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.