Local Sites wait to be renovated, the Lamar Historical Preservation Board meets monthly to discuss options of preserving local sites of Historic Value.
Most recently the Willow Creek Park a Work Projects Association development of the 1940’s has been uppermost in the discussion of the board. A care takers residence, Pikes Tower, and low rock walls surround the paved drive lanes that run through the park, including gated entrances. Although the gates have long since been removed, the low rock walls and gate towers still exist. The care takers residence, still in use as recently as twenty-five years ago, is in need of repair to the roof, windows and walls.
Pikes Tower was damaged to an extreme during the 2007 blizzard, with obvious changes in the stone structure and masonry. All the damage at this point is repairable. Renovation on the site has been moving along slowly for more than three years with Rick Akers of the Lamar Parks and Recreation Board at the helm. Rick Akers a 1975 graduate of Lamar High School considers the Preservation of Willow Creek Park one of the more valuable on going preservation projects currently being worked on by the Preservation Board.
Other projects of interest include La Colonia, or The Colonies, an area of the community predominantly settled by Mexicans during the days of the Sugar Beet Factory and Flour Factory located in northeast Lamar, the Petrified Wood Gas Station currently owned by the Stagner Family on North Main in Lamar, and several special interest neighborhoods where Historically Valuable Properties are located and residents are being encouraged to preserve the Historic Value by renovating their homes. These projects are on going and developing through a process that includes recognition of the properties by the State and National Historic Preservation Groups.
Meetings are held on the third Friday of each month in the Lamar City Council Board Room (unless otherwise noted) and usually well represented by those who are interested in preservation of historical sites around the Lamar and Prowers County areas. The minutes of the meetings are posted here for further information and discussion. If you’re interested in a preservation project in the area, please comment or attend a meeting.
March 2008 Minutes – Special Meeting: Voces Unidas & The Colonies
