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Preservation ENEWSletter
July 21, 2009
Preserving, promoting and protecting Utah's historic built environment since
1966.
<
http://www.utahheritagefoundation.org/>
www.utahheritagefoundation.org
Text Box: UHF EVENTS
Discover Delta! Tour
August 22 - Members trip to Delta. $20 per person- includes lunch. Itinerary
available online.
Salt Lake Tornado 10 Years Later
August 11, 4:30 - 6:30 pm
Memorial House Come celebrate the rejuvenation of Memory Grove Park. Bring
your pictures and your memories. Light refreshments, and activities for the
kids. Hosted by Utah Heritage Foundation and Salt Lake City. Capitol
Discovery Day
August 29, Noon - 5:00 pm
Utah State Capitol Building
Barn Party
September 25, 2009, 6:30 - 10:00 pm
Union Pacific Depot at the Gateway
National Preservation Conference
October 13 - 17, 2009
Nashville, Tennessee
http://www.preservationnation.org/resources/training/npc/
Utah Preservation Conference 2010 April 29 - Opening Night!
April 30 - Heritage, Awards Education Sessions
May 1 - Historic Homes Tour
SAVE THE DATE!
Courthouses Reflect History
By Carma Wadley, Deseret News, July 13
City County By law, every county in the United States has been required
to construct a "convenient building for holding courts."
But early on in American history, county courthouses became much more
than that. They became symbols of local government, of democracy in action,
of civic pride. As former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr.
noted, "public buildings often accurately reflect the beliefs, priorities
and aspirations of a people : For much of our history, the courthouse has
served not just as a local center of the law and government, but as a
meeting ground, cultural hub and social gathering place."
When it came time to build its courthouses, Utah was no different than
any other state in wanting to create showpieces that reflected local values.
"County courthouses are among the royalty of Utah architecture," wrote
Roger Roper in a 1993 article in the Utah Historical Quarterly. "Only the
State Capitol, major religious buildings, a few collegiate structures and a
handful of other buildings rival or overshadow them in scale, visibility and
architectural distinction."
Although there were never any specific guidelines laid down for
courthouse construction, "there was apparently a basic understanding of what
constituted an appropriate design and setting, especially in the 19th
century, when most of Utah's first courthouses were built," writes Roper.
courthouse 1 For one thing, courthouses were centrally located within the
county seat, usually near a principal intersection and often next to major
religious or educational buildings. They were often allowed to take up an
entire city block and were usually set back a good distance from the street.
"This drew attention to the building and created an atmosphere of
distinction and respect for the activities of county government carried on
within," wrote Roper.
Over the years, some of Utah's original county courthouses have been
lost - replaced by more functional, if less distinct, buildings. But Utah
still has a rich legacy of county courthouses, says Kirk Huffaker, executive
director of the Utah Heritage Foundation. Some 16 historic courthouse
buildings remain, and 11 of them are still in use as courts or for other
county offices.
"Courthouses have a local connection that is very important," says
Huffaker. "What happens in these buildings is where people see the most
effect of local government. Not only do they offer innumerable services,
they are repositories courthouse 2of birth, death, marriage, real estate
records - most of the significant transactions of life. Many have seen
tragic court cases and famous marriages."
Equally important, he says, as a whole, they represent almost every era
of architecture in Utah.
"When people started building city halls and courthouses and other
public buildings, a lot of time and effort went into what kind of building
they wanted," says Alysa Revell, chairman of the Farmington Preservation
Commission, which is currently concerned with preserving the Davis County
Courthouse. "They wanted a building representative of democracy. These
buildings were a really important part of life, and if we remove them, we
remove an important part of civic history."
After extensive study of the issue, she says, "it looks like, at the
very least, we are going to be able to preserve the oldest part of the
building, if not the whole thing. But things are moving slowly."
The Cache County Courthouse is another one that has recently undergone
extensive restoration and renovation.
"I think courthouses have become more valued," says Wilson Martin, Utah
State Historic Preservation Officer. "As with all historic buildings, people
are more aware of the embodied value, the embodied energy they have."
courthouse 3 But, he adds, the economy has played a big role.
"Courthouses were usually very well built, especially for their period.
Typical home construction of that era - other than the mansions - involved
small masonry or small wood-frame structures made of indigenous materials.
But civic buildings of all varieties were symbols of the community and were
built to a higher standard."
It is possible, he says, to add elevators, HVAC systems, seismic
retrofitting, appropriate additions and still be more cost-effective than
starting over. Plus, he adds, there is an incredible preservation industry
filled with craftsmen who can do that kind of work.
"It's possible to have our cake and eat it, too - to save these beautiful
reminders of the past in a way that makes economic sense," he says.
What has happened in the field of preservation in the past couple of decades
is extraordinary, he says. "We now have a convergence of technology, skills,
craftsman and the desire to keep the buildings of the past; we have a
convergence of passion and reality."
Buildings of the past are tangible reminders of who we are and where we
came from, and that's particularly true of our courthouses, he says. "They
are such symbols of community and independence and local government."
ALSO IN THIS EDITION:
Saving Historic Mormon Chapels - Peggy Fletcher Stack, The Salt Lake
Tribune, July 20
A tour of historic LDS chapels in Salt Lake City - Peggy Fletcher Stack, The
Salt Lake Tribune, July 16
Utah Theater to house film center - Rosemary Winters, The Salt Lake Tribune,
July 15
Judge orders mediation on Odd Fellows Hall standoff - Erin Alberty, The Salt
Lake Tribune, July 13
Historic Park City chapel: Colorful past, but does it have a future? -
Kristen Moulten, The Salt Lake Tribune, July 10
Looking for the 'heart' of Park City? - Greg Marshall, Park Record, July 17
WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON
ARCHITECTURE AND PRESERVATION AROUND THE GLOBE
OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT UHF
LOCAL ARCHITECTURE AND PRESERVATION
Saving Historic Mormon Chapels - Peggy Fletcher Stack, The Salt Lake
Tribune, July 20
lds chapel
<
http://www.sltrib.com/faith/ci_12851928>
http://www.sltrib.com/faith/ci_12851928
A tour of historic LDS chapels in Salt Lake City - Peggy Fletcher Stack, The
Salt Lake Tribune, July 16
<
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12852048?IADID>
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12852048?IADID
Utah Theater to house film center - Rosemary Winters, The Salt Lake Tribune,
July 15
<
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12838009?IADID>
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12838009?IADID
Judge orders mediation on Odd Fellows Hall standoff - Erin Alberty, The Salt
Lake Tribune, July 13
<
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12829795?IADID>
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12829795?IADID
Historic Park City chapel: Colorful past, but does it have a future? -
Kristen Moulten, The Salt Lake Tribune, July 10
<
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12798150?IADID>
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12798150?IADID
Looking for the 'heart' of Park City? - Greg Marshall, Park Record, July 17
<
http://www.parkrecord.com/ci_12861103?IADID>
http://www.parkrecord.com/ci_12861103?IADID
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What We're Working On
Union Pacific Depot Tours - UHF guides are showcasing the Union Pacific
Depot at the Gateway. FREE guided tours of the Grand Hall and facts about
the railroad and its role in Utah History. Tours are from 5-7 pm with two
dates remaining - August 20, and September 17. These tours are THIS SUMMER
ONLY so make sure you come see us!
Matthew Nye is a student at the University of Utah where he is taking
classes to receive a Masters of Fine Arts and a Masters of Architecture.
But this summer he is taking a break from all that studying to conduct our
annual easement inspections. He will conduct these inspections and report
on the condition of each of the 117 properties on which UHF holds easements.
165 M St 225 N 468 7th Ave 500 N
ARCHITECTURE AND PRESERVATION AROUND THE GLOBE
Ennis Anyone? Despite preservationist outcry, sale of Wright house could be
its salvation - Greg Headley, The Architect's Newspaper, July13
<
http://www.archpaper.com/e-board_rev.asp?News_ID=3654>
http://www.archpaper.com/e-board_rev.asp?News_ID=3654
Julius Shulman, Photographer of Modernist California Architecture, Dies at
98 - Andy Grundberg, The New York Times, July 17
<
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/17/arts/design/17shulman.html>
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/17/arts/design/17shulman.html
Michael Jackson transformed Neverland Ranch much as he did music -
Christopher Hawthorne, Los Angeles Times, July 3
<
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/arts/la-et-neverland-visit3-2009j
ul03,0,7848374.story>
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/arts/la-et-neverland-visit3-2009ju
l03,0,7848374.story
With name change, Sears Tower -- and Chicago -- losing sense of identity -
Blair Kamin, The Chicago Tribune, July17
<
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-kamin-willis-17-jul17,0,444279
3.story>
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-kamin-willis-17-jul17,0,4442793
.story
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OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT UHF
When you shop at REI.com and REI-OUTLET via the link below (or on our
website), Utah Heritage Foundation receives a 7% commission on your
purchases. REI has been a leader in the outdoor gear and casual clothing
industry since 1938 and is the Internet's largest outdoor retail store. It
offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee and free shipping to local stores, of
which there are two in the Salt Lake Valley.
Enjoyment of the outdoors is an intrinsic element of our Utah
lifestyle, and we hope this opportunity will benefit you, as well as support
the historic preservation programs of Utah Heritage Foundation.
To shop online click the REI logo and you will automatically donate a
portion of your sales to UHF!
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http://www.avantlink.com/click.php?tt=cl&mi=10248&pw=17861&url=http%3A%2F%2
F
www.rei.com%2F>
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Utah Heritage Foundation │ P.O. Box 28 │ Salt Lake City │ UT │ 84110-0028 │
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www.utahheritagefoundation.org
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