Windows pers.org $50,000 http://www.parkco.us DocumentCen- National Organizations ter/View/1321 Residential Historic Tax Credits

National Trust for Historic Preserva- extent of tax savings is 20% for National Center for Preservation tion qualified rehabilitation Technology and Training http://www.preservationnation.org/ expenditures. http://ncptt.nps.gov/

Grants & Tax Incentives Commercial Historic Tax Credits Sustainability and Historic Preserva- Federal Historic Preservation Tax extent of tax savings is 25% of tion Incentives qualified rehabilitation http://www.nps.gov/tps/sustainabil- http://www.nps.gov/tps/tax-incen- expenditures for projects less ity.htm tives.htm than 2 million and 20% for qualified rehabilitation expenditures on projects over 2 CONTACT million dollars. Park County Visit our website at: Department of Heritage, Tourism & Community Development 418 Main St., Fairplay CO 80440 http://www.parkco.us

Andrew Spencer - Director Follow us on Facebook for more Jennie Andrusin - Projects and Grants Manager news and event information. Jason O’Brien - Preservation Specialist II www.facebook.com/parkco. preservation Phone: (719) 836-4292 Email: [email protected]

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