Curran Apple Orchard house

The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation has just put out its list of most endangered historic properties for 2009, and one structure from the South Sound is on it: The Curran Apple Orchard house in University Place.

The TNT has previously written about the 1952-designed house, the work of esteemed Tacoma mid-century-modern architect Robert B. Price.

Now local activists trying to save it from the wrecking ball have gotten a boost from the state historic trust organization. The design is special, according to the state group ...

But what sets it apart, and provides the agricultural connection, is the setting: The house is situated within an orchard providing a unique example of early western Washington apple horticulture. This combination deems the property eligible for listing in the Washington Heritage Register, and if listed, would be the first Price-designed resource to achieve such designation.

University Place gave local preservationists until this spring to come up with a plan to save the structure from demolition. Next steps for the Curran House will be discussed during a City Council study session on June 8 at 7 p.m., according to city officials.

After UP became a city in 1995, it took control of Curran park from Pierce County, and the house was rented out. It has sat vacant for more than a year.

The city has said it would cost $125,000 to renovate as a residence, and even more to convert it to a public-use building.

There are several other endangered properties on this year's Washington Trust list, including the Seattle Post-Intelligencer globe and the old Vashon Island school gym.

The attention that comes with making the list is no guarantee of salvation. In Tacoma, for instance, the Japanese Language School was torn down in 2004 and First United Methodist Church in 2007.

A Washington Department of Transportation camera operator has caught the first few steps in the life of a baby deer born last week underneath the Jackson Ave traffic camera on Highway 16.

Photographs of the baby deer taking last Friday were mailed to Jenni Hogan, KIRO TV Traffic anchor, who posted them today on the station's Web site with a short story.

Usually the employees at WSDOT's command center watch hundreds of cameras every morning and look at brake lights and backups. Last week camera operator Rich Langlois had the pleasure of watching what he described as the Discovery Channel, right on his very own WSDOT camera.

According to KIRO TV, WSDOT employees have named the mother deer Pearl and the baby deer little Jackson.

A memorial for Gayl Bertagni, the co-owner of The Swiss Pub who died Friday night in an accident, is planned for Saturday at the pub. The public is invited.
A funeral Mass was held today at 11 a.m. at St. Stephen the Martyr Church in Renton. The following e-mail was forwarded to The News Tribune by family friend and fellow business owner Marty Campbell:

A celebration of Gayl Bertagni's life will continue on Saturday, May
30th beginning at 3:00 pm at The Swiss Pub, 1904 South Jefferson,
Tacoma, WA 98402. The Swiss is expecting quite a bit of turnout, and
while they will be providing some food for the guests, would also like
to request that you please bring a dish that you would have enjoyed
sharing with Gayl.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Emergency Food Network and
support your local farmers.

The Swiss pub will be closed through Sunday, May 31st, reopening for
business on Monday, June 1st.