Index
We have continued our tradition of monthly programs
open to the public. The programs were held every third
Tuesday of the month at the Noel Wien Library and
attendance was excellent, even when winter
temperatures exceeded 30 below. A newsletter
implemented this past January has kept the membership
informed and has steadily improved in appearance and
content. We joined the web. Content and design of our
web page has received compliments from the local
internet community - not a small feat.
We have successfully supported reinstatement of Federal
lSTEA funding for Creamer's Dairy, and supported
local, state and national preservation issues.
The TYHS issued a list of the five most endangered
properties in Fairbanks to focus attention on often
overlooked historic properties., the need to maintain
properties and rehabilitate historic sites and streetscapes.
The Society held a general membership meeting and
reviewed the Society's plan of "Goals and Objectives",
applied for and received - jointly with the Fairbanks
Historical Preservation Commission - a National Trust
for Historic Preservation grant-in-aid of $1250 to fund a
workshop to be held down town in late September of
1996. "Preserve Community" is the theme of the
workshop. The workshop has received the support of
President's Corner,
local architects who will lend their expertise to
individual owners of historic properties to
work on some unique solutions for owners of historic properties facing
expansion
problems and other pressures in need of unique solutions.
We hope to make this a community event and attract the support of a
great many individuals and groups in this
endeavor.
Wickersham House Museum opened at Alaskaland for the 1996 season. In June we
hosted a Japanese film crew at Wickersham House. The crew was in town to make a
movie on the 1925 Serum Run from Nenana to Nome and used Wickersham House as
one of their settings.
In a letter to Renee Blahuta, Senator Ted Stevens recently wrote: "I am
informed by the
Federal Highway Administration that the order to
terminate the funding for the project
(ISTEA funding for Creamer's Dairy rehabilitation) has been reversed
and that the State has been cleared to add the project to its list
of eligible Transportation Enhancement
projects.
The list will be funded with Federal dollars in order of priority
as determined by
the State's scoring system."
While Senator Stevens deserves our heartfelt thanks in
pursuing the matter on the Federal level, it is most
important that DOT/PF Commissioner
Joe Perkins be made aware of the need to immediately restore
funding to the Creamer's
Dairy project so that the necessary work can be started before
any more delays contribute
to the further deterioration of the barns.
We have testified to that effect during a recent meeting of the
Alaska' s Historical
Commission.
Other Fairbanks participants were Renee Patten representing the Fairbanks
Historic Preservation Commission and Pete Bowers, TYHS board member and member
of the Historical Commission.
Anthony Veerkamp, Field representative for the National
Trust of Historic Preservation testified from Juneau.
It was a very productive meeting and
we have great hope that funding for the
Creamer's Dairy Proiect will be reinstated in the
near future. We will keep you posted on any new developments.
Renee Blahuta,
Janet Matheson
Mary Mangusso
Oliver Backlund
Pete Bowers
Gretchen Lake
Geraldine Collins
Donna Krier
"Rocky" Rhoads
Adele Virgin
The TYHS would like to award the tickets by August 15th or sooner
since the tickets are
good only for the 1996 season.
Please copy the membership application from the back of
this newsletter for membership recruitment.
Please call 457-6165 to claim your award.
If you are looking to fill your bookshelves with Alaskana, stop
by Wickersham House
and purchase some books from a small but excellent selection on hand.
While you are there, don't forget to purchase raffle tickets.
They are $1.00 each for a very lovely quilt to be raffled off this December.
This is the annual quilt raffle to support the Wickersham House operation.
This year's quilt is especially versatile, having hues that fit well in a
book room, study, or more common settings.
Looking ahead, during the next months the
Society needs to raise funds for the operation
of Wickersham House and for a match for the NTHP grant.
Plans for fall events are taking shape - we have some great ideas,
but will need your active participation.
We
encourage you to call 457-6165 with your ideas or write to us on
E-mail tyhs@polarnet.com
PRESIDENTS CORNER
Now that the year is half over, it appears an appropriate
time to recount some challenges met during the past six
months and to look ahead to the remainder of the year
CREAMER'S DAIRY ISTEA FUNDING UPDATE
TYHS Board Members
TYHS BOARD
PRIZES, PRIZES, PRIZES
Membership Drive is On
Alaska Riverways, Inc. has graciously offered us one
ticket for a cruise on the Riverboat
Discovery and one ticket good for a visit to the El Dorado Gold Mine
to be given to the
first two individuals bringing 10 new members to the Society.
The first individual doing
so will have the choice of tickets.