May/Ju ne Walking Tours! See Pages 6-7 FootPrints Dedicated to Preserving and Promoting Historic Resources in the Truckee Meadows through Education, Advocacy and Leadership. vol. 16 no. 2 Spring 2013 W. E. Barnard: A Lasting Imprint on Reno by Debbie Hinman erhaps no Reno neighborhood symbol is as instantly sented a myriad of opportunities for a creative and motivated recognizable as the lovely stone markers of the Old young man such as Barnard. The 1925 Reno City Directory PSouthwest. There are eight of them in all, paired over shows him living at the Liberty Apartments, which are still in four blocks on Nixon Avenue, announcing the entrance to the existence at 234-240 West Liberty. The Mission Revival-style streets contained in the early subdivision known as Newlands units must have appealed to Barnard, as many of his finest Manor. Since 1927 they have graced this homes were in that style. He was, at that neighborhood, an eclectic mixture of time, in business with a brother, Gerald, bungalows, cottages, Spanish Revival who also became noteworthy for his homes and other diverse architectural involvement in the local real estate scene. styles. Thankfully, this area remains largely unchanged from its inception, the W. E. Barnard was a financier and builder late 1920s through mid-1930s. You might and his first projects were public build- wonder, as you walk past the mostly ings. In 1926, he and George Southward, small, lovely homes, each one different former bank examiner with whom he from its neighbor—who was responsible would form a financial partnership the for this unique development? That person following year, purchased a lot on First was William Everett Barnard. and Sierra Streets, extending south to the Truckee River. They announced Always referred to in print as W.E. plans to build a three-story apartment Barnard, he came to Reno to live in 1925 house, but a month later a revised plan and immediately began making his mark appeared in the Nevada State Journal upon the city. But who was he? (NSJ) announcing the construction of the Fulton Building, so named as it was Born in Oakland, California in 1890, adjacent to the Fulton home property and Barnard attended Oakland High and the Mary Bragg Fulton was involved in the University of California. From an inter- financing. This notice did not mention view given in early 1930, it sounds as Southward, but instead listed Scheeline though he was an entrepreneur from a Banking and Trust along with Barnard. very young age. The article mentions that The Fulton Building stood on the south- at age 11, Barnard “compiled, issued and west corner when Sierra Street dead-end- sold” a town directory and by age 15, was The Arcade Medico-Dental Building on North ed at the river. It was later replaced by the the “champion vacuum cleaner salesman Virginia Street. Courtesy Jerry Fenwick. block of shops that were destroyed in the of Central California.” Leaving college, 1957 downtown explosion. Barnard entered the grain business. By 1917, he was married to Martha, had one child and was living Not only did Barnard distinguish himself in the business in Chico. He was the superintendent of a rice farm owned by world — he was also active in the local community. In 1926, Dodge Land Co.; the rice farm was 5,600 acres, reputedly the the Reno Advertising Club, affiliated with the Associated largest in the world. Advertising Clubs of the World, was founded with W. E. Barnard named as President. Other officers included Richard No mention was made in the interview as to why he came Kirman, former Reno Mayor and future Nevada governor. to Nevada, but Reno of 1925 was growing quickly and pre- Barnard was also involved with the Reno YMCA. Continued on page 2 1 historicreno.org FootPrints Vol. 16 No. 2, Spring 2013 W. E. Barnard: A Lasting Imprint on Reno (continued) Continued from page 1 envisioned. The land was formerly a part of the Newlands estate so At the end of 1926, the Nevada State apparently Barnard wished to carry on Journal announced, “Reno Man in Huge Francis Newlands’ legacy; he named Deal.” The article reported that Barnard the addition Newlands Heights, was now engaged in the largest project with Newlands Manor being his of his life, to the tune of $13 million. first subdivision. By 1930, he had He had been named Financial Manager also developed Manor Heath, Manor of the Port of San Francisco project, Park, Manor Circle, Manor Gardens building an artificial harbor at South and Manor Knoll. An interview with San Francisco. The project, said the NSJ, Barnard refers to him tongue-in- would require him to spend weekdays cheek as possibly being “to the manor in San Francisco, returning to Reno on born.” He had many of the homes weekends. Barnard was quoted as saying built himself, probably commissioning he had no intention of leaving Reno. construction firms to build using pattern books rather than employing Just to show that he was not a man to architects. For others, he sold lots but sit with only one iron in the fire, plans maintained control over construction, had been underway throughout 1926 to ensuring they were suitable additions tear down the old Grand Theater and to his neighborhoods. The conditions the adjacent Mariner Music building set forth in the deeds were quite on North Virginia Street and replace One of the eight lovely stone markers restrictive and reflected, in some cases, them with a modern “high rise” to on Nixon Avenue in the Old Southwest the unfortunate social mores of the era. accommodate office space above and announcing the Newlands Manor shops on the ground floor. Property development. Conditions stipulated that buildings owner Harry Scheeline was assisted by be homes and not used for any Barnard in this endeavor. Barnard was noted that Barnard and DeLongchamps business purposes which included able to gather enough stock in the Reno had visited arcade stores in Hollywood, such specific examples as flats or Amusement Co. to enable Scheeline to Los Angeles, Cincinnati and Cleveland apartment buildings, funeral parlors or end the lease of the property to the to gather ideas and incorporate the beer gardens. They further stipulated theater operators. An April 1926 edition best designs of all into the Reno that intoxicating liquor could not be of the NSJ featured an architectural Arcade. Local businesses were used for manufactured, sold or traded (although drawing of the six-story building, to materials: cabinet and store fixtures this was during Prohibition, there was take its place as Reno’s tallest building, were supplied by Union Mill and no mention of private use). It was also designed by Frederic DeLongchamps. Lumber on E. Sixth Street, decorating by stated that it was desired to have a Harry Curtin on Thoma Street, windows community of “persons who are on The Arcade Medico-Dental Building by Alpine Glass on E. Fourth, electrical a social equality” and that properties was completed in May of 1927, and was work by Linnecke Electrical Company could not be sold, leased or occupied a beautiful, Spanish Revival structure on High Street and brick work by Smith by anyone other than those of the and a desirable location for retail, as Petersen & Co. of W. Fifth. Caucasian race. evidenced by the fact that the 19 shops and half of the offices were rented a year Although he continued to be involved On Saturday, September 10, 1927, in advance of its scheduled completion. in Reno’s commercial real estate, Nevada Developers announced an Open Barnard himself moved his business, Barnard then turned his sights to House of Newlands Manor, selling lots Nevada Developers, to #9 Arcade residential property, wishing to create at “ridiculously low prices” (as low as Building. The building featured an high-end neighborhoods in desirable $425). The ad goes on to tout the “artis- entrance 18 feet wide and 16 feet high, areas filled with unique homes. tic stone monuments” and the fact that extending from North Virginia Street all telephone and power lines would through to an alley behind. Reported In June of 1927, Barnard, as President be placed in underground conduits to the 1926 NSJ: “Spanish frescoes will of the Nevada Developers, Inc. further enhance the beauty of the sur- adorn the ceiling of the arcade and the purchased nearly 21 acres of land west roundings. 115 lots were advertised for floor will be tiled. Uniform entrances of Gordon Avenue, south of Marsh sale. In November, the ads featured a and uniform lettering will be used for Avenue to be divided into building list of 70 Reno residents who had pur- all the stores, and the warm southern lots. He immediately erected the lovely chased property in this “new high-class color will be used throughout.” Prior to stone markers mentioned above and restricted residence district.” Newlands construction beginning, the article also began creating the neighborhood he Manor comprised the area north to 2 FootPrints Vol. 16 No. 2, Spring 2013 historicreno.org W. E. Barnard: A Lasting Imprint on Reno (continued) St. Lawrence Avenue, south to LaRue Barnard was busy build- one to remain single, in Avenue, bounded on the west by Circle ing in Newlands Manor, 1934, Barnard married Drive and by Nixon Avenue on the east. in the spring opening Edna Clausen of Reno. the homes El Mirasol The couple moved to On the personal front, in the summer and Casa Monte Bella a small, Spanish-style of 1929, Barnard’s wife Martha left on Bret Harte Avenue, home on Circle Drive.