History: USFS, historical estates have legacy of uneasy relationship
Publisher’s note: The following is from the May 1973 Lake Tahoe Historical Society newsletter.
The following letter was sent by our Forestry Service Committee chairman, Barbara Smith, May 3, 1973. If you feel as Barbara does, please send a letter on this matter to Mr. Schmidt.
Dear Mr. Schmidt,
Lake Tahoe Historical Society
We of the Lake Tahoe Historical Society are gratified to learn that funds are now available for an historical evaluation of the Richardson, Valhalla, McGonagle, Pope, and Fallen Leaf Lake areas. Our concern had been that destructive tendencies were afoot without proper consideration of historical value. That danger has now, hopefully, been allayed.
One other item has given us concern. The “estates” have been without a caretaker for some time now, and attrition in the form of vandalism and winter weather damage has been alarming. We would urge that you employ your good offices in an effort to acquire the funds and bureaucratic approval for caretaking facilities in that area.
If this group can be of any assistance in these matters please do not hesitate to call upon us.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Barbara Smith, vice president
Out of this and other efforts the A.R.T.S. organization was founded. This stood for the Association for the Restoration of the Tallac Site.
This was the original name for the current Tahoe Tallac Association which has done so much to help open the site for the public to share. It is unfortunate that today, after 30 years, the uneasy relationship with the USFS still exists.
I took a pack of cub scouts through the estates around 1973 and the Forest Service asked them what they thought should be done with the land and one of the options was tear them all down for various innocuous uses (i.e. parking for Lake access). Dunno what they thought 10 year olds could contribute to the evaluation, but preservation was definitely not a priority at the time.
Dave, Thanks to you, Carol Spain, Dennis Crabb, & ???, for saving the estates at the Tallac Site!!! The beauty & significance of that area were within moments of destruction – you are local & national heroes.