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| 3/14/2009 6:00:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | KSJD lays historic Cornerstone
The Montezuma Valley National Bank Building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on Jan. 15 in recognition of its contribution to the heritage of the state of Colorado. The building is located on the northeast corner of Main and Market streets, and was once occupied by the Montezuma Valley National Bank and Basin Industrial Bank.
"We received the documentation from the Department of the Interior last week," Chuck McAfee, owner of the building, said in a statement from KSJD Community Radio, which plans to move its operations to the historic building. "MB and I are proud to own the oldest building in Cortez to be listed on the National Register.
The bank building on the corner was originally constructed in 1908 with additions to the east and north added by 1910, according to the statement from KSJD. According to the Colorado Historical Society, the sandstone building is the oldest extant bank building in Cortez, and was Cortez's only banking institution from 1915 until 1957. Peter Baxtrum and his son A.H. Baxtrum are credited with working on the original structure. The Baxtrum's other work of note in the area includes the Stone Block Building in Cortez, Battlerock School and the Zwicker House, both in McElmo Canyon.
The addition to the bank building was designed by the Durango Firm Stroehle and Lemmon, which also designed and built the Caulkins Building. The east addition was home to one of Cortez first bakeries (Kermode Bakery), Wheeler Meat Market and Moffit Drug in the first half of the 20th century.
Architecturally, the structure is significant, according to the KSJD statement. The National Register nomination states "the Montezuma Valley Bank Building and its associated building are adorned with pressed metal that forms a dentiled molding, a secondary cornice and the pediments above the bank's corner entry. No other stone commercial building in Cortez has this classical ornamentation."
Linda Towle, chair of the city of Cortez Historic Preservation Board, believes the designation is important for Cortez. "Here in Southwest Colorado, we are endowed with a rich prehistoric and historic heritage. The prehistoric Puebloan history gets most of the attention. It's terrific when we can shine a light on our local, cultural heritage. It helps us be a stronger community."
The nonprofit Community Radio Project is developing the property and has named its effort Cornerstone. Cornerstone, initiated by Community Radio Project in fall 2007, involves the historic preservation and renovation of the Montezuma Valley National Bank Building to create new office space for local nonprofit and for-profit organizations as well as the new home for KSJD's studios. A venue for the arts, entertainment and community meetings called the Common Space will give Cornerstone a distinct community focus.
"The vision for Cornerstone is to develop a hub of community activity for the arts, entertainment and entrepreneurism," Kristine Nunn, vice president of Community Radio Project and a member of the Cornerstone Committee, said in the KSJD statement. "This project, with its focus on historic preservation and downtown development, could not have happened without the work of many who came before us and continue to work for a better Cortez."
The Cornerstone Committee comprises Kristine Nunn, Frank Lister, Chris Burkett, Amber Clark, Carolyn Dunmire, Tom Yoder, Marianne Griffin, Bill Stanley and Marianne Mate. The committee meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 1 p.m. in the Cortez Area Chamber of Commerce meeting room.
Earlier this month, Community Radio Project and its Cornerstone Committee completed the fundraising for phase one of the project: the purchase of the building.
"We are grateful to the community of donors who have contributed to Cornerstone thus far," Tom Yoder, president of Community Radio Project, said in the statement from KSJD. "Up to now, for every dollar contributed locally, three more were contributed by the Colorado State Historic Fund. We intend to continue our partnership with the State Historic Fund to make local contributions go further."
Two more phases of construction will be undertaken to both restore the historic nature of the Montezuma Valley National Bank and make it fit as a modern space for work, community interaction and entertainment, according to Yoder. He expects the project to be completed in early 2011.
For more information on this event, the Cornerstone Project or Community Radio Project, contact Jeff Pope at 769-0808, e-mail cornerstone@ksjd.org, or visit www.ksjd.org/cornerstone.
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