Utah Heritage Foundation

A few weeks ago I wrote about losing two prominent architects in the same week – Steven T. Baird and Dean Gustavson.  We happened to be in the midst of celebrating their work with the Baird’s cinematic production of ZCMI: A Legacy in Cast Iron and discussing the potential to participate in Salt Lake Modern with Gustavson.

It’s time to now celebrate the work of two more local architects that have passed away this month.  They both happen to be from Ogden.

Keith Wilcox was an Ogden architect who designed buildings such as the Mount Ogden Middle School on Harrison Blvd., the original McKay (now McKay-Dee) hospital, and the Weber State University Fine Arts Center which was (now demolished) one of the state’s premier examples of the New Formalist style.  His architecture will best be remembered for his work on the Washington, D.C. LDS Temple (1968) which undoubtedly is inspired from above.  However, those that knew him best have reflected on how kind and generous Keith was in his work with the LDS Church in various positions all over the world.

Were you a big fan of the annual Utah Preservation magazine?  Maybe you've never heard of it.  No matter what your familiarity, you should check out the ten published issues of this full color glossy publication by State History from 1996-2006.  They are now all available online!

There are articles about preservation projects across the state, craftsmen, traditional rehabilitation techniques, archaeology, public lands, and the architects that built historic structures and rehabilitate them today.  You'll likely find it to be as wonderful a resource as we do.

See the issues here.  You can find a link at the bottom of the home page.

Plan to attend a night of inspiration with "LIFE" PechaKucha.

Presented by AIA UTAH YOUNG ARCHITECTS FORUM

The night will rest on a presentation format that is based on a simple idea, 20 images x 20 seconds. Our speaker line up is incredible, we will flow between an Academy Award winning director, the Flying Yeti, video game designers, an architect who has a signature project on the High-Line, an Astrophysicist....and did I mention the Director of Rubin and Ed......really there is more!  So please join us in another exciting night of incredible dialogue.

Congressman Rob Bishop (above, 4th from left) knows how to work a room.  Preservation leaders applauded when he said he supports tax credits for rehabbing historic buildings.  He drew even more applause when he said he would support a federal homeowner tax credit.

Bishop (R-UT-01), the Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands of the House Committee on Natural Resources, was the keynote speaker at the joint Advocacy Day luncheon of the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers (NCSHPO), the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions (NAPC), the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and Preservation Action.  The groups met at the historic Hotel Fairfax in Washington D.C. on March 7-9, 2011 for their annual mid-year meeting, scheduled to coincide with the release of the President’s budget, and the beginning of appropriations hearings for FY 2012.

Rob Bishop lives in a historic home in Brigham City, Utah, a community brimming with historic buildings, and is a member of the House Historic Preservation Caucus.  He explained that he supports federal rehabilitation tax credit programs, including one for homeowners, because they promote private investment by local property owners rather than mandating federal intervention and funding.

We’re excited that Liz Dunn has been selected as one of the keynote speakers at the 2011 Salt Lake Sustainable Building Conference on May 20, 2011.  Dunn is an architect with the Seattle practice Dunn and Hobbes which specializes in urban adaptive use, including historic preservation.  For the last three years, Dunn has also headed up the Preservation Green Lab for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, where strategic policies are developed, implemented, and measured for integrating the reuse and retrofitting of older and historic buildings into city and state efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

But the Preservation Green Lab is working nationwide on preservation issues.  As an example of their work across the country, recent article appeared in Preservation regarding the use of district energy in West Union, Iowa, where the Preservation Green Lab is measuring the positive impacts on reducing the overall use of energy across the entire town.

The 2011 Salt Lake Sustainable Building Conference will be offering three keynote addresses at this year's event from leaders who tackle issues each in their own way.  Through practical application, advocacy, and inspiration, these addresses offer a balanced and invigorating experience for building professionals, thought leaders and decision makers who see the built environment as one of the keys to Targeting a Sustainable Future on a local, regional & global basis.  The other speakers at this year’s conference will be Ron Jones and Dr. Joseph Cory.

In October 2010, about 200 lucky people got to see one of the hidden gems Utah - the Westshire neighborhood in West Valley City.  Billed as Salt Lake Modern's Mini Mod Tour, four private homes were graciously opened to the public in this unique enclave off 2700 West and 4000 South.  The entire neighborhood was designed by architect Ron Molen and built by Research Homes starting in 1963.

We're pleased to say that the excitement generated by the tour hasn't ended.  The popular mid-century modern magazine Atomic Ranch has published a short piece in their Winter 2010 issue in the section titled "modern wisdom" on one of the tour's houses (pictured left, photo by UHF) along with two photographs.  Congratulations to Chris and Tessa Linford for getting included in the magazine!

We'll encourage all our readers to pick up a copy before the March 1 newsstand deadline to see it as well as the other articles on Palm Springs, Kentucky modern, Arkansas ranch, Open House:  Elm Grove, Wisconsin, dressing up your historic ranch, and Historic Georgia.  I will even add a personal endorsement as this is one of my favorite mags in print and always look forward to it coming in the mailbox in case you need some additional encouragement.

The Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area (MPNHA) isn’t just about Mormon heritage.  Oh, sure, there are all of those New Urbanist Mormon colonial villages based on Joseph Smith’s Plat of Zion, and the Manti Temple (far left), and several Mormon Heritage centers are in the works.  (Historian Jerry Roundy displays concepts for the Escalante Heritage Center, right). 

UHF is helping connect people along Highway 89 with new ideas and cooperative marketing opportunities.  We believe this will result in more engagement by the public and businesses along the route, more visitation, and increased opportunities to preserve the heritage area’s important landmarks and communities.

Thanks to all the members (over 40!) who attended this year's trip to Fish Lake Lodge and Wayne County.  We enjoyed an absolutely perfect cool summer day by Fish Lake, lunch catered by Sunglow in Bicknell while sitting under the trees at Robber's Roost in Torrey, and walks around Keith McKay's stone yard and quarry in Torrey.

Forest Service Archaeologist Bob Leonard as George Merton, a traveler on the Old Spanish Trail with Kit Carson.

One of the great friends and supporters of Utah’s Folk Arts Program, not to mention one of the greatest folk arts contributors herself, Pilar Pobil, has offered to host one of her famous garden parties as a fund-raiser for the recently struggling program.

The event is scheduled for FRIDAY, JULY 30 from 5 PM to 9 PM. There will be light refreshments as well as live music. The suggested donation will be $20, all of which will go to financially support the Folk Arts Program.  This is a great chance to see Pilar’s incredible art-filled house, painted from top to bottom, as well as the beautiful garden and studio, which is art in itself.

Pilar is originally from Majora, Spain. She married a Utahn and has lived in Salt Lake for almost fifty years. She is an extremely talented and accomplished artist whose paintings are widely admired for their vibrant color and charm. Her home, studio and garden, in the Avenues area, are utterly filled with her artwork. The pleasure of visiting her home and seeing all this beauty and creativity is enough reason to come.

Panguitch folks have a new thing to be excited about.  Mark and Heather Childs from Las Vegas have bought the old Gem Theater. 

Through the Partners in the Field initiative for Central and Southern Utah, UHF staff is providing on-site technical assistance for historic research, rehabilitation, and business planning for the Gem Theatre.

We locals have a rare chance to bask in their enthusiasm.  Anytime one can find the real thing, real enthusiasm, it is like finding a gold mine.  It is someplace to visit and visit and take away riches, this time for the spirit.  This ambitious young couple and their two boys (in photo at left) plan to open an old-fashioned ice cream parlor.