Published in Las Vegas, NMby the Las Vegas Citizens’ Committeefor Historic PreservationPO Box 728 / 116 Bridge StreetLas Vegas, NM 87701Phone 505 425-8803Fax 505 425-7202E-Mail historic@cybermesa.comWebsite www.lasvegasnmcchp.com

Mission StatementTo preserve, protect and promote thehistoric, cultural and architecturalheritage of greater Las Vegas througheducation and advocacy, and to en-courage economic developmentthrough restoration and rehabilitation.

Upcoming EventsJan. 26, 7 pmNMHU, Donnelly Library,Beyond Gettysburg,A Civil War disucussion,Dr. Christie RossJan. 28 (9-11 am)Museum Café, 727 Grand Ave.,Statehood with State HistorianDr. Rick HendricksFeb. 16 - 7 pmGlimpses of the PastCCHP, 116 Bridge StreetFeb. 24 – Deadline to submitCentennial Poster to NMHPDFeb. 26 – 1 pmThe Tiny are MightyLV National Wild Life RefugeMarch 15 - 7 pmGlimpses of the PastCCHP, 116 Bridge Street

ThePresbyterian Mission Church andSchool at the corner of Chavez andSocorro streets in Old Town, is

probably the first Protestant Church to beerected in northern New Mexico. The churchwas constructed during the period of 1869-1872under the leadership of Presbyterian missionaryJohn Alexander Annin and lay leader, JoseYnez Perea. Perea was a member of a promi-nent and wealthy family in Bernalillo who, inthe 1840s was sent east to several schools in-cluding St. Louis University and the MilitaryAcademy at West Point. During this period,Jose Inez became a Protestant, much to the dis-tress of his parents. After five years sailing theworld on a merchant ship, he returned andeventually settled in San Miguel County andbecame a prominent sheep rancher. When Pas-tor Annin appeared in Las Vegas, Perea wasoverjoyed and immediately pledged his sup-port. He accepted responsibility for overseeingthe construction of the church and associatedschool and personally made major donations tounderwrite it financially.

CCHPChairman Rudy Laumbach has con-sulted Presbyterian Church archives and recordsto provide details concerning the building of theMission Church and School that shed light on costs and practices of the time. Because it wasa “mission” in a new area, financial support for construction was received from congrega-tions and groups in several states including NewYork, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Ohio.Locally support came from many within the Las Vegas community including prominentPlaza merchants – Protestant, Catholic and Jewish. It was viewed as beneficial to the entirecommunity. Jose Ynez Perea, took the responsibility of choosing and negotiating with con-tractors; both he and Rev. Annin signed all contracts.

The site, which was occupied by an adobe house, was purchased from Jorge Chavez for$3,350.Adobes for the new construction were prepared by Jesus Martin at the rate of $7 per

1,000 adobes. Refugio Aguirre, who provided a helper anda wagon and one yoke of oxen, transported the adobes tothe construction site at a rare of $3 per day. Julian Chavezwas hired to lay the adobes at a rate of $6.50 per thousandfor the first three days and the at $9 per thousand as theheight of the walls increased. Thirty-five thousand shingleswere provided by Pierre Lesperance at $6.50 per thousand.The carpentry work was contracted to David H. Powell for

WINTER 2012 Preservation News Volume 26, Issue 4

1869 Presbyterian Mission Church isRehabilitated and Recommissioned

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At its annualdinner inOctober,

CCHP honored JohnMartinez for his excep-tional dedication overmany years to preserv-ing Las Vegas’ architec-tural heritage. Over theyears, John has pre-vented several of ourcity’s most treasuredlandmarks from simplycrumbling from neglect.To date, he has person-

ally restored more than twenty structures. These includethe Castaneda Hotel, the Mueller House on Carnegie Park(now the Crow’s Nest B & B) and most recently, a complexof early adobe homes on Chavez Street southwest of thePlaza.

John Martinez, like everyone else, has long worked toearn his livelihood – most recently as co-owner and opera-

tor (with Leith Johnson) of Art and Stones, a combinationart gallery, rock and gem emporium and souvenir, hobbyand frame shop. Somehow while doing this, John hasfound the time and resources to tackle truly dauntingbuilding renovation projects. Unlike most others who re-store historic buildings, John seems to pick the most chal-lenging projects, ones others have felt were too far gone.John does most of the work himself and, to the extent pos-sible, seems to ignore the economics of projects. He saysthat he fixes things that need fixing and hopes to at leastbreak even – making money is not his primary motivation.

In most instances, John’s salvage and restoration workhas returned an historic building to productive use and on-going maintenance. However, while John’s truly heroicwork on the exterior brickwork of the Castaneda Hotel haspreserved it for a few decades, the building remains endan-gered. Hopefully, someone with deep pockets and a lovefor historic preservation will acquire it before it is too late.John Martinez has shown that one man can do a great deal;much more than most can imagine. He has shown the wayand we honor him for this, but he cannot do it all. The com-munity must help.

John Martinez: Dedicated to Historic Preservation

At its an-nual din-ner in

October, CCHP an-nounced and honoredproperty owners forspecial efforts ofrestoration or rehabili-tation of Las Vegashistoric structures.This year the awardscommittee, consistingof Bob Mishler, JudeeWilliams and LouisPlagge, selected one

commercial and three resi-dential properties for recog-nition. In the commercialcategory, Community FirstBank, represented by Rayand Joyce Litherland andMike Fields (constructionoverseer for the bank) re-ceived the award. This LasVegas landmark, the Crockett

Building or Murphey’s DrugStore, which had been emptyfor a number of years, under-went major renovation toserve as the headquarters ofCommunity First Bank. It iswonderful to have thisprominent Las Vegas com-mercial site back in activeservice to the community.

In the residential homecategory, awards were givento Josef and Robin Jau-reguiberry for the rehabilita-tion of their home at 814Seventh Street, to Andy andBarbara Feldman for rehabili-tation of their home at 924Sixth Street and to RomanLujan and John Gordon forrestoration of the home at1045 Eighth Street.

CCHP is proud to recognize these outstanding effortstoward restoration and protection of its architectural her-itage.

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2011 Awards for Restoration and Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings

People and Places Past • Winter 2012 • LVCCHP Page 2

“Cultural Sustainability” means renewing and maintaining human cultures that create positive enduring relation-ships. “Sustainability” encompasses more than our earth. Caring for our earth is important. Social, cultural and economicsustainability are very important too. As with environmental, social and economic sustainability, local government has avitalm part in supporting cultural sustainability at the community level. The true essence of sustainability is doing good.To be effective we must recognize that circumstances are constantly changing and evolving and thus we must take intoaccount these considerations.

Every old building in Las Vegas adds to the esthetic, historic and cultural sustainability of our Great City. The great-est attraction to Las Vegas is its ambiance. In most cases the facades and the interiors of these “Old Buildings” can bepreserved. This can be done consistent with the needs of the owners; in so doing they will have an attractive facility andprovide an important example of “adaptive reuse” of an historic building.

In Las Vegas, there are resources/provisions available that help owners of historic properties:

1. Resolution 10-32 adopting the Downtown Action Plan.2. Contract with MainStreet Las Vegas to implement the Plan.3. Ordinance 10-24 authorizing the designation of an Arts and Cultural district.

In addition, technical assistance and tax incentives are available for renovation or restoration of historic properties.We are blessed to live in a city with rich historic, cultural and architectural resources; it is our duty to following gen-

erations to protect the heritage we have inherited.

R. E. (Rudy) Laumbach

Recently, CCHP has faced twospecific instances in which thedesire for preserving our his-

toric commercial building and the need forinvestment and economic developmentseemed to be in conflict. In one case, theAllsup Company, probably New Mexico’slargest and most successful home-grownbusiness, proposed the creation of an “All-sups Super Store” using space occupied byseveral buildings including the historicVoda Building, which had been a liverystable in the 1880s. CCHP communicatedseveral times with the Allsup Companyurging “adaptive reuse” of the Voda Build-ing arguing that the company could bothpreserve the historic structure and meet its21st Century needs. In the end, the com-pany rejected the concept as too expensiveand even though CCHP President RudyLaumbach testified before the Design Re-

view Board urging both historic preserva-tion and economic development, the build-ing did not survive.

A similar situation arose over plans toincorporate the adjacent Maloof Buildingon Bridge Street into a remodeled and ex-panded Kiva Theater. Again CCHP,through its President Rudy Laumbach,was closely involved in planning and deci-sion-making sessions of the Design Re-view Board. As in the previous case,CCHP advocated a middle ground favor-ing both historic preservation and eco-nomic development. In this case,engineering studies made clear the preser-vation of much of the Maloof Buildingwas not possible. As a result, CCHPhelped the investors and the city reach aplan to preserve the facade facing BridgeStreet and as much other structure as pos-sible.

What is clear is that CCHP is a re-spected voice when decisions about his-toric preservation are faced by the citygovernment and is well placed to guidedecisions.

People and Places Past • Winter 2012 • LVCCHP Page 3

CCHP, Historic Preservation and Economic Development in Las Vegas

Cultural Sustainability and Las Vegas

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People and Places Past • Winter 2012 • LVCCHP Page 4

Mission Church

The 2011 CCHP annualHoliday Home Tourwas an outstanding

success this year. The tour, held inthe early evening of Friday, Dec,2, with nine impressively deco-rated sites open, was attended byapproximately twice as many peo-ple as the 2010 tour. This despitethe fact that Las Vegas had inter-mittent snow showers that daywith major storm warnings for theevening and following day.

The success of the event oc-curred despite the cancellation ofa tour bus from Albuquerque be-cause of the threatening weather.

Homes participating in thetour were those of Dolly andMack Crow, Barbara and AndyFeldman, Julie Weaver and TroyDennison, Melissa Greene, Anneand John Bradford, and MikeAdams.

Participating sites, in additionto the personal residences, in-cluded an open house at theCCHP Santa Fe Trail Interpreta-tive Center, the Carnegie Libraryand the Plaza Hotel. The West LasVegas High School Chorus sangcarols at CCHP and at the PlazaHotel.

The light snow fall helpedcreate a magical atmosphere and afestive mood for participants. Weexpress special thanks to the WestLas Vegas High Chorus, to thehome owners, to the tour sponsors( Community First Bank, LasVegas First and Alta Vista Hospi-tal) and to the organizing commit-tee, led by Judee Williams.

Holiday Home Tour A Big Success

Continued from page 1—

fixed price of $650. All these contracts werescheduled and supervised by Perea and theavailable records suggest that all proceededsmoothly.

The church was active until the early1960s. Since that time, the building has

served at various times as a Job Corps site, anoffice for Habitat for Humanity and as ahomeless shelter. Most recently, it has servedthe Rio Gallinas School as a dance studio.During the past year the mission church hasbeen undergoing restoration supported, inpart, by a grant from the Bank of Las Vegas.At the present time the sanctuary has been

restored and work is progressing to install akitchen and rest rooms in adjoining rooms.The building will be used as a neighborhoodcenter jointly managed and operated by theUnited Presbyterian Church of Las Vegasand the United World College. We look for-ward to many years of continued communityservice by this early historic landmark.

Winter weather set the scene for a lovely tour of Las Vegas homes

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People and Places Past • Winter 2012 • LVCCHP Page 5

Fort Union National Monument will be presenting nu-merous events and special programs throughout 2012with a special focus on the 150th Anniversary of the

Civil War in the Southwest. These programs are intended for allages and will be held at Fort Union National Monument and atthe Citizens Committee for Historic Preservation building in LasVegas, New Mexico.

Held every third Thursday of the month, the Civil WarSpeaker Series will take place on Jan. 19, Feb. 16, March 15,June 21 and July 19, 2012. The regular Glimpses of the Past pro-grams will also continue on the third Thursday of the month.

During the 2012 season, Fort Union National Monument willalso be developing an educational curriculum-based program inwhich students will delve into the intricate story of the importantrole that Fort Union played in the Civil War and how the CivilWar affected the lives of the citizens, soldiers and communities ofNew Mexico.

Beginning on May 11-12, Fort Union’s living History unit,Company “A” of the 3rd New Mexico Volunteer Infantry will beholding its Camp of Instruction at the fort. Through formal andinformal presentations and hands-on demonstrations, visitors willlearn the history of the New Mexico Volunteer regiments thatserved at Fort Union and what it was like to be a Civil War sol-dier in the Southwest.

On June 6-8, Fort Union will be conducting its annual JuniorRanger Camps. Children and parents alike will explore the mul-tiple facets of Fort Union’s natural, cultural and military historyduring these all-day camps. The camps are geared for ages 7-12.Please contact the fort for more information. Reservations are re-quired.

Our next newsletter will include events and programs offered byFort Union National Monument later in the year.

Fort Union National Monument Program Schedule

In early November of last year, I had theopportunity to join four interns from theAmeriCorps Cultural Technology pro-

gram to discuss their projects and talk about theirexperiences working on design projects for theirinstitutions. (ACT is a joint program of the MediaArts Department of New Mexico Highlands Uni-versity and the New Mexico Department of Cul-tural Affairs.)

DeAnna Threadgill, one of CCHP’s Ameri-Corps summer interns, represented HighlandsUniversity Media Arts Department and CCHPwell. She showed the education packet that shedeveloped about New Mexico and Las Vegas his-tory for use by teachers in the local school sys-tems and talked about her AmeriCorps internship.

I shared what it meant to me to be part of thisproject and to be able to help Highlands’ studentsand to meet representatives from New MexicoMuseums and non-profit organizations in thestate. There are so many people that work hard torepresent our state in their chosen fields and manyothers who volunteer their time to help their localcommunities. It was a privilege to have the op-portunity to meet and talk with them and sharewhat is happening here in Las Vegas.

This summer we hope to have another Ameri-Corps intern work with CCHP on a new project .It is exciting to be around these talented studentsand to tap into their enthusiasm.

— Martha McCaffrey

AmeriCorps InternsWork With CCHP

People Plus ProgramsEqual Continued Success

When the Citizens’ Committee for Historic Preservationlaunched following the development of the Design Re-view Board back in the early 1970s, it was an immediate

success because of the people at the helm, strong leaders who definedprograms and implemented them. These dedicated individuals estab-lished a foundation for preservation in Las Vegas that has stood the testof time. Because of them properties and districts all over town are onthe National Historic Register, and because of them ordinances are inplace that help in the ongoing effort to rehabilitate and restore ratherthan tear down or allow benign neglect to destroy architectural treas-ures. Las Vegas has evolved into a place where the past is respected be-cause it informs how we live in the present and into the future.

There is an ongoing need for strong leadership in CCHP. Just as theorganization’s founders needed resolute folks to further its agenda, sodoes CCHP need people today. Worker bees and dedicated leaders as-sure programs continue and flourish. Volunteers to help with PlacesWith a Past, Heritage Week, Holiday Home Tour, the annual dinner andoffice assistants for CCHP office hours are critical needs. Equally impor-tant is the need for board members, people who determine policy andprograms, and ensure a viable and vibrant organizational future.

The CCHP mission is to, “…preserve, protect and promote the his-toric, cultural and architectural heritage of greater Las Vegas througheducation and advocacy, and to encourage economic developmentthrough restoration and rehabilitation.”

That mission will continue with the help of leaders who love LasVegas, respect the past, enjoy history and care about the architecturaland cultural treasurers that are a part of the mosaic that is Las Vegas.

To become a volunteer or for information about serving on theboard, contact Amanda Chavez, office manager, 505 425-8803, or RudyLaumbach, board chair.

POSTAGE PAIDNON-PROFITORGANIZATIONPERMIT 147

LAS VEGAS, NM 87701PO Box 728116 Bridge StreetLas Vegas, NM 87701

This project was partially funded by the City of Las Vegas with Lodgers Tax funds and also with Certified Local Government Grant Funds under project #35-10-21837 by theHistoric Preservation Division, State of New Mexico, 407 Galisteo Street, Suite 236, Santa Fe, NM 87501. The activity that is the subject of this brochure has been financed inpart with federal funds from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. However, the contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies ofthe Department of the Interior. This program received Federal financial assistance for identification and protection of historic properties. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on thebasis of race, color, national origin, disability or age in its federally assisted programs. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility asdescribed above, or if you desire further information, please write to: Office of Equal Opportunity, National Park Service, 1849 C Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20240

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Partners in PreservationWe appreciate your support.

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Level of Support $_________________________________________Please send your tax deductible contribution to: Las Vegas Citizens’ Committee for Historic Preservation, PO Box 728, 116 Bridge Street, Las Vegas, NM 87701

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Thank you,Las Vegas Citizens’ Committee for Historic Preservation Board of Directors A non-profit 501(c) 3 organization