Senior News May, 2002 Vol. 21. No.  5

 

Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.

Historic Register: Washington School receives national recognition

Senior issues: Commission hears from local providers

Springcreek Place:Affordable senior housing opens in Eureka

McKinleyville: How can we help?

Del Norte InfoCenter: One-stop shopping for senior and family services

Assistive Technology Classes

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Historic Register
Washington School receives national recognition
by Roz Keller

HSRC's building, the old Washington School, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Photo by Roz Keller.

The historic Washington School, headquarters of the Humboldt Senior Resource Center (HSRC) since 1983, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 12. This prestigious designation is in recognition of the building's significance in local education and social history.

Mary Beth Wolford, executive director of HSRC, and I worked to prepare the application for acceptance on the National Register. After months of waiting, we were told that the Office of Historic Preservation staff in Sacramento was giving our application a negative recommendation to the state Historic Resources Commission. They said the architecture of the building had been changed too much to qualify.

Mary Beth and I disagreed strongly, believing that the Washington School is a local treasure in many ways. We drove to a meeting of the state Historic Resources Commission in Davis where the matter would be decided.

At this imposing meeting, we each spoke to the committee on behalf of placing the old Washington School on the National Register, rather than giving it a lower designation on the California Register. Mary Beth pointed out that "there are no ghosts in our school. It is filled each day with seniors enjoying meals and activities. It is the centerpiece for senior services in our community." When I shared that people who attended school here now come for lunch, one of the seniors on the committee exclaimed, "That's exactly what historic preservation is all about."

When the committee voted, they unanimously reversed the lesser suggestion of their staff, choosing instead to recommend the old Washington School for placement on the National Register. The application was sent to Washington, DC for 45 days of scrutiny before final approval.

Special thanks to Jill McDonald, Ted Loring, Jr., Alex Stillman and SusieVan Kirk for assisting in the preparation of the difficult application. Thanks also to State Sen. Wes Chesbro, Eureka Mayor Nancy Flemming, US Rep. Mike Thompson, and Chair of Eureka's Historic Preservation Committee, Ted Loring, Jr., for their letters of support.

Placement on the National Register is an acknowledgement of the building's significance in Eureka history. Opened in 1903, it was one of six square schools built in the early 20th century. The others were all torn down and replaced with "modern" structures, leaving the Washington School as the last remaining representative of that era. First a barracks during WWII, then a warehouse, the building was acquired by the city of Eureka in the late 70s. Former Washington School student and city councilman Fred Moore, who soon became mayor of Eureka, was a strong advocate for making the building into a senior center. This was completed in 1983.

We plan to celebrate our acceptance on Friday, May 17th at 2 p.m. with the unveiling of a plaque on the front of the building. This will take place during National Preservation Week, May 12-18.

Our celebration will also commemorate the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Washington School. As part of that event, we invite all people 100 years of age or older (centenarians) to attend as our honored guests. If you are a centenarian or know of someone 100 years or more, please call Donna at 443-9747. We are planning to assist with transportation, if needed.

Roz Keller is development coordinator for the Humboldt Senior Resource Center.