The Importance of Preservation: Help Clean a Historic House and View Seminars on Preserving LA and an Arts and Crafts Home
by Kate Nixon
An essential part of what gives a city a rich sense of community and character is the city’s own history, including the look of its buildings and houses. The economic, aesthetic and even environmental benefits of preserving a city’s historic buildings cannot be understated. At a time when historic architecture is at risk and the economic health of cities nationwide are struggling to recover, the topic of historic preservation is becoming more relevant than ever.
Take the Gustav Stickley house in Syracuse, New York; the recent recipient of the Save America’s Treasures Grant will officially unveil the National Parks Service signage on Monday, September 20th, displaying their association with the matching grant awarded by the NPS given to organizations associated with great events, ideas and individuals that contribute to the nation’s history and culture. In the meantime, the historic house will hold their open house in connection with the Westcott Street Cultural Fair in the last week of September and is inviting the public to help be part of the clean up process (see the information below). In doing so, the house is seen as part of a community, having played an essential role in Gustav Stickley’s life and the life of a Syracuse neighborhood.
In the next few weeks, the Washington Trust of Historic Preservation. The Gamble House and author Ken Bernstein will also explore the importance of preservation; a virtual tour of an Arts and Crafts-style home nicknamed “Congdon Castle” will be given by Historic Seattle’s Lawrence Kreisman on October 9th and author Ken Bernstein will be hosted by The Gamble House in a virtual presentation of the hidden historic homes in every neighborhood in Los Angeles showing the importance of preserving a city’s local history.
Fall Clean-Up: The Syracuse Gustav Stickley House
Saturday, September 18th
The Gustav Stickley House (438 Columbus Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13210)
9:00 AM to 11:00 AM Eastern
For those in the Syracuse, NY area, you’ll have the chance to help clean the Gustav Stickley House. On Saturday, September 18th, volunteers will meet to clean the historic house in preparation for the Westcott Street Cultural Fair Open House. All volunteers are welcome to bring a broom, dustpan, mop, bucket or sponge. All participants will need to wear a mask.
To RSVP for the cleanup, email [email protected].
The next weekend, come see everyone’s hard work during the Stickley House Open House on September 26th from 1:30 to 3:30 PM Eastern.
Westhome: Preserving an Arts and Crafts Gem – A Virtual Tour with Lawrence Kreisman
October 9, 2021
11:00 am — 12:30 pm Pacific Daylight via Zoom
Cost: $10 / $5 for members of the Washington Trust of Historic Preservation
Click here to purchase tickets to “Westhome: Preserving an Arts and Crafts Gem” via Zoom
The virtual presentation will not be recorded.
Preserved much as it was in 1916 when completed, Westhome’s enormity of scale and complexity of construction has earned it the name “Congdon Castle.” Located in Yakima in Central Washington, Westhome is a unique vestige of the American Arts and Crafts movement, preserved hrough multiple generations of the original owners.
The 30,000-square-foot, stone-clad home was designed by Minneapolis architects Kenyon and Maine for Duluth attorney Chester Congdon as the centerpiece of his apple orchards. Among the many features of this home include hand-hammered metal hinges, hardware, and lighting fixtures, leaded glass doors and windows, painted murals, various sizes and colors of brick and tile by important art tile manufacturers, and built-in or commissioned furniture by leading interior design firm William French of St. Paul, along with Gustav Stickley and Charles Limbert furniture.
Lawrence Kreisman, Hon. AIA Seattle, will present with an exploration of this Arts & Crafts style house. As a Program Director of Historic Seattle for 20 years and Director of the Seattle Architecture Foundation tour program from 1990-2003, Kreisman is recognized for significant work in bringing public attention to design history, the Northwest’s architectural heritage, and its preservation through courses, tours, exhibitions, lectures, articles, and 11 books.
Preserving Los Angeles: How Historic Places Can Transform America’s Cities
Discussion with author Ken Bernstein
Hosted by the Gamble House
Wednesday, September 29, 2021
6:00 p.m. (Pacific Daylight) on Zoom
Click here to purchase tickets to “Preserving Los Angeles”
Members: $0 w/out book | $40 Household and above level member w/book | $45 Individual member w/book
Non-Members: $5 w/out book | $50 w/book
- Members must login to receive ticketing discounts.
- Ticket holders will be sent a Zoom registration confirmation.
In giving a presentation about his new book Preserving Los Angeles, author Ken Bernstein will explore Los Angeles neighborhoods, showcasing every community in Los Angeles city limits and showing that remarkable architecture can be found sometimes in hidden places. The lesson of the preservation of architecture, as well as cultural significance, can be a delicate balance in some of the city’s diverse communities.
Ken Bernstein, a principal city planner for the Los Angeles Department of City Planning, oversees the city’s Office of Historic Resources, which is responsible for Los Angeles’s historic preservation policies and programs, and he leads the department’s Urban Design Studio, which works to elevate the quality of design for private development projects and major civic investments. The lead staff member for the city’s Cultural Heritage Commission, Ken has overseen the completion of SurveyLA, a multi-year city-wide survey of historic resources, and has led the city’s efforts to create a comprehensive historic preservation program.