On Friday, Feb. 3, Preservation Idaho will host the first of what organizers hope will become an annual conversation series, “Modern Masters,” celebrating mid-century buildings in Boise.
The first event will be at 7 p.m. Friday at the Idaho Transportation Department, 3311 W. State St. in Boise. It will feature celebrated local architect Charles Hummel in conversation with Preservation Idaho’s Dan Everhart. The two will discuss several of the local projects Hummel considers illustrative of his career.
The location is not an accident. The ITD office is among those buildings, along with the federal courthouse on Fort Street in Boise and the original library at Boise State.
Tickets for the event are $20 for Preservation Idaho members, $25 for non-members, available online (find the link at IdahoStatesman.com). The evening will include coffee, dessert and a silent auction to raise money for Idaho Modern, a committee of Preservation Idaho.
One historical note: The American West is particularly rich when it comes to mid-century architecture (that sleek, “Mad Men”-ish style, circa 1950 to 1970), including vast tracts of classic ranch houses, thanks to its rapid development after World War II.
In the East, said Everhart, communities tended to remodel, and reuse older building stock — not an option in the still-sparsely populated West.
Having such a rich stock of mid-century buildings can sometimes make them easy to take for granted, said Everhart — all the more reason to raise your consciousness of them now, and learn their characteristics, to find other examples in our midst.
Learning Lab wish list
The organization promotes literacy and learning for a wide range of residents.
Here’s the latest from the organization’s wish list (an affordable way to support the mission): spiral notebooks, pencils, “gently used” black caps and gowns, coffee and tea, snack bars and cookies, diaper Genie II refills, glue sticks, washable markers, 16- or 24-count crayon packs, children’s scissors, digital/video camera, and a leaf blower.
Students and volunteers will use any and all donations. To find out how to help, call Casey: 344-1335, Ext. 101.
Get ready for Spring … Already?
The nonprofit Idaho Horticulture Society will host its spring horticulture seminars in Boise on March 3.
Get the early bird price now: $25 before Feb. 29 ($20 for master gardeners, students), $35 after. The program runs all day, beginning at 8:15 a.m. at the Boise Centre, 950 W. Front St. It will feature expert Melinda Myers on small space gardens and good, bad and ugly insects; and Sue Goetz on what her Idaho garden taught her, and her Top 10 multi-purpose herbs.
Get more information or register online (find the link at IdahoStatesman.com), or mail your registration check along with your name and address to P.O. Box 140557, Boise, ID 83714.
Aid Disaster relief in the Treasure Valley
Have a spot in your heart for the community of Marsing? This is a must: the 51st annual Marsing Disaster Auction/ Neighbors helping Neighbors event.
It takes place at 10:13 a.m. (organizers wanted a time everyone would remember, said organizer Deb Holzhey), Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Marsing Community Center at the corner of North Old Bruneau Highway and 2nd Street North.
The annual community-wide event has been raising money for local disaster relief and the Marsing Ambulance crew. A portion of the proceeds go to the United Way.
The event has a rich heritage. It started in 1961 when a local family was facing a medical crisis. All the farmers in the area came together, said Holzhey, and auctioned off animals, straw and farm implements, whatever they had to pitch in. They raised around $6,000. If that’s not enough to attract you, Holzhey notes that women will be starting early, making homemade donuts.
For more information, contact Holzhey, 573-3659; Bob Carter, 896-5701; or Michelle Jacobi, 283-9832. See auction items online at IdahoStatesman.com.
school food pantry clarification
The Idaho Foodbank’s school pantries include a pantry at Horizon Elementary — that’s the Horizon Elementary in Jerome, which wasn’t clear in last week’s column.
If you’re in need of food assistance, but your child’s school doesn’t have a pantry, call 336-9643 to find the closest pantry.
Anna Webb: 377-6431
