NATIONAL HISTORIC! LANDMARKS Network
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NATIONAL HISTORIC! LANDMARKS Network Volume V, No. 1 National Park Service, National Historic Landmarks Program Spring 2002 Fort Leavenworth's St. Ignatius Chapel Oatlands land destroyed in December fire purchase By Dcna Sanford preserves open space ire gritted the 1889 St. Ignatius was hurt when he tried to move his By Vicki Bendure Chapel at Fort Leavenworth the propane tank during the fire's apex. Fnight of December Hi. 2001. Tim Alcohol. Tobacco and Firearms investi Hanna. historic architect at the fort, report gators determined that several sections of avid Boyce. executive director of ed that the intense fire melted all stained- the structure should he torn down for safe Oatlands. Inc.. announced recent glass windows, caused part of the bell ty reasons, including the south section of Dly that the coalition of conserva chapel to fall, and the roof to completely the building and the west gable end. Ilie tion groups including Oatlands. the collapse, leaving only a burned-out shell. Arm\- had hoped to reconstruct the chapel, National Trust for Historic Preservation No one was killed or injured by the fire, integrating the surviving walls and tower. and the Jamestown Compact Land Trust although the occupant of a nearby house cleared the first hurdle in their effort to pur continues on page 10 chase 67 acres adjacent to Oatlands Plantation. The property, which was slated to become a housing development, will be preserved in open space. In December 2001. McLean. Va.. developer Konterra Elm Street. L.C., agreed to sell the property for $2.1 million, a price below the appraised value. The coalition had to post a non-refundable deposit by February 28 in order to secure the option to purchase the property at that price. In addition to Boyce. coalition leaders include Oatlands board member David Williams and the Jamestown Compact Land Trust Executive Director Thomas Dodson. Boyce. Williams and Dodson are working closely with the National Trust to Firemen pour water into the burning St. Ignatius Chapel at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Investigators believe the late-night fire was caused by an electrical fault. Photograph courtesy of the NPS Midwest Regional Office continues on page 10 FROM THE NHL PROGRAM The call to stewardship By Elizabeth Moore Rossi he most magnificent... the rare... the finest Activities such as these attest to the commitment of stewards remaining example of... the extraordinary... and to an understanding of the responsibilities stewardship T the superb... involves. These are all phrases frequently used in reference to The loss of an NHL affects not only the people associated National Historic Landmarks. By their very nature. NHL with a property, such as in the case of the St. Ignatius Chapel properties are the acme de la rm/ie—which is why involvement at Fort Leavenworth, but also our collective historic memory. with and by stewards is critical to the continued vitality of the Though not always so unforeseen, damage of other kinds- nation's most historically significant buildings, districts, whether it be caused by deterioration, encroaching develop objects, structures and sites. ment, or apathy borne of a lack of knowledge about and While designation as an NHL identifies the exceptional appreciation for history and its physical reminders—can be significance of a property, assistance and monitoring continue equally tragic. While proper stewardship directly circumvents long after designation in order to ensure that properties retain the harm caused by neglect, the examples set through appro their integrity and that stewards have the information the)' priate stewardship also advance a better understanding of a need to sustain an enduring and successful stewardship. property's significance—as well as a greater appreciation for National Park Service staff annually monitors properties, the area of history which a resource represents. Simply put. a uses NHLs as educational tools, develops and researches new good stew.ml is also a good teacher. theme studies, and encourages further interest in the NHL Even though fewer than three percent of properties listed program. Stewards in turn have the opportunity to take on the National Register of Historic Places arc designated as advantage of various NPS programs, including grants, feder National Historic Landmarks, the thousands of individuals al historic preservation tax credits and technical assistance. who act as NHL stewards arc a powerful voice which speaks As seen in this issue, the independent activities of stewards for the importance ol our American past and its physical also seek to maintain and protect NHLs-such as through the reminders. establishment of organizations designed to promote steward Elfathcth Moore Rnwi is an ttithitcttiirid historian with .VPS Technical ship, the protection of adjacent properties from inappropriate Presentation Soviet's and coordinates National Historic Landmarks growth and development, and rehabilitation projects. Network for the National Histont Landmarks A.wislante Initiative. NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARKS NETWORK MISSION OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE The National Park Service is dedicated to Published by the National P.irk Service conserving unimpaired the natural and cultural resources Fran P. Mainclla of the National Park System Director for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of this (Catherine H. Stevenson Associate Director. C.iittur.it Resource Stewardship and Partnerships and future generations. John Kohbins The Service is also responsible for managing Manager, National Center for Cultural Resources a great variety of national and international programs Frank J.J. Miele designed to help extend the benefits of Editor Senior Historian, Southeast Regioii.il Office natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation Elizabeth Moore Rossi NHL Network Coordinator throughout this country and the world. Architectural Historian. Technical Preservation Serenes National Historic Landmarks Network is published biannually by the National Historic Landmarks Assistance Initiative. Technical Preservation Services branch of the National Center for Cultural Resources and is tree of charge. Articles may be submitted to Frank J.J. Miele. N'PS Southeast Regional Office, Atlanta Federal Center—1924 Building, 100 Alabama Street, S.W., Atlanta. Georgia 30303. Telephone (404) 562-3171. E-mail Frank^Mielc® nps.gov. 2 S-T-E-W-A-R-D-S-H-I-P N E W-S ALASKA Skagway's Moore Block to be rehabilitated By Grant Crosby o passersby. the building on the corner of Fifth and State Streets in T Skagvvay. Alaska, looks forlorn. Its windows are haphazardly covered in plywood, weeds grow fevcrishh under the faux brick sheathing, and a single light bulb illuminates a sign indicating the building's last tenant, an Italian restaurant. It is sur Soldiers of the 106th Coast Artillery, who were prising that the building has not been and exceptionally enthusiastic owners. stationed in Skagway, Alaska for much of the razed, and it nearly was. Virginia Long and Howard Smith, have summer of 1902, pose on Fifth Street in front of the Moore Block. Ongoing architectural Hut the building's dejected appearance begun to study the layers of this building's investigation will guide the proposed only adds to its humble beginnings and col history with the intent of rehabilitating it to rehabilitation of the building. Photograph courtesy of the Skagway Museum and Archives. orful past. Ironically, the Moore Block may its 1902 appearance. The process has been be one of Skagway's oldest and most sig challenging. Several discoveries revealing nificant buildings. Built by Skagway's the uniqueness of this building have per prisingly. with nominal stud construction. founder. Capt. William Moore, area 1897. plexed the owners. Realizing the Moore Block's significance the Moore Block has housed numerous Structurally, the Moore Block defies all and unique construction technology, the occupants over its 105-year history. The sense of reason. Its primary load-bearing owners reconsidered their original plans of building originally served as Moore's office walls are constructed of Hi-foot-long 1-inch developing the lot. Instead, they began and personal residence, but was later used by 12-inch boards assembled in a vertical working with NPS historians, archeolo- as office space, a tailor shop, a hotel, a board-and-battcn fashion. Its exterior gists, historical architects and a structural bank, a dry goods store, and most recently cladding, typical 5-inch horizontal drop sid engineer to determine how they might as apartments and a restaurant. ing, provides little, if any. lateral stability. rehabilitate the building for contemporary Today, the Moore Block contributes to Even more astonishing is the fact that the use. Their hope is to retain as much his the Skagway Historic District and White second-floor joists and roof rafters bear on toric fabric as possible while also illustrat Pass National Historic Landmark and 2-inch by 4-inch ledgers nailed simply to ing the building's local significance and its Skagway's historic district, a district exem the board-and-battcn wall. incomparable construction. Current plans plary for its late-19th-century architecture. The Moore Block was built in stages, for the rehahilitatcd structure include com Fortunately, the Moore Block's most recent perhaps reflecting the "boom and bust" mercial space on the ground floor, with nature of a gold rush town. The offices and one-room efficiency apartments first portion was built arm 1897 on