Talk continues on historic-church demolition

Fate of the city's First Presbyterian Church building is again up for debate.

Members of the city's Historic Resources Commission will renew discussion Thursday about whether church officials can demolish their original church building, uninhabited since 2001.

The structure, located at 110 N. Nevada St., is one of the oldest church buildings in the state. It originally was constructed in 1864 with financial help from Mark Twain, aka Samuel Clemens. His brother, Orion Clemens, was a practicing Presbyterian. Proceeds from Twain's first paid speech were used to complete the church, which had stood unfinished for two years because the congregation couldn't afford to finish the work, according to Guy Rocha, Nevada state archivist.

It is one of three buildings still standing in Nevada that have ties to Twain: The other two are Orion Clemens' house, also in Carson City, and the JohnD Winters ranch in Washoe Valley, Rocha said.

No action will be taken at this meeting about the demolition permit, according to the city's planning division.

Commissioners sought more technical information about the condition of the brick structure - which has been added onto twice, in the 1890s and 1950s - than was provided to them by church officials before their January meeting.

"We need background," said Michael Crews, chairman of the commission. "Hopefully, we'll have the information we need by next month."

More information might, for example, better pinpoint costs for various preservation methods that could be applied to this building. Previous estimates for saving the structure have varied wildly: from $2.1 million to $5 million.

"We're doing more homework," said the Rev. Bruce Kochsmeier, senior pastor at First Presbyterian. "We're going to ask them to consider our engineer's analysis and go from there."

The old church is unsafe and no longer fulfills their needs as a congregation because, for one thing, it is too small, and won't serve future needs,77 Kochsmeier said.

The First Presbyterian Church is one of three historic churches downtown that rest only blocks apart. The other two are the First United Methodist Church at 412 W. Musser St. and St. Peter's Episcopal Church at the corner of Division and Telegraph streets. Both were completed in the mid- to late 1860s.

Donations - public or private - to restore the old building wouldn't be acceptable to the church because that's not what they are looking for. If a rehabilitation resulted in a sanctuary that wouldn't suit the church, the church would prefer the money be used elsewhere in the community, Kochsmeier said.

And, he emphasized, putting building preservation above the church's missions "violates our religious principles."

The commission normally schedules its meetings on the second Thursday of the month. Their next regular meeting will be March 9.

If the church's request for demolition eventually is denied by commissioners, the church can appeal the decision to the Carson City Board of Supervisors.

-- Contact reporter Terri Harber at tharber @nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111, ext. 215.