HistoriCorps is a program of Colorado Preservation, Inc., funded in part by the US Forest Service.
Lake City Outbuildings
Purpose of the Project: The Lake City Outbuildings are listed on Colorado Preservation’s 2010 Endangered Places List due to the heightened threat of demolition by neglect. Outbuildings are often overlooked in favor of high-style architecture. However, the several outbuildings located within the Lake City Historic District are important associated structures that help tell the story of the nineteenth century mining town. Therefore, the purpose of the project is to provide technical expertise for the rehabilitation and stabilization of seven of these deteriorated outbuildings, following the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards.
History: The town of Lake City was founded in 1874 as a supply and service center for hard rock mining. Today, the town of Lake City is a community of less than 400 residents, with a tourism-based economy. The Lake City Historic District is one of the largest, oldest and best-preserved historic districts in Colorado. In addition to the high-style Victorian and Italianate architectural examples featured through the town’s commercial and residential districts, associated structures comprise 37% of the historic district, including outhouses, mule barns and sheds. These associated structures now remain vacant, only used sparingly for storage purposes, and have largely fallen into disrepair. The deteriorated state of the outbuildings threatens the continued listing of the Lake City Historic District to the National Register of Historic Places.
Scope of Work: The three-day workshop for the Lake City Outbuildings involves the stabilization and rehabilitation of four outbuildings, including: the Bent Mule Barn, McGehee Outhouse, Culver Outhouse, and the Rock Outhouse. Volunteers will learn skills in basic stabilization including: realigning leaning buildings, bracing and reinforcing failed or compromised roofs and walls, reroofing original cedar shingled roofs and reroofing with Rusted Corrugated Metal. All of the work will serve to stabilize and weatherize these National Register listed outbuildings, without compromising historic integrity.
OUTCOME! Over the weekend of July 11, 12, & 13, 2010, HistoriCorps partnered with Colorado Preservation Inc’s Endangered Places Program and the Town of Lake City to successfully rehabilitate four historic outbuildings! The rehabilitation projects combined the efforts of Lake City locals with HistoriCorps volunteers from across the state. During the three day workshop, the deteriorated framing of the Bent Mule barn was stabilized and a new roof deck and corrugated roofing were installed, the Culver Outhouse was re-roofed with cedar shingles, a new foundation was installed on the McGehee Outhouse and the shingles on the front facade were replaced, and the Rock Outhouse roof was repaired. The rehabilitated outbuildings are an important part of the historic building fabric of Lake City and, through the efforts of HistoriCorps volunteers and the Town of Lake City, these associated structures will positively contribute to the continued listing of Lake City as a National Register District.
Lake City Outbuildings
Purpose of the Project: The Lake City Outbuildings are listed on Colorado Preservation’s 2010 Endangered Places List due to the heightened threat of demolition by neglect. Outbuildings are often overlooked in favor of high-style architecture. However, the several outbuildings located within the Lake City Historic District are important associated structures that help tell the story of the nineteenth century mining town. Therefore, the purpose of the project is to provide technical expertise for the rehabilitation and stabilization of seven of these deteriorated outbuildings, following the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards.
History: The town of Lake City was founded in 1874 as a supply and service center for hard rock mining. Today, the town of Lake City is a community of less than 400 residents, with a tourism-based economy. The Lake City Historic District is one of the largest, oldest and best-preserved historic districts in Colorado. In addition to the high-style Victorian and Italianate architectural examples featured through the town’s commercial and residential districts, associated structures comprise 37% of the historic district, including outhouses, mule barns and sheds. These associated structures now remain vacant, only used sparingly for storage purposes, and have largely fallen into disrepair. The deteriorated state of the outbuildings threatens the continued listing of the Lake City Historic District to the National Register of Historic Places.
Scope of Work: The three-day workshop for the Lake City Outbuildings involves the stabilization and rehabilitation of four outbuildings, including: the Bent Mule Barn, McGehee Outhouse, Culver Outhouse, and the Rock Outhouse. Volunteers will learn skills in basic stabilization including: realigning leaning buildings, bracing and reinforcing failed or compromised roofs and walls, reroofing original cedar shingled roofs and reroofing with Rusted Corrugated Metal. All of the work will serve to stabilize and weatherize these National Register listed outbuildings, without compromising historic integrity.
OUTCOME! Over the weekend of July 11, 12, & 13, 2010, HistoriCorps partnered with Colorado Preservation Inc’s Endangered Places Program and the Town of Lake City to successfully rehabilitate four historic outbuildings! The rehabilitation projects combined the efforts of Lake City locals with HistoriCorps volunteers from across the state. During the three day workshop, the deteriorated framing of the Bent Mule barn was stabilized and a new roof deck and corrugated roofing were installed, the Culver Outhouse was re-roofed with cedar shingles, a new foundation was installed on the McGehee Outhouse and the shingles on the front facade were replaced, and the Rock Outhouse roof was repaired. The rehabilitated outbuildings are an important part of the historic building fabric of Lake City and, through the efforts of HistoriCorps volunteers and the Town of Lake City, these associated structures will positively contribute to the continued listing of Lake City as a National Register District.
Bent Mule Barn BEFORE
Bent Mule Barn AFTER