Old City Hall may become national landmark

Frederick’s old City Hall, now a museum in Crist Park, is on its way to becoming a national landmark through the work of the town board and Sean Scott, the only member of the Frederick’s Historic Preservation Advisory Commission.
    According to Nanette Fornof, town clerk, Scott came to the board with the idea for registering the City Hall Museum with the National Register of Historic Places, as well as the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties.

Photo courtesy of the town of Frederick

Frederick’s historic City Hall building in Crist Park may soon receive national historic status.

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    “Preservation is one of the things that’s in the code for this commission to work on,” said Fornof.
    According to the National Register, to be eligible a property must meet certain requirements involving its age, integrity and significant.
    The museum qualifies for the National Register of Historic Places because it has been associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the history of the town, said Fornof. It also qualifies due to its authentic characteristics that associate the building with the time period in which it was built and used.
    According to Fornof, the wood building was constructed in 1945 as the City Hall and remained that way until 1976 when the town replaced it with the town’s current municipal buildings. 
    “The board felt it was a building that had historical value and decided to move it to its current location about two blocks away in Crist Park,” she said.
    The museum is home to artifacts from Frederick and the Carbon Valley’s history, including many mining relics.
    It is open to community members by appointment only though Fornof assured that it is a goal of the Historic Preservation Advisory Commission to eventually open it up on a regular basis.
    Since it has become a museum, local schools have annually toured the building as a lesson to kids on local government and history.
    “Several people within the community have seen to it the project is what it is today,” said Fornof. “A lot of community pride was taken to complete the project.”
    Earlier in the fall, Scott was looking for a project to work on as the head of the commission. After going through Frederick’s Municipal Code, he recommended that the town register as a national and state landmark.
    At the Jan. 11 town board meeting, the board unanimously approved the decision to file an application for historic designation with the National Register of Historic Places and the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties.
    According to Fornof, if the application is accepted, the City Hall Museum will be the town’s first landmark.
    “If the designation is given, it opens up doors for the town to apply for funding available to purchase additional artifacts,” said Fornof. The funds could also be used for repairs that need to be done to maintain the museum as well as educational purposes.
    While the application is being reviewed by the National and State Historic Registers, the Board of Trustees will be considering whether to designate the museum as a historic property on the local level.
    According to Fornof, there has been concern that if a property goes on the register would it limit the property owner to do other things with that property.
Fornof said there isn’t.
    “If there is any cause or concern, they can ask that this property be removed from the register,” she said.
The town of Frederick is the property owner of Crist Park and the City Hall Museum, said Fornof.
    Frederick’s City Hall Museum will be considered for designation as a national and state landmark June 10.
    If it is accepted by the National Register of Historic Places, the City Hall Museum will automatically be registered with the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties.
    Other national landmarks in the state include Matchless Mine in Lake County, Colo. and Arapahoe Acres, a residential suburb in Englewood.
    For information about Frederick’s City Hall Museum, or to make appointment to visit the museum, contact 720-382-5500.
    For information on the National Register of Historic Places, visit www.cr.nps.gov/nr/.