Letter: Historical Society gives up on Barton Ranch

Publisher’s note: This letter was sent to South Lake Tahoe officials on March 23 and to Lake Tahoe News on March 27.

Dear Ms. (Hilary) Roverud,

It has come to our attention that the Mosher family has applied to the TRPA for a permit allowing them to either move the buildings that comprise what is the remainder of the Barton Ranch, or demolish them. As we have not received a formal response from the city of South Lake Tahoe to our letter of Jan. 5, 2015, in which we asked that the city of South Lake Tahoe to take the lead in preserving the Barton Ranch, the Lake Tahoe Historical Society would like to formally state it is ceasing all activities related to the Barton Ranch.

The Lake Tahoe Historical Society has exhausted all of its resources to preserve this important and historic site. Long gone are many reminders of Tahoe’s proud past, which if they had been saved might have contributed to the economic vibrancy of the area, simply by their historical significance.

The board of directors of the Lake Tahoe Historical Society wishes to go on record to express its deep regret that the many governmental organizations having jurisdiction over the future of the city of South Lake Tahoe’s historic sites do not see the value in preserving them.

Sincerely,

Catherine Whelan, president Lake Tahoe Historical Society