C’mon Joe

Posted on July 16, 2026 by Native Stonework

An open letter to Governor Joe Lombardo

Dear Governor Lombardo,

This open letter respectfully requests that the State of Nevada dedicate the time, attention, and resources necessary to preserve and maintain the historic, stone buildings at the Stewart Indian School, a property owned by the State of Nevada.

The Stewart Indian School is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district. It was added to the Register on September 18, 1985 (National Register Reference No. 85002432), recognizing its exceptional historical and architectural significance.

The campus stands today because of the blood, sweat, and determination of the boys and girls who attended the School. Many of the buildings were constructed and maintained through the labor of students who, despite the hardships they endured, went on to make lasting contributions to the history, culture, and economy of Nevada. Their resilience and accomplishments remain an enduring testament to their strength of character.

Because of the campus’s historical significance and its profound importance to former students, their families, tribal communities, and all Nevadans, these buildings deserve to be preserved and maintained to the highest possible standard. Once these historic structures are lost, they cannot be replaced.   Deferred maintenance on these historic stone buildings can quickly become far more expensive if repairs are delayed.

We recognize that Nevada, like many states, faces financial challenges and that resources within the State’s General Fund are limited. However, there may be opportunities to secure funding through state, federal, and private preservation grants. We also believe the State has talented grant writers and preservation professionals who could pursue these funding sources to help protect this irreplaceable historic campus.

Should additional assistance be needed, we would welcome the opportunity to work alongside the State to help raise funds dedicated specifically to the preservation and restoration of the Stewart Indian School buildings.

The Stewart Indian School Cultural Center & Museum serves as a place of remembrance, education, and healing. It honors the children who attended the School, tells the truth about their experiences, and helps former students, their families, and their communities preserve their stories and continue the healing process. Maintaining the historic campus strengthens the museum’s mission by ensuring that future generations can experience these places firsthand and better understand this important chapter of Nevada’s history.

Stewart Indian School is more than a collection of historic, stone buildings—it is a place of memory, resilience, and reconciliation. Preserving this campus demonstrates Nevada’s commitment to honoring those who lived, learned, and persevered there. We respectfully ask for your leadership in ensuring that these historic structures receive the care and investment they deserve so that they may continue to educate, inspire, and heal for generations to come.

Respectfully,

Native Stonework

Why We Wrote the Governor

Posted in Native American Stonemasons | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Last Perfect Building

Posted on March 26, 2026 by Native Stonework

The Douglas County Senior Center was built in 2014 by Native American master stonemason Dennis Talas. The senior center was Dennis’ last project.

Dennis oversaw the placement of each and every cinder block in the building. Dennis finished the masonry aspect of the construction in February 2014, a month before he died. The finishing work took another four months to complete and the facility was opened to the public later in the year.

Photo: Daza Talas

The building’s design intentionally pays homage to the Carson Valley’s agrarian history. As with all his projects, Dennis strove for perfection while building the senior center. He would not sign off on a project – big or small – until he was sure that all the cinder blocks, bricks or stones were perfectly placed.

The center serves the community as a multi-generational hub by offering, a dining hall (complete with a commercial kitchen), adult day care, and a preschool alongside fitness amenities like a gymnasium, indoor track, and racquetball courts.  Additionally, the center offers rooms for wedding receptions. benefits, meetings and parties. Truly, the center is everything Dennis thought it would be during its construction.

Dennis’ friends and family take comfort in knowing that this, his last perfect building, offers so much to the community, They feel it is a fitting testament to Dennis and his contributions to Nevada.

Posted in Native American Stonemasons | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Cousins

Posted on March 11, 2026 by Native Stonework

Heading south out of Carson City, there are two buildings located on on Sunridge Drive, standing side-by-side, sitting high on a hill overlooking Eagle Valley. These majestic buildings are the Sunridge Station (Station 12) operated by the East Fork Fire Protection District and the Sierra Lutheran High School.

Built just after the turn of the century, both of these buildings are the creations of Native American stonemasons.  The fire station was built under the direction of Dennis Talas, a master of the cinderblock and a hands-on foreman.  The high school was built by Keystone Masonry, owned by Paul and Evelyn Wungnema Larkin and their two sons.  Evelyn is a third generation stonemason and her sons are fourth generation stonemasons.  

And, get this!  Dennis and Evelyn are cousins!  And, they were each working on their respective buildings at approximately the same time.  As with all of the Wungnemas and Talases, they poured their hearts and souls in their building, striving for perfection while working under bid specifications and all the paperwork associated with a large construction project.

We like to imagine, that every so often, the cousins would take a break together, have a drink or a snack while getting caught up on the family doings. Then, break time over, the cousins would walk back to their respective construction projects and resume their work.

In the years, since the buildings were constructed, they’ve undergone change and expanded to accommodate the needs of the community, all while maintaining their dignity.  If you have a chance, take a ride and go see both of these buildings for yourselves.

Posted in Native American Stonemasons | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Do You Know This House?

Posted on February 26, 2026 by Native Stonework

The internet gods recently smiled down on us! Somehow, a picture of a stone house in Sparks, Nevada magically appeared onscreen. It’s beautiful house and according to the post, it’s located on the Truckee River outside of Sparks, Nevada.

We’d like an upclose and personal look at this cutie. Hopefully, if we saw the house in person, we could determine whether or not the area’s Native American stonemasons constructed it. Even if the craftsmanship is not Native American, it’s still an outsanding stone house, worthy of a field trip. Small problem: We don’t know where the house is located. We’re willing to go on an expedition, if only we knew where it is!

It could be Native American. After all, Sparks is only 30 miles north of the Stewart Indian School where many of the area’s Native American stonemasons were trained.

We’ve been looking for the house – sorta. We’ve been performing our searches via the magic of Google Earth. With no luck! Drat! We’re all about going out and searching along the river. We just need a starting point.


So, if anybody has an idea of where this house is, please let us know. And, yes, we know that with all the construction in the area, there is a chance that the house has been demolished in the name of progress. If that is the case, that would be a tragedy.

Posted in Native American Stonemasons | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

W is for…

Posted on February 11, 2026 by Native Stonework

On the west side of Carson City, there are six, large pink stone columns built by Randall Wungnema.

These columns are located at Washington & Richmond Streets; Robinson & Richmond Streets and Telegraph & Richmond Streets.  And if you look closely, just behind the  Robinson Street columns, you will see a pink stone gate post.  We think it was built by Randall at the same time as the columns. 

And we have questions – was there stone left over, just enough for a gate post? And that’s why the gate post is there? Or was there a fence after the gate post? A fence that has disappeared into the mists of time Should anybody know the answers to these questions,  please let us know!

Much of the stone used in these columns came from Wungnema Family’s quarries located along the Carson River in east Carson City,

When they were growing up, Randall’s children – and many of Carson’s residents – thought the “W” on the pillars stood for Wungnema, while others thought the “W” stood for Westside.  
Really, the “W” stands for Winters as in JohnD Winters for whom the Winters Ranch Homes development is named.  

While JohnD contributed much to the history of Nevada and Carson City, there is something charming to the “W is for Wungnema” story and that’s the one we’re going with!

The house at the end of the street was orignally JohnD Winters.

If you have a chance, take a drive on the west side and check out these beauties.  You’ll notice that 60 plus years in, they are still gorgeous and stand as a testament to Randall Wungnema’s abilities as a master stonemason

Posted in Native American Stonemasons | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment