This two-car garage sits to the north of the dairy barn on the campus of the Stewart Indian Schoo (SIS). Its building 108 on the map included the application for inclusion of SIS on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The garage has been fenced off and covered with plastic sheeting since 2001.
According to a Nevada Appeal story on December 20, 2001 (https://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/2001/dec/20/director-fears-stewart-building-will-be-torn-down/), there were plans to demolish the building. These plans were made despite the fact that the SIS is listed on the NRHP since 1985.
The then director of the Stewart Indian Museum Sheila Abbe, had concerns about the building being demolished despite it being “among the least impressive of Stewart’s structures.” She felt that would set a precedent and would allow any building on the Stewart Campus to be torn down for any reason.
The building was one of many at SIS that had been used for training purposes by local law enforcement agencies. Ms. Abbe did not approve of this practice and we believe that due to her efforts, the law enforcement training programs on the Stewart Campus were discontinued.
A memo was issued on April 10, 2001, by state building and grounds administrator Mike Meizel, and then tacked to the doors of Stewart’s buildings.
The memo read:”To all law enforcement agencies:
“Effective immediately, the buildings at the Stewart facility will no longer be used for raid, SWAT and all other law enforcement exercises. Law enforcement training will no longer be allowed in that facility due to the damage being done to the buildings.”
We’re pretty sure that the State of Nevada has either allocated funds or received grants which would allow the building to be rebuilt. However, the garage was not the beneficiary of those funds and has sat untouched for the last two decades.
Perhaps, the 2023 Nevada Legislature could provide the funding to restore the garage. And the thing is, we have Native American stonemasons, trained at SIS, in this area who could do the masonry work, complete the repairs. Wouldn’t that complete the circle? Native American stonemasons repairing a structure built by Native American stonemasons?