Atascadero Historical Society announces plans for ‘Colony Heritage Center’
– Last year the Atascadero Historical Society announced plans to develop a recently acquired property adjacent to the new Atascadero Library and SLO County Building to the “Colony Heritage Center.” This center is planned to be made up of historic structures and original Colony era homes. To that goal the society, in a last minute effort, they saved the historic “Cabin” from a wrecking ball and moved it to the Colony Heritage Center site where it currently sits on blocking awaiting a new foundation. The society is now pleased to announce plans for the remainder of 2016 and into 2017.
Their initial effort will be a foundation for “the Cabin” and getting that structure functioning. This building will serve as construction headquarters for the development effort. Once the Colony Heritage Center is completed, “the Cabin” will serve as our Natural History Museum. The society has a significant archive of items from the earliest civilized periods of the Atascadero area.
The next effort will be moving two original Colony homes to the site. Both of these homes were built in 1915-16. One of these homes, The Rordorf home, sustained some damage when a wildfire jumped the 101 freeway near Del Rio earlier this year. Fortunately, most of the damage was to the exterior of the home and cosmetic in nature. This home will be used to store the paper and photographic archives of the society. The other home is on the Walmart property and will serve as an Alumni Café, exhibiting a collection of educational artifacts. They are also hoping to exhibit archives from members of the community in a dedicated area.
As funds become available they say they will build foundations for these two Colony Homes and restore them for their next 100 years of useful service.
The society is currently working with the City of Atascadero, Cal Trans, the CHP as well as the various utilities to complete the next phase in the development of the Colony Heritage Center.
Ultimately, the Colony Heritage Center will have three or four Colony era buildings. Additionally, they are planning walkways, plaza’s and a life size statue of the founder of Atascadero, E. G. Lewis.
The key to complete these plans is fundraising. Since the end result of the fundraising effort is unknown at this time, The society has put plans together that allow tasks to be completed as funds become available.
If you are interested in contributing to this effort please send your contributions to: Atascadero Historical Society, PO Box 1047, Atascadero, CA 93423. If you have any items of historical value you are considering donating, please call the society at (805) 466-8341, or email [email protected].
