December 31, 2005
Looking for Old House Stories
According to a recent listing on the National Trust Forum, preservation professional and Old House Journal contributor Noelle Lord of Greater Portland Landmarks is looking for examples of typical old house care and repair projects to be included in an upcoming publication entitled, The Old House Handbook. If you have a good story, or would like to placed on Ms. Lord's resource list, send an email to irestore@adelphia.net.
11 Most Endangered List
Nominations for the National Trust's 2006 America’s 11 Most Endangered Places list are due by January 18. The list is the National Trust's annual program to identify and raise awareness of historic sites at risk. Each year, the National Trust issues the list to identify and raise awareness of historic sites at risk from neglect, deterioration, lack of maintenance, insufficient funds, inappropriate development or insensitive public policy.
Since 1988, the list has been one of the most successful tools in the fight to save America's irreplaceable architectural, cultural, and natural heritage. Sites selected for the list represent a wide range of threats - such as neglect, insufficient funding, in appropriate development and insensitive public policy - that endanger historic places. Listed sites also reflect the diversity of America's heritage, some are world famous while others are less well-known.
To ensure that the most threatened sites are chosen, the National Trust uses three primary criteria to decide the 1 Trust uses three primary criteria to decide the 11 finalists:
- Significance;
Urgency; and
Potential Solutions
While nominations are accepted from any source; it is strongly recommended that a preservation professional or community advocate participate in the preparation of the nomination. It is suggested that nominating parties consider contacting a National Trust regional office representative for advice.
The entire 11 Most Endangered List nomination form, which includes both the guidelines and the nomination form, is available for download at: http://www.nationaltrust.org/11Most/11Most2006NominationForm.pdf.
The National Trust's 2005 list recognized the threatened Frank Lloyd Wright designed Ennis-Brown House in Hollywood, which was the only California property specifically recognized. Other resources listed included: the National Landscape Conservation System in 12 Western states, encompassing dozens of national monuments, historic trails, and thousand-year-old archaeological sites; native structures on Alaska's King Island; and a 175-mile-long swath of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania - the presidential homes, African-American historic sites, Civil War battlefields, and scenic roads and rivers - that make up the "Journey Through Hallowed Ground" Corridor.
A listing of all 11 Endangered Places from 2005, including detailed information on the history of each resource and their impending threats, is available online at the National Trust's website at: http://www.nationaltrust.org/11Most/2005/index.html
Saving Carlton Place in WeHo
From the National Trust's Preservation Online:
Former Resident Sues to Stop Demolition of West Hollywod Building
Plans to demolish a 57-year-old apartment building in West Hollywood may be put on hold as a former resident steps up his opposition to a new condo project.
Last month, Los Angeles resident William Neish filed suit against the City of West Hollywood in the California Superior Court for avoiding an environmental-impact study before the proposed demudy before the proposed demolition of his former home.
Residents of Carlton Manor were evicted last year after a developer, Los Angeles-based 1248 North Laurel Investors LLC, bought the 10-unit complex, intending to replace it with a four-story condominium complex.
View the complete article at http://www.nationaltrust.org/magazine/.
December 22, 2005
El Pueblo Docent Training
New docent training classes for walking tours of the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument will be held for eight consecutive Tuesdays beginning February 7 through March 28, 2006. The training is offered by the non-profit Las Angelitas del Pueblo, a volunteer organization serving the 44-acre historic section of Los Angeles for the past 40 years.
Las Angelitas is comprised of 70 men and women from throughout the Southland who share a knowledge and commitment to the history of the City of Angels. For more information, including the class agenda and to sign up for the Las Angelitas docent training classes, contact Jeanne Conklin at (310) 398-0269 or visit the organization's website at: http://www.lasangelitas.org. The classes will be held at the office of Las Angelitas del Pueblo, located on the Plaza of El Pueblo, next to the old Firehouse, directly across the street from Union Station.
December 20, 2005
Tale o' the Pup put in Storage
LAObserved.com reports that the iconic Tail o' the Pup hotdog stand (formerly) at 329 N. San Vicente Boulevard in West Hollywood is closed. The giant hotdog has been placed in storage, and the restaurant structure boarded up, according to Mr. Roderick.
The structure was removed by the new owner of the property to make way for condominiums and an afforda