North Casper Clubhouse

Introduction

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Designed by a local architecture firm Goodrich and Krusmark, the North Casper Clubhouse is historically significant as a rare example of rammed-earth construction in the state. An organization called the North Casper Improvement Association built it in 1939. German and Russian immigrants used the rammed-earth technique—which is also referred to as the Pueblo Revival style—in North Dakota beginning in the 1880s and federal agencies recommended it be used during the Great Depression as a cheap and durable way to construct buildings. Today, the City of Casper owns the clubhouse and rents it out for parties and other events. The building was added tot he National Register of Historic Places in 1994.

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Backstory and Context

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As noted above, the clubhouse was built during the Great Depression with funding from a federal organization called the National Youth Administration (NYA), which was part of the Works Progress Administration (one of several federal agencies established to provide work to Americans). The NYA provided job opportunities to young people who found it hard to get jobs during the period. Therefore in addition to its unique construction, the clubhouse is also significant for representing "New Deal" federal programs that helped Americans persevere in the midst of the Great Depression. The clubhouse was and remains an important community center for the community.

Sources

"North Casper Clubhouse." City of Casper. Accessed August 23, 2019. https://www.casperwy.gov/cms/One.aspx?portalId=83540&pageId=153158.

Rosenberg, Robert G. "North Casper Clubhouse." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. February 18, 1994. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/b5ec8402-7388-4bfb-88c7-9d8cd074bb6a.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Wikimedia Commons: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Casper_Clubhouse#/media/File:NorthCasperClubhouseWY.jpg

Additional Information