Historic Preservation
in Fairbanks
The
Tanana-Yukon Historical Society encourages public support of protecting sites
like Creamer's Dairy and the others on its list. There is a city
Historic Preservation
Commission active as well.
Beginnings of Historic Preservation in
Fairbanks
The city of Fairbanks recognizes National historic preservation week on the
third week of May.
Congress passed the Historic Preservation Act in 1966, creating
policies to protect America's historic sites ``in harmony with modern society.'' One
result was the National Register of Historic Places, a listing of properties judged
historically significant. Today, each state and many cities and towns have agencies or
commissions that promote local preservation. Among other things, these agencies help
owners of historic buildings find funding to help maintain or improve their properties.
Preservation technically means maintaining a building to stop
further decay; restoration involves bringing back the original appearance, which
can include removing additions or replacing missing original parts; and
rehabilitation
makes a building efficient for modern use, preserving or restoring historic features as
needed.
The movement to preserve historic properties in Fairbanks goes back
only about 30 years as the issue has been slow to gain widespread support. In 1967,
citizens rallied to save certain old buildings around town that were threatened with
destruction, moving many to Alaskaland, which was just being built.
A survey taken in 1978 by Architect Janet Matheson found 566
local historic sites, mostly houses or cabins. Many, like the Northern Commercial (N.C.)
Co. buildings on First Avenue, have since been destroyed.
Commission on Historic Preservation
Formed
But preservationists were already working to create a commission
which could establish historic districts within the city (formally recognized historic
districts often are eligible for state and federal funding for rehabilitation, and
advocates say they can increase tourism as well as raise property values). In 1984, the
city of Fairbanks adopted Ordinance No. 4354 to allow formation of historic districts
inside the city limits, and two years later, as mandated in the ordinance, the Commission
on Historic Preservation for Fairbanks and Fairbanks North Star Borough was formed.
The commission has authority to create historic districts in the
borough and is responsible for maintaining a historic preservation inventory. One of its
accomplishments is gaining recognition for Fairbanks as a "Certified Local Government.''
Cities with this status, according to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, are
eligible for certain grant monies as well as technical and other help from state historic
preservation offices.
The January 14, 199 issue of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
published a story on the commission's attempt to establish two National Historic
Districts. The First Avenue district would run from Wickersham Street to Bonnifield
Street, and the Garden Island/Illinois Street district would run along Illinois Street
north of Phillips Field Road to Noyes Slough, just before College Road.
The designation would not provide any real protection from
development, but they will allow tax incentives for property owners within the district
who renovate as long as the renovations are "in keeping with the original
structure."
Fairbanks Historic Preservation
Foundation
The Tanana-Yukon Historical Society and the commission
actively promote the protection of local historic resources. Another non-profit
organization, the Fairbanks Historic Preservation Foundation, is involved in actual
physical restoration of historic properties of all kinds. Two of its projects were the
restoration of the riverboat Nenana
and
the Warren G. Harding railroad car, both on
display at Alaskaland.
Historical Buildings & Sites
Historical buildings and sites discussed at this web site
include the following: (Note - they are not
necessarily all recognized as officially historic under the definitions of the above
entities.)
Alaskaland (various
buildings, mostly in Gold Rush Village)
City Hall (old, now home
of Community Museum)
Churches, Historic
(this link page groups the churches covered also on this page.)
Courthouse Square (previous
post office, jail, courthouse)
Creamers Field (previous
dairy, now Migratory Waterfowl Wildlife Refuge)
Eldorado (This is an
early gold camp turned into a tourist attraction, complete with historic railroad
replica.)
Episcopal Church (early
church in Fairbanks; it is still in use today)
Ester Gold Camp (a now defunct gold
camp famous for the Malemute Saloon, which is still there, but closed at
this time.)
F.E. Company Building (We are
still trying to get information on the future prospects of this historic building.)
First Presbyterian Church
(Now resides in state at Alaskaland. Still used for old-fashioned
weddings)
Froelich Rainey Cabin (This one is
located on the University of Alaska campus.)
George C. Thomas Memorial Library
(original borough library, its future role is uncertain)
Harding Rail Car (located
at Alaskaland).
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
(at one time it was located on the other side of the Chena)
Judge Wickersham House (it
has been turned into a mini-museum at Alaskaland)
Kitty Hensley House (cabin
in Gold Rush Village at Alaskaland, tours available daily)
Main School (now City Hall)
Masonic Temple (originally built by
the Tanana Commercial Company, its future is in doubt)
Nenana Railroad Depot (now
home of Alaska State Railroad Museum)
Palace Saloon & Chena Hotel
(moved
to Alaskaland)
Riverboat Discovery (still taking
passengers on one of the most popular rides in the state)
S. S. Nenana (restored and resting
at Alaskaland, a diorama of the route it sailed is being constructed inside)
St. Mark's Episcopal Mission in
Nenana (still in use, it was built in 1905)