CALIFORNIA PRESERVATION VOLUME 13, No. l JANUARY, 1988
Published quarterly by the California Preservation Foundation
« Benicia Fights to Save the Lido>' Palo Alto -Stanford
Once again the citizens of Benicia are rallying 'round to support restoration and preservation Host Annual Confab .. of the town's most important historic water front structure, Jurgensen's Old Corner Saloon, commonly called The Lido. Together with the Super Conference XIII .. SP Depot (built in 1897 in Banta, California and moved to Benicia in 1902) and the Jurgen sen House (Queen Anne, circa 1902), the Saloon completes an authentic historical unit of In a 1988 northern California "livability structures in an area now called the Historic poll" Palo Alto ranked first and Stanford Triangle. It is believed that the buildings schools rank first in the nation on a regular are eligible for the National Register based basis. The Thirteenth Annual State Preserva on the site's continuous use for boarding, tion Conference, May 19-22, 1988, takes place tavern and food establishments adjacent to the in one of America's top communities and we Transcontinental Railway Line and a major plan to have a conference that measures up to �hipping line. In 1850 it was the first West these standards. And we are proud that. for Coast depot of the Pacific Mail Steamship Co. the first time, the conference has spawned a Unfortunately all three City-owned buildings private non-profit preservation group, Palo have been sadly neglected with the Saloon Alto-Stanford Heritage, our local cosponsor. being the most deteriorated. It is this spe- 1J l ci fi c si t e wh i ch ope r ated cont i n ous y as a The conference will make full use of both the saloon and boarding house from 1856 until 1979 town and the gown, and you will have many op and has been vacant since 1981. portunities to see and sense the spirit which has made this place. Friday's program (May 20) The vacant structures were easy targets for will take place in and around downtown Palo vandals, but by far the most damage was perpe Alto; Saturday we are on campus. trated by the City itself when the Muncipal Marina development grading began in 1978 with The Opening Reception, Thursday evening an inadequate soils and hydrology study. The (May 19) will take place at the Stanford grade of the surrounding land was raised sub owned "Hoover House" ... yes, the former home stantially, leaving Jurgensen's Saloon and of President Herbert Hoover. Friday's ses House standing in water year 'round, in con sions will focus on preservation planning and trast to previous sporadic flooding. Even politics, economics and downtown design and the old S.P. Depot which did not previously will be in and around Palo Alto's business flood now has water standing under it. And in and civic center. On Saturday we move to the 1982 the newly-arrived Fire Chief was allowed campus of Stanford University for sessions in to use the saloon structure for fire-fighting restored classrooms covering preservation edu practice with high pressure hoses, breaking cation, technical and legal preservation con all of the windows and completely watersoaking cerns, archaeology and computers; Saturday the interior. night's gala is scheduled for outdoors, in the Quad. Tours on Sunday and throughout the con In 1984, encouraged by the election of pro ference will highlight the historic sites, preservation Mayor Marilyn O'Rourke,(seepage7) gardens, vintage neighborhoods and scenic cul tural landscapes in Palo Alto and surrounding communities on the Peninsula.
Once again, the California Preservation Foun dation is delighted to have a host of Cospon sors for the State Conference. The Society for California Archaeology and Association for Preservation Technology and California Main Street Program are participating for the second year in a row; and our traditional partners, the National Trust and State Office of Historic Preservation will join us, as has been the case since 1976 when the first con ference was held a few miles away, at Filoli.
Program speakers we can announce at this time are Judith Lynch, author of A Gift to the Streets, Blair and Helaine Kaplan Prentice, creators of Rehab Right and Retrofit Right, John Miller, founder of the California Thea tre Historians, and Claire Bogaard, Pasade na's unelected mayor. Jurgensen's Old Corner Saloon (The Lido), (Storycontinues--next page) ca. 1900. Photo: Benicia Historical Society Conference News (continued) member Pamela Seager is soliciting your assis tance and especially your cherished antiques, State Conference XIII will be fun, enlighten capable services or packaged tours for the ing and well worth your time. Palo Alto and auction; both small items and large, romantic Stanford will surprise you with the richness weekend packages, design or consulting servi of its natural and cultural legacy and the ces, publications or preservation posters are friendliness of its citizens. If you liked being sought. If you have something you think Coronado, you will love Palo Alto; hope to will draw a bid, please contact Pamela at see you there. (213)431-3541; donations benefit the Founda tion and are tax-deductible.
AFFINITY GROUP MEETINGS can be held at the conference and we will help you find a place to meet, with the understanding that meetings are not held at times competing with confer ence programs or events. In the past such meetings have included the State Historic Building Code Board, A.P.T., Heritage Task Force, State Historical Resources Commission, and other preservation-related organizations' boards. For information and assistance in this regard, please call John Merritt at the Foundation office number, (415)527-7808.
The California Preservation Foundation is proud of the ANNUAL STATE PRESERVATION CONFER fNCE and feel it is the biggest and best ann ual get-gether of its kind in the country. If you have questions about the program or want more information about the special features listed above, do feel free to call us at Lou Henry Hoover house, now the residence of ( 415) 5 2 7 -780 8. Stanford University's president, was designed by Mrs. Herbert Hoover in collaboration with WESTERN STATEWIDES MEET IN SAN FRANCISCO A.B. Clark, a Stanford art professor, and his son, Birge Clark. Stanford will open the home The California Preservation roundation hosted for a reception during the 13th Annual Califor a three-day fundraising workshop in San Fran 19-22, 1988. nia Preservation Conference, May cisco, January 7 through 9. Nine statewide ' preservation organizations -- from Hawaii and THERE S A ROLE FOR YOU, TOO Alaska to Arizona and Utah -- attended the workshop led by a team from Brakeley, John HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE ANNUAL Price Jones Inc., a nationally-known consul CONFERENCE tant firm headquartered in Newport Beach.
Initial publicity has been mailed and regis The workshop is a unique western experiment - tration material should be ready by March. funded in part by the National Trust -- to �Jhile CPF members receive all mailings, you improve the financial stability of nine very might want to pass the word, contact others, different statewide organizations with differ and let us know of your interest in attending ent levels of sophistication, program activity early. Everyone who calls the Palo Alto-Stan and geographical circumstances. The January ford Heritage local planning committee meeting explored fundraising principles; (415)326-4123 can be assured they will re follow-up site visits by the consultants will ceive the registration packet. focus on each organization's goals and will develop specific plans to reach the individual DESIGN AWARDS presented to winners of a juried fundraising objectives. competition is an annual "special event" at the conference. CPF board member Warren Wil quTr Regional meetings of statewide preservation liams is coordinator of this event---ancr-Tn urganizations -- to share experiences, succes TeSabout the program, criteria and process ses and ideas -- began in the West in 1981 and as well as requests for entry forms and the are now duplicated across the country. The program brochure -- should be directed to chance to meet, commiserate and learn from (916)925-5550. Warren at each other on a regular basis provided the im petus for national meetings (held annually in THREE-MINUTE SUCCESS STORIES, the uproarious conjunction with the National Trust Conference) opportunity any conference goer has to tell and for the formation of the National Alliance about a local preservation success or battle of Statewide Preservation Organizations (NASPO) while racing the clock, will delight atten in 1987; again, the West has taken a lead in dees once more in Palo Alto. Individuals or defining the goals of NASPO and, CPF's Execu organizations interested should contact CPF tive Director, John Merritt, serves on the new (714)792-2111. board member Steve Spiller at group's steering committee. As a side note, Judith Lynch initiated this 1978 idea at the San Jose conference in and Meeting and organizing is not d0ne for the will have her first chance to see what's be sake of meeting and organizing. We hGpe to come of her "baby" in Palo Alto. improve our capabilities, enlarge our under standing of the people and programs operating PRESERVATION AUCTION has become a feature of outside of California and to better our ser the conference in the last two years and is vice to preservationists in California. A se being planned again for Palo Alto. CPF board cure revenue base makes it all possible. 2 in Los Angeles THE OLD RIVERSIDE FOUNDATION, CALIFO RNIA CAROLE DOUGHERTY and CAROL POLACHECK in Glen PRE SERVA TION dale, ALEX COLE in Santa Barbara, CHRIS BREWER in Bakersfield, RICHARD JENNINGS in Fresno, FOUNDATI ON ELIZABETH and SCOTT MATHIESON in San Jose, DAN and GERRIE PETERSON in Point Richmond, ROBERT ARNESON and SANDRA SHANNONHOUSE in Benicia, AN ANNIVERSARY JAN STRAND from Sea Ranch, ROBIN DATEL and DENNIS DINGEMANS in Davis, CLARENCE CULLIMORE Each January, when putting out another newslet in Sacramento, RENE and VERONICA DI ROSA in ter, I am reminded of the first, published in Napa, THE GRASS VALLEY DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION January of 1976, and the surprise and excite and ROBERTSON COLLINS from Jacksonville, Oregon. ment we created. I remember Jim Marrin (graph ics desi gn er extra ordi na i re) " lay in g out the Major contributions in 1987 were made by: boards", Penny Maines madly typing stories sent from Peggy Lang on the inside activities CLAREMONT HERITAGE and JIM STICKELS in Clare of the legislature in Sacramento, Judith Lynch's mont, NANCY THATCHER in El Toro, THE GLENDORA finely written pieces on San Francisco's latest PRESERVATION FOUNDATION, KNOX MELLON in River insensitive attack on a major historic landmark, side, and RAY GIRVIGIAN in South Pasadena, or Bill Padgett's concise reports on SHPO ef MR. and MRS. CHARLES FIELD in San Francisco, forts, Bev Bubar reading for typos with various GARRIL PAGE in Ross, OAKLAND HERITAGE ALLIANCE, spouses trying to help, children in the way and THE BERKELEY ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE ASSOCIATION, too much wine clouding our judgement. All of NAPA LANDMARKS, INC., WARREN WILLIAMS in Sacra this in a small bungalow in Pasadena, a city mento and JANE CARTER from Colusa. which seemed to be in the process of destroying itself in front of my eyes. Our highest category of support is SPONSORS and in 1987 we were delighted to welcome a strong Happy Anniversary, California Preservation; group of SPONSORS as members: while many of those early volunteers have gone on to lead more rational lives, some of us re LARRY and JEANNE LAWRENCE of the Hotel del main, and the preservation movement in Califor Coronado, FRAN OFFENHAUSER of Hollywood, THE nia continues to survive and thrive as a result LOS ANGELES CONSERVANCY, WILLIAM DELVAC of Los of the energies thousands of individuals have Angeles, STEVE and CHRISTY McAVOY of Hollywood, poured into this vital effort. And thank you THOMAS JOHNSON of Pomona, SAVE OUR OLD LA VERNE to each and every one for the time you have de ENVIRONMENT, PASADENA HERITAGE, WILLIAM CROSS voted to preserving California's unique history of Pasadena, PAMELA SEAGER of Long Beach, MYRNA and heritage for the present and future gener SAXE of Sherman Oaks, and WILLIAM BURKHART of ations. Felton.
The Editor Finally, a generous end-of-year gift from the FIRST INTERSTATE BANK OF CALIFORNIA FOUNDATION AND WE OWE IT TO YOU capped off 1987.
1987 proved to be the California Preservation The lifeblood of the Foundation is its members, Foundation's most productive year, and the the individuals and organizations who help us first when we were able to meet our budget pro do the work we do. Our board and member volun .i ect ions, l imi t e d as they may be. Whi le the teers contribute an enormous amount of time and Coronado Conference was to play a big part in energy to this work; others -- such as those helping us pay the bills, we were also fortu named above -- also contribute the critical nate to receive substantial program support financial support we need. Some are new to from the California Main Street Program and CPF while others have been with us since 1976; the National Trust for Historic Preservation. All, however, are deeply appreciated. It is difficult to express our gratitude, but NOMINAT IONS ARE IN ORDER we are indebted and thankful.
Seven new Foundation Board of Trustees will be We also found that our members - you - were elected at the Annual Meeting in Palo Alto; but willing to accept the necessary changes in mem the process starts now. Members can, and should bership dues and we take this as a solid vote nominate candidates and may do so by sending of confidence that the work we do continues to be worthy of your support. Some of you were suggestions and supporting material to Nomina tions Chairman Bill Sugaya, CPF, 41 Sutter St., Stellar Performers in 1987, donating even more Suite 1593, San Francisco, CA 94104 by March l, than the minimum amount, and we want to honor 1988. you by telling everybody in these pages about your willingness to give an extra bit. Candidates should demonstrate a thorough under Many Thanks To: standing of and demonstrate strong, previous participation in preservation efforts. They CAROL RANDOLPH, BARBARA BRY and SALLY SPIES of should also clearly understand that CPF has a La Jolla, THE GASLAMP QUARTER COUNCIL and state level focus. Terms are for 3 years and KATHLEEN KELLEY-MARKHAM in San Diego, MR. and attendance at quarterly board meetings is a MRS. ROBERT FARIS in Coronado, WILMORE CITY commitment we ask. HERITAGE and DOUG OTTO in Long Beach, THE CITY OF REDLANDS, LARRY WINANS in Dowr.ey and P.L. PRESERVATION WEEK WINTNER in Whittier, CLAIRE BOGAARD, LINDA may 8 -14: plan a locaI event DISHMAN, ROBERT WINTER and VICTOR ILLIG in Pas "Preservation; The People's Choice"; for adena, ROB SELWAY and DIANN MARSH in Santa Ana, more information contact the National Trust MARGARET BACH in Santa Monica, JUDITH RUDOLPH (415)956-0610. 3 Palo Alto: Town and Gown homes that they built within an easy bicycle ride of the campus. Many chose the progress ive architecture of the period, which we now If architecture is personality writ large, few call the Shingle Style. These comfortable American personalities have written larger homes often incorporated Colonial elements as than Leland and Jane Stanford. In a grief well as the influence of the Craftsman move stricken moment, they founded a great univer ment, including an inclination toward natural sity and designated land for the town that materials, roomy porches, trellises, wide would support it. Their characters and the eaves and heavy porch columns. drama they set in motion are reflected in the architectural heritage of the Palo Alto Stan The more traditional Queen Anne style, with ford University community. its towers, bays and ornate woodwork, was much in evidence. Among Palo Alto's early Leland Stanford was already a giant on the homes were both large, elaborate Queen Anne California scene when he and his family embar structures and many smaller "workmen's cot ked on a grand tour of Europe in 1883. The tages" that aspired to such grandeur in their son of an upstate New York farmer and innkee details. per, Stanford had made a fortune selling sup plies to gold rush miners and parlayed it The restless intellects of Palo Alto continued into a railroad and land empire. His polit to explore architectural concepts as the years ical career, including a term as governor, went on. Today one can find evidence of many reinforced his success as a businessman. diverse impulses and trends in the Classical, Mission, Spanish Colonial, Tudor, and Medieval The world·collapsed on Leland and Jane Stan Revival, as well as Prairie and even Streamline ford the following year when 15-year-old Moderne, homes scattered throughout the older Leland, Jr., died of typhoid fever in neighborhoods. Florence. Typically, the strong-willed couple vowed to take action in the face of Following the example set by Leland Stanford, tragedy. They would create a university citizens of Palo Alto frequently commissioned that would live on in memory of their belov the leading architects of their day. Among ed son. the architetects who contributed to the Palo Alto inventory are Ernest Coxhead, Gardner Leland Stanford's attention turned first to Dailey, Bernard Maybeck, Julia Morgan and architecture. He let it be known that he William Wilson Wurster. would consult the best design minds of his era, but that the final word would be his. The downtown business district also absorbed He fulfilled his promise on both scores. many styles and trends as the decades passed. Today, strong examples of the Monterey and The best minds included those of landscape ar Spanish Colonial Revival schools, with plans chitect Frederick Law Olmsted and the archi drawn by designer Pedro de Lemos and archi tectural firm of Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge, tects Birge Clark and William Weeks, are par which had been founded by the recently ticularly well represented along Ramona deceased H.H. Richardson. But the sandstone Street between University and Hamilton Aven quadrangles that soon appeared on Stanford's ues and in the Varsity Theater on University. farm bore the unmistakable signature of the founder. Tl1e classical symmetry of the lay With the death of Leland Stanford in out, the references to Spanish colonial ante 1893, Jane Stanford took over the reins of con cedents in arcades and courtyards, and the struction. The role of Shepley, Rutan and monumental impulse behind the plan were par Coolidge had begun to erode in the last ticularly foreign to Olmsted's characteristic years of her husband's life, and Mrs. Stan work. Richardson's Romanesque style was more ford replaced them with draftsmen and archi clearly visible in the buildings designed by tects of her own choosing. She completed his disciple, Charles Coolidge, but the orga elements of the Olmsted plan, including the nizing vision was Stanford's. outer quadrangle, Memorial Church, and a mon umental Memorial Arch at the entrance to the Meanwhi1e, Stanford had asked Timothy Hopkins, main quadrangle. She also diverged from the the adopted son of his fellow railroad mag nate Mark Hopkins, to purchase land on the far side of El Camino Real to serve as the EDUSA Waterproofed M White Cement is find· site of a university town. By 1890, six fam ing favor with home buildcn ilies were camping under oak trees while on the Pacific Coast. their homes were being built. All the beauty and pcrma nencc of genuine White Port land Ccmcnt--plus an absolute J A commercial district appeared along the prin assurance that dampness and cipal thoroughfare, University Avenue. The water will never enter or ma1 nearby residential neighborhood attracted the its beauty. Ask your dealer about thi� families of shopkeepers and craftsmen who were better mate rial--Mcduu building the university. A second cluster of Waterproofed White Cement residences near Embarcadero Road became known THE as Professorvil le. R,,.,JI'.,,, .,1 "f, Hrrhrrl Hno"n, at SttJ11/ortl. Cali/or11w.. llufo1a Sandusky Cement Stait1le11 White Ceme..t by Di armui d McGuire OLD HOUSE CURRIULUM LAUNCHED Three San Francisco Bay Area women have init iated an exciting project with the help of the California Preservation Foundation. "Our Houses" is a curriculum which will enable Cal ifornia teachers to use their own cities or towns to encourage appreciation of residential architecture. The curriculum will include de tailed chapters on styles, timelines of signif icant statewide, national, and world events, and a discussion of how students can perceive and analyze changes in their neighborhoods. Jane Stanford died in 1905 while vacationing San Francisco teacher Alberta Furnoy, archi in Hawaii. A year later, the Great Earth tectural historian Marty Gordon, and Victorian quake destroyed much of what had been built architecture freak Judith Lynch (a founding under her tenure, including the Memorial board member of Californians for Preservation Arch and the tower of Memorial Church as Action) combined their skills and their consid well as the unfinished library and gymnasium. erable enthusiasm last year. They decided to The reinforced concrete portion of the mu research and produce a curriculum that would seum survived, although two newer wings col expand students' awareness of houses as impor lapsed. A subsequent inquiry concluded that tant historic artifacts and enlist them early engineering and construction standards had as soldiers in the preservation army. deteriorated after the death of Leland Stan ford. While they intend to concentrate on San Fran cisco as their detailed model, they will work Mrs. Stanford's role as driving force in cam closely with CPF board members to ensure state pus architecture was assumed by several other wide coverage of architectural styles and eras. strong women in succeeding decades. In 1916, The completed guide will also include infor the wife of university President Ray Lyman mation about how teachers can do local research Wilbur commissioned the design of a massive as well as glimpses into the architectural Spanish-Gothic residence. Today that build treasures of Los Angeles and representative ing, known as The Knoll, houses the Music sites elsewhere in the state. Department. A few years later, in 1919, Lou Henry Hoover designed a striking, modern res They anticipate the project will take two idence in collaboration with A.B. Clark, a years, including field-testing with teachers Stanford art professor, and his son Birge and students in several locations. Some draft Clark. Mrs. Hoover and her husband, Herbert, material will be presented at their May State continued to consider this their home through Historic Preservation Conference workshop Mr. Hoover's presidency and in later years. "Awakening Delight", a session about working It now serves as the official residence of with elementary school students. the university president. Birge Clark went on to design more than 120 commercial and The three are currently seeking funding, with residential buildings in Palo Alto alone. CPF assistance. In addition to support for the written materials, they also want funds for a The habit of inviting great architectural companion videotape, which would involve stu minds to make their mark also continued at dents themselves in the scriptwriting, narra Stanford. One notable example is the Hanna tion, camerawork and production. Honeycomb House at 737 Frenchman's Road, which was designed in 1935 for Professor and Mrs. Paul R. Hanna by Frank Lloyd Wright. This newsletter was brought to you by John Merritt with the assistance of Dick Today, as Palo Alto and Stanford move into Price. Contributors were Judith Lynch, their second century, the intellectual fer Diarmuid McQuire and Sandra Shannonhouse. ment of the community has expanded to include NEXT NEWSLETTER DEADLINE- -- MARCH 31, 1988 savinq architectural treasures. In 1980, 5 California lssues,Act ions, Ideas Pub I icat ions IMPORTANT "STATE REGISTER"HEA RIN G The Heritage Educa�ion Quarterly (498 South Main Street, Madison, Georgia 30650) has come �cross our desk. The newsletter covers The State Historical Resources Commission will a wide range of school programs, ideas, teacher mater be meeting in Sacramento on February 19, 1988, ials and educational training opportunities and wi 11 devote the entire session to recommen throughout the country and should be of inter dations for establishing the State Register . A est to anyone using architecture as a teaching packet of material defining the State Register tool in the schools. criteria and process - as proposed - is avail able from the State Office of Historic Preser vation now; if you are interested in what the Wallace Neff was well known as the Hollywood Commission has created, contact the State Of stars' architect, but his career and creativity fice (316/445-8006) to be sure you receive the packet before the meeting. went far beyond that. Neff was one of the most imaginative users of the "Spanish-Colonial" style but was also an innovator in both the use The State Register was a �ity recommenda of materials and architecture he produced in a tion of the California Heritage-Task Force in long life in Southern California. Wallace Neff 1984. The idea was put forth that existino ' Architect of California's Golden Age programs - designed by federal administrators (Capra Press, 1986) is a luxurious and well-informed or created many years ago - effectively re study of Neff's work by Alson Clark, stricted the people of California from nomina Jr., of Pasadena, a man who grew up in the environment ting many properties they held dear. The Neff helped create, and a man who knew Neff early programs were fine, as far as they went, and his family well. This is an unmatched analy but Californians had advanced beyond these sis of Neff' s work, an architect whose contribu prior limits. tions have long awaited - and deserved - seri ous study. Neff groupies (like the editor) are Our understanding of heritage has deepened and delighted our friend Alson Clark has written the scope of resources we see as important to this book. the culture has broadened greatly in the inter vening years. A California State Register would enable us to match our vision with a much � obe�t E . Stipe is one of America's true gurus enlarged recognition program; and, it was hoped, . in historic preservation, a lawyer, teach�r listing would be followed by the application of and activist from North Carolina. Every decade programs providing new incentives and greater or so Stipe produces another visionary piece, protection for State Register resources. an invaluable guide for future preservation planning. The latest, "The Next 20 Years", was Progress in developing this program, to be gen erous, has been slow. The Administration has published in The American Mosaic: Preserving A been less than enthusiastic about new programs Nation's Heritage by US/ICOMOS in time for the and defining the scope of a new set of criteria first International Conference held in the Uni for cultural resources has also proved to be ted States (October, 1987, in Washington, D.C.) difficult. Commissioner Karana Hattersley For copies, try US/ICOMOS (1600 H Street, Wash Drayton's subcommittee has persisted, however, ington, D.C. 20006). and we now have a chance at the February 19 Hearing to push the State Register one step So, What's Happening? closer to reality. Feb. 7 - May 8 -- The Silvergate CONCERTS - If you or your group can be at this hearing, San Diego - chamber music in historic sites. do so; if you can't, as OHP for the packet of Four Sunday afternoon concerts and rece�tions material and express your opinion in writing. sponsored by Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO); for more information contact Lyn MORE CALIFORNI A NEWS - - RED LANDS Schubert at (619)459-0621. On January 6, 1988, The Redlands Sun reported Feb. 19 -- State Historical Resources Comis that "the City's gamble to save (the) historic sion meeting - Sacramento; meeting will con trolley barn from the wrecking ball has paid centrate on proposed STATE REGISTER criteria off", the City Council approving sale of the (see story) property to a Santa Ana developer. Redlands' willingness to purchase and attempt to market March 24-26 -- Annual Meeting of the SOCIETY the building was described and applauded in FOR CALIFORNIA ARCHAEOLOGY - Redding; for our last issue; we now hope the risk they took a full program and meeting details contact and the success they have had will convince S.C.A., c/o Department of Anthropology, Cal other cities to make similar moves to save his State University, Fullerton, CA 92634. toric properties. There is a lot of talk about the "public/ May 11-14 -- INTERNATIONAL SEISMIC ISOLATION/ private partnershi.p" but few public entities HISTORIC PRESERVATION SYMPOSIUM - Salt Lake seem to be able to play an active role in pro City - will focus on the unique solutions moting preservation projects in an entrepenur for the City-County Building in Salt Lake; ial way. Instead, some cities designate worthy for more information contact the Office of properties as landmarks and then sit on the The Mayor, (801)535-6042. sidelines until acceptable proposals surface, or, worse, someone applies for demolition per May 19-22 -- Thirteenth ANNUAL STATE PRESERVA mits. Redlands' Mayor Carole Beswick and TION CONFERENCE - Palo Alto (see story); for Planner Darrell Cozen should serve as models more information contact the California for many California cities. Preservation Foundation, (415)527-7808. 6 BENICIA (continued) the coast and rivers of California. We antici pate being able to report a happy ending to $700 a citizens' group raised over to have haz this story in the near future, but even b�fore ards such as old water heaters removed from that, we want to congratulate the people of the saloon, the grounds cleaned up, and the Benicia for their willingness to contribute windows secured with plywood. The City fenced money, materials, physical energy and political the saloon and house and agreed to maintain acumen to the cause, acting as well as talking. them, but concerns about the IT Toxic Waste Dump and the need for a new City Manager took The Editor. precedence. However, contact was made with the Coastal Conservancy and the City received D.C. NEWS-FY 87�88 FUNDING a grant for a study of development possibili Preservation Action reports that 1987-88 fun ties for the Historic Triangle. Conducted by ding for the federal preservation program Interactive Resources, the final hearing on finally was approved just before the Christmas the study was held December 12, 1g87. It ap recess. pears that major portions of the most elabor ate plan have the public's support. Unfortu The final number - 28.25 million - was a com nately, while the plan recommended retaining promise between the Senate's recommended 34 the Saloon and Depot, the Queen Anne house was million, a sl\ghtly lower figure by the House, not included. Local preservationists hope to and the Administration's traditional request correct this omission. for zero. The funding figure allocates 20 million for SHPOs, 4.5 for the National Trust, Since the fence was erected in 1984, vandalism $750,000 for a comprehensive survey of Micro has resumed, window coverings were removed and nesia and 1 million for the "Centennial Light deterioration accelerated. In 1987, a group house Fund". An additional 2 million dollar of Benicians, including most of the still fund was created for "predevelopment grants" living former elected officials, became irate and is earmarked for planning and survey, ar and frustrated with what had become an eyesore. chitectural or engineering fees or planning They named themselves the Lido Zappers and pre and management costs for projects initiate ? sented a petition with over 2000 signatures to by local government and/or non-profits; while the City Council asking for immediate demolit it is uncertain at this time how this money ion of the saloon. The Council voted to create will be distributed, the program is a new a restoration plan and set a March 15, 1988, wrinkle in federal support. cut-off date. The National Park Service, separately, recei Supporters of restoration organized under the ved 7.8 million to administer the preservation very active leadership of Peter Bray to form program nationally, and the total of over 36 The Friends of the Lido Committee in support million represents the highest ever budget of restoration of the three structures in the allocation for preservation during the Reagan Historic Triangle and the sadly-deteriorated Administration. Nellie Longsworth warns, how Von Pfister Adobe, just two blocks north. $600 ever, that a worsening deficit picture will During the first week over and sever�l make for a tougher budget fight this year. hundred signatures were collected. The City was convinced to once again allow private cit izens to clean up the premises, removing three EASEMENT REPORT FROM TREASURY dumpster loads of wood, debris, and weeds. The The Department of Treasury released a report windows have been weather-sealed with donated, Dec. 18, 1987 (Document 88-25) which suggests scene-painted panels and existing, faded mol the current 'free market' in easements is in ding and shutters have been painted. The rear efficient and error-prone. Without being exposure of the Jurgensen Saloon was sealed able to fully document some conclusions, the with donated polyethylene plastic. Signs have report argues that easements are overvalued been made and installed identifying the three for IRS purposes, are granted by individuals structures as Historic Buildings that are to without concern for overall planning or preser be restored. Several press releases have been vation priorities and the results are difficult submitted and have received positive press cov to monitor. One suggested solution in the re erage from local and out-of-county newspapers. port is to switch over to a federal purchase Contact is being maintained with the City, the program to acquire easements on critically Main Street Program, of which Benicia is a important properties and elimination of the part, and with the Coastal Conserv�ncy. Gra�s current tax deduction for easement donations. roots support is keeping the buildings standing. 15 The March deadline is approaching. Insiders suggest this report is just one of thousands and the recommendations will gain By Sandra Shannonhouse little congressional support; but, coupled with the apparent drop in easement donations 1987, The "Friends of the Lido" story is a classic in the report signals continued tinker ing with existing tax law regarding easements example of the ability of citizen preserv�tion . ists to save a lost cause. Individual initia may be expected, regulations which have changed tive rebuilt sentiment for saving a major rem six times already in the last ten years. nant of Benicia's most interesting past. The RAISE OSTRICHES FOR PROFIT Mayor and City Manager were willing to take tOCX> kinda fi�t t e positive steps to preserve the Lido, once they �nrc dcli\'cry vuaraotc.-cd. of all for �le. For the im you a� offt'rf'd an tm..:aKe 1.nduictry. \\ nte f r our hnp:Jy op rtuuit\' 10 in this unknown but exccc<. profitable nwnt propol!lition C\'er put out. \\e make the late111 h'l'nc h saw citizens were willing to get out there and coat. �Jumes out of your citd •till ow plumc11. Write for complete fcftthcr� cat:\IO« and aave ball the usual help with the job, and the critics of preserva PACIFIC OSTRICH AND FEATHER C MPANY tion seem to have been silenced. The story Carland BuiWi.ns. Loe Ana•&..Cal. also reminds us that the Coastal Cons�rv�ncy often takes an interest and plays a significant . role in preserving historic properties along I 7 HAPPY 1988-- OUR 13th YEAR CALIFORNIA PRESERVATION The California Preservation Foundation began as a grassroots organization in 1975 - as Cal FOUNDATION ifornians for Preservation Action. We still see our strength in the local community and board members come from active local programs. BOAR D OF 1 RUSTEES Without governmental funding, the Foundation relies upon you - local preservationists - for information, identification of issues David Cameron (Santa Monica) 213/452-0914 suggestions about how we can help you... a � d Bill Delvac (Los Angeles) 213/620-1780 for most of our financial support. PLEASE Linda Dishman (Pasadena) 818/405-4228 HELP US CONTINUE WITH OUR CRITICAL TASK AS WE Wayne Donaldson (San Diego) 619/239-7888 WORK TO IMPROVE THE CLIMATE FOR PRESERVATION Bill Ellinger (Pasadena) 818/792-8539 IN CALIFORNIA. Nadine Hata (Redondo Beach) 213/532-3670 Bruce Judd (Hercules) 415/421-1680 Help Us Do lt····Join··Renew--NOW! Christy McAvoy (Hollywood) 213/851-8854 GeeGee Platt (San Francisco) 415/922-3579 Send this coupon with your tax-deductible con Pamela Seager (Long Beach) 213/431-3541 tribution to the California Preservation Foun Rob Selway (Santa Ana) 714/834-4741 dation, 41 Sutter, Suite 1593, San Francisco, CA 94104. David Shelton (Santa Barbara) 805/962-1715 ------Steve Spiller (Redlands) 714/792-2111 �: � �;: : � � : ;l� � � � :p;;r� w��;s��P��: Jim Stickels (Claremont) 714/773-3955 Y r on i t n h p research, publications, legislative efforts, 1 Bill Sugaya (San Francisco) 415/421-1680 I conferences and direct local assistance. Warren Williams (Sacramento) 916/444-8170 I I Name(s): John Merritt (Berkeley) 415/527-7808 �------' I Executive Director Address: -- 1 I City: Zip: Steve Taber (San Francisco) 415/777-3200 ------1 I Counsel: Hanson, Bridgett, Marcus Home Phone: Work Phone: I I The California Preservation Foundation exists MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES: I to help you improve preservation awareness Individual or Organization MEMBER --- $35.00 1 and activity in your town. If you think we Student or Senior (over 60)MEMBER --- $15.00 : can help, don't hesitate to call your nearest Individual or Organization PATRON --- $75.00 I Board member or call 415/527-7808. I Individual or Organization SPONSOR---$150.00 ------' California NON-P ROFI T Preservation ORGANIZATION Foundation U.S. POSTAGE PAID BERKELEY, CALIF . 41 Sutter, Suite 1593 PERMIT NO . 308 San Francisco, CA 94104