Historical Society looks to build carriage house

It may soon be easier for people interested in Carson City history to find a quiet place for looking through historical newspaper clippings and archives.

The Carson City Historical Society is hoping to build a new, two-story carriage house behind the historic Roberts House on Carson Street, a city-owned house the society operates.

In the addition, the society plans to store archives and have a library of historic Carson documents and articles, said special events coordinator Paula Cannon. With space getting tight in the city museum, the extra room is needed.

"The museum is just stuffed to the gills and we don't have room for anything," Cannon said. "If someone offered us something fantastic and larger than a sheet of paper we'd have to say, 'OK, if we take this what do we get rid of?'"

Carson City Parks and Recreation Commission is expected to make a decision Tuesday about whether they approve of the project. The historical society must also get approvals from the Carson City Historic Resources Commission, the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors before the project can be built.

The Roberts House is city-owned and managed by the Parks and Recreation Department. The society rents it under the agreement that it will operate and maintain it.

The proposed carriage house would be built in place of the existing shed and would be 22 feet wide and 32 feet tall. It would not have the decorative gingerbread trim that adorns the house, but will be ship lapped.

The first floor would hold meeting space, a restroom and kitchen area, office and possibly a gift shop, Cannon said. The second story would be used for storing archives and as a library for researching news clippings and other historic documents.

The building could be used by the society to hold meetings and small events, Cannon said.

IF YOU GO

What: Carson City Parks and Recreation Commission

When: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Sierra Room, Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St.