Mountain View Black Officers Club makes historic list

[Source: Bill Hess, Sierra Vista Herald/Review] -- The World War II-era black officers’ club on Fort Huachuca has been listed as one of 12 Arizona’s Most Endangered Historic Places by the Arizona State Preservation Foundation. The listing on Jan. 24 is seen as an additional positive step by the president of the Southwest Association of Buffalo Soldiers in the organization’s attempt to save Building 66050. “It (the listing) brings us more publicity and will help in fund-raising,” Tom Stoney Sr. said Monday. SWABS has also applied to the National Trust for placing the black officers’ club on its annual list of historic places in danger, he said, adding, the national list is expected to be out in May.

Jim McPherson, president of the nonprofit Arizona Preservation Foundation, agrees that being listed in the state will help organizations raise money to save facilities with significant historic ties to the state. The foundation has existed since 1979. Every year 11 or 12 historic places are listed, he said.

Vince Murray, the foundation’s vice president and chairman of the organization’s Most Endangered Historic Places review committee, said, “All the properties we have named are important historic sites in Arizona, but unfortunately are in grave danger of collapse, demolition or destruction.” [Note: To read the full article, click here.]