Ely Renaissance Society News
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| Thank you to all of the individuals who have provided pictures for use on our web page: Caroline McIntosh, Lorraine Clark, Margaret Bath,Virginia Terry, Glenn Terry, John Hickman, Jonathan Haraden and Patricia Fua. |
| New Successes at the Village... |
| DO YOU HAVE A NEWS ITEM YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE PLACED ON OUR CALENDAR OR MENTIONED ON OUR NEWS PAGE? Email us or fill out the contact form at the bottom of this page. |
| WHO ARE "WE" ARE AND WHAT WE DO.. The Ely Renaissance Society was founded in 1999 by a group of individuals with the vision of an attractive downtown area which would be representative of the art and culture belonging to the diverse group of people who had built and strengthened the small community through the years. As occurs in many mining towns, cycles of “boom or bust” had left the community of Ely Nevada dreaming for a more stable economy, something more than mining alone. One hundred and eighty miles away from any other town or city boasting a larger population Ely had little hope of attracting tourists, but the potential was there. After all, in its heyday Ely had been a bustling town with numerous small family owned businesses catering to the needs of the settling families to ranch, to work the mine, and build the railroad. People came from everywhere, and the small town of Ely was a true example of a diverse population. The stories, characters, and the influences of the many ethnic groups would not be lost. And so, a movement sprang forth to not only preserve and celebrate the richness of the community, but also to offer the story up to visitors. Volunteers to the Ely Renaissance Society began with commissioning murals to show the lifestyle of this Nevada community from historical perspectives such as the Pony Express, as well as modern times and the “age of communication”. Sculptures made from mining machinery and parks with labyrinths, began to spring up one by one. The Global Mural Association held a conference in Ely to celebrate the accomplishment. Tourists now take the “Art Walk” to enjoy over 22 murals and sculptures in the downtown area. The next venture of the group was to purchase a piece of property made up of 12 shotgun houses and a barn. These small houses have been made into unique museums depicting the turn of the century population of Ely. Re- enactments and living history presentations are held at the “Ely Renaissance Village” as well as many other yearly activities from Farmer’s Market to the Art/Wine Walk which celebrates local Nevada artists and their work. The Ely Renaissance Society welcomes volunteers and donations. If you would like more information about our activities and meeting times please contact us by email, or leave a comment on our web site. |
| Garnet Mercantile Has Something New! Garnet Mercantile is a community owned store which was organised by local community members in an effort to provide local shopping for apparel and home accessories in the wake of the closing of the JC Penney Store. Taking on an even more innovative presence the Garnet Mercantile Store now also offers a unique assemblage of local artists' work. |
| Contact us for more information about renting the Ely Renaissance Village for your gatherings and events. Tour packages are also available |
Reflections The Arts & Entertainment magazine for White Pine County and is published four times a year. Subscriptions are available from Clark Publications PO Box 151719 Ely, NV 89315 Cost is $12 per year. More information is available by e-mail at lorraine.clark@sbcgloba l.net. |
DID YOU KNOW?
About those Murals...
Discussion of the murals and their maintenance
which includes the informational signs and their
upkeep is always at the top of the list of ERS
priorities.
New tools and materials are available to use and
some of these were brought up at this year's
planning meeting of the ERS. Plans were
renewed by volunteers for the yearly attention
and time spent on this essential upkeep of our
murals, and signs which explain them.
New discoveries such as the B-29 preservative
for murals were also discussed, as well as the
presentation made at 29 Palms by local artist
John Steinauer.
B-29 is a preservative which protects the mural
and also helps to maintain the color of the paint
by restoring the pigment to its original color.
Another discovery important to mural longevity
has emerged. It is a new fabric which acts as a
canvas which is painted and then attached to the
surface. This eliminates painting on scaffolding
and allows removal of the canvas if necessary.
About those Murals...
Discussion of the murals and their maintenance
which includes the informational signs and their
upkeep is always at the top of the list of ERS
priorities.
New tools and materials are available to use and
some of these were brought up at this year's
planning meeting of the ERS. Plans were
renewed by volunteers for the yearly attention
and time spent on this essential upkeep of our
murals, and signs which explain them.
New discoveries such as the B-29 preservative
for murals were also discussed, as well as the
presentation made at 29 Palms by local artist
John Steinauer.
B-29 is a preservative which protects the mural
and also helps to maintain the color of the paint
by restoring the pigment to its original color.
Another discovery important to mural longevity
has emerged. It is a new fabric which acts as a
canvas which is painted and then attached to the
surface. This eliminates painting on scaffolding
and allows removal of the canvas if necessary.
REPORT ON GLOBAL MURAL CONFERENCE 2010
Lorraine and Darl Clark attended the Global Mural
Conference this summer in Colquitt, Georgia. Ely
hosted this same association's conference in 2004.
The Clark's gave a presentation of their conference
experience at the most recent ERS Planning
Meeting. The art they saw along the way was also
shown in a slide show. They said they were
"surprised at the beautiful art they found in out of
the way places, all in public spots, available at no
cost, just waiting to be enjoyed."
Colquitt is Georgia's first "mural city" and was the
meeting place for this year's conference. Displays of
murals painted on giant peanut silos and various
buildings all depict the history of the area and a
celebration of harvest time which is also the
decorating theme of the city's small businesses.
Representatives at the conference commented to
the Clarks of the ideas and impressions which they
took home with them from the 2004 Ely visit. They
spoke of the importance of the murals to tell a story,
to represent real history, real people, real events.
Many of the murals which Lorraine and Darl visited
were educational in nature such as a cattle drive
mural which showed all of the positions of the
working cowboys in the drive and described their
task. They also visited an "art park" which consisted
of a park with benches and a bronze cowboy
sculpture and several bronze plaques with artwork.
Upcoming Global Murals Conferences:
2012 - 8th BIENNIAL GLOBAL MURALS
CONFERENCE @ Chemainus, British Columbia
2014 - 9th BIENNIAL GLOBAL MURALS
CONFERENCE @ Sherbrooke, Quebec
Lorraine and Darl Clark attended the Global Mural
Conference this summer in Colquitt, Georgia. Ely
hosted this same association's conference in 2004.
The Clark's gave a presentation of their conference
experience at the most recent ERS Planning
Meeting. The art they saw along the way was also
shown in a slide show. They said they were
"surprised at the beautiful art they found in out of
the way places, all in public spots, available at no
cost, just waiting to be enjoyed."
Colquitt is Georgia's first "mural city" and was the
meeting place for this year's conference. Displays of
murals painted on giant peanut silos and various
buildings all depict the history of the area and a
celebration of harvest time which is also the
decorating theme of the city's small businesses.
Representatives at the conference commented to
the Clarks of the ideas and impressions which they
took home with them from the 2004 Ely visit. They
spoke of the importance of the murals to tell a story,
to represent real history, real people, real events.
Many of the murals which Lorraine and Darl visited
were educational in nature such as a cattle drive
mural which showed all of the positions of the
working cowboys in the drive and described their
task. They also visited an "art park" which consisted
of a park with benches and a bronze cowboy
sculpture and several bronze plaques with artwork.
Upcoming Global Murals Conferences:
2012 - 8th BIENNIAL GLOBAL MURALS
CONFERENCE @ Chemainus, British Columbia
2014 - 9th BIENNIAL GLOBAL MURALS
CONFERENCE @ Sherbrooke, Quebec
| FARMERS' MARKET Each Saturday August 27 to September 24, 2011 |
The Ely Renaissance Village
by Lorraine Clark
The Village consists of nine houses, the
General Store, and the barn and represents
the housing that was available in Ely in the
early part of the twentieth century.
The property was owned by William
Geragty and his family from the early
1900's until the Ely Renaissance Society
purchased it in 2005. The intention of
restoring the houses was to preserve the
style of architecture found here and
recognize the various ethnic groups that
came to the area to work.
Several styles of buildings are restored and
open for the public to tour.
The Miner's Cabin represents typical one or
two room houses that prospectors lived in
during the early mining days. There was no
running water, no electricity, and the only
convenience was the wood stove that was
used for both heat and cooking.
Two of the houses represent shotgun style
houses which were one room added on to
the back of the house with various rooms
being added as the owners were able. The
name comes from the idea that a shotgun
could be fired through the house, passing
through each room and out the backdoor
without hitting anything. As the families
grew and were able, rooms were added on,
creating long, narrow houses. The houses
date to before 1913.
The Barn was used as storage for Mr.
Geraghty's Storage and Transfer business
and held nearly 40 trunks and boxes of
treasures when the ERS purchased the
property. Many of the items were used to
furnish the houses and some items were
auctioned to help with costs. Today the
barn is used for storage and features a
concession booth that allows for serving
refreshments during events at the Village.
Six of the houses were railroad kit homes
that were shipped in on the railroad for
employee housing in 1909. Originally
located on Ave B and Eighth Street in East
Ely near the depot, these houses were
assembled on site and were considered
very modern for the time. They each had
the same 4-room floor plan that featured
central heat, electricity, running water, and
most importantly, flush toilets. When the
railroad decided to no longer provide
housing, Geraghty purchased the houses
and moved them to his property in the early
1920's.
The General Store is an original retail
building that has been on the property since
the early 1900's. The store has been
restored as the gift shop, featuring books
on the history of the area, prints of the
murals, antiques, and local art work.
An outdoor theater area has been added
with seating for about 100 when events are
held in the Village. A covered tent area also
is used, providing shade.
A tour through the houses offers a chance
to see wood stoves, wringer washing
machines, manual typewriters, pull chain
toilets, and a variety of other furnishings.
Each house is decorated in the style of one
of the ethnic groups of the area. The
English house is the one the Geraghtys
lived in as they were originally from
England. The Spanish and French houses
pay honor to the Basque people of the area.
The Italian, Greek, Asian, and Slavik houses
are furnished in the styles representing
these early residents.
The village is a step back in time to a much
simpler way of life. Plan to tour during June
through September as the Village
welcomes you each Saturday.
by Lorraine Clark
The Village consists of nine houses, the
General Store, and the barn and represents
the housing that was available in Ely in the
early part of the twentieth century.
The property was owned by William
Geragty and his family from the early
1900's until the Ely Renaissance Society
purchased it in 2005. The intention of
restoring the houses was to preserve the
style of architecture found here and
recognize the various ethnic groups that
came to the area to work.
Several styles of buildings are restored and
open for the public to tour.
The Miner's Cabin represents typical one or
two room houses that prospectors lived in
during the early mining days. There was no
running water, no electricity, and the only
convenience was the wood stove that was
used for both heat and cooking.
Two of the houses represent shotgun style
houses which were one room added on to
the back of the house with various rooms
being added as the owners were able. The
name comes from the idea that a shotgun
could be fired through the house, passing
through each room and out the backdoor
without hitting anything. As the families
grew and were able, rooms were added on,
creating long, narrow houses. The houses
date to before 1913.
The Barn was used as storage for Mr.
Geraghty's Storage and Transfer business
and held nearly 40 trunks and boxes of
treasures when the ERS purchased the
property. Many of the items were used to
furnish the houses and some items were
auctioned to help with costs. Today the
barn is used for storage and features a
concession booth that allows for serving
refreshments during events at the Village.
Six of the houses were railroad kit homes
that were shipped in on the railroad for
employee housing in 1909. Originally
located on Ave B and Eighth Street in East
Ely near the depot, these houses were
assembled on site and were considered
very modern for the time. They each had
the same 4-room floor plan that featured
central heat, electricity, running water, and
most importantly, flush toilets. When the
railroad decided to no longer provide
housing, Geraghty purchased the houses
and moved them to his property in the early
1920's.
The General Store is an original retail
building that has been on the property since
the early 1900's. The store has been
restored as the gift shop, featuring books
on the history of the area, prints of the
murals, antiques, and local art work.
An outdoor theater area has been added
with seating for about 100 when events are
held in the Village. A covered tent area also
is used, providing shade.
A tour through the houses offers a chance
to see wood stoves, wringer washing
machines, manual typewriters, pull chain
toilets, and a variety of other furnishings.
Each house is decorated in the style of one
of the ethnic groups of the area. The
English house is the one the Geraghtys
lived in as they were originally from
England. The Spanish and French houses
pay honor to the Basque people of the area.
The Italian, Greek, Asian, and Slavik houses
are furnished in the styles representing
these early residents.
The village is a step back in time to a much
simpler way of life. Plan to tour during June
through September as the Village
welcomes you each Saturday.
These displays and many more can be seen
at Garnet Mercantile, where art and fashion
mix!
at Garnet Mercantile, where art and fashion
mix!
New this year at the
village was a special type
of historical
re-enactment. Ladies
and gentlemen dressed
in the costume of the
appropriate time
demonstrated tools and
household gadgets which
mostly operated without
the aide of electricity.
village was a special type
of historical
re-enactment. Ladies
and gentlemen dressed
in the costume of the
appropriate time
demonstrated tools and
household gadgets which
mostly operated without
the aide of electricity.
