Namesake of the Old Southwest

FRANCIS G. NEWLANDS Namesake of the Old Southwest

Most area residents refer to our treasured corner of Reno as the “Old Southwest.” However, its proper name is actually the Newlands neighborhood, named for Francis G. Newlands, the visionary who helped establish what was Reno’s first suburb. But who exactly was Francis G. Newlands, and how did one of Reno’s most historic neighborhoods take on his name?

Francis G. Newlands was born in Natchez, Mississippi, grew up in Illinois and Washington, D.C., but settled in San Francisco, California after attending law school. San Francisco is where he met his first wife, Clara Adelaide Sharon. During their short time together, the couple had three daughters. Following Clara’s untimely death in 1888, Newlands moved to Reno. Clara was the daughter of wealthy mining and banking magnate William Sharon, one of the richest men in the West. A well-educated attorney, Newlands had been appointed trustee of William Sharon’s estate which included extensive holdings in Nevada. By 1889, Newlands had become a prominent figure in Reno and began construction of a large home perched on the bluff above the south bank of the Truckee River.

During his time in Nevada, Newlands is probably best known for his political accomplishments. In addition to time in the State Legislature, Newlands was also elected to represent Nevada in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. He helped pass the Reclamation Act of 1902, also called the Newlands Act, which created what would become the federal Bureau of Reclamation.

However, Newlands had other aspirations as a land developer and progressive city planner. He is noted to have been a staunch proponent of City Beautiful ideals, which sought to

1916 photo of Francis G. Newlands

Newlands’ home on Elm Court in Reno, built in 1890

promote civic pride and encourage community involvement by refining the urban landscape. To realize his aspirations, he purchased 300 acres of land adjacent to his home above the river and began to design the Riverside Heights subdivision, the first of what would eventually become the larger Newlands Neighborhood. As part of the City Beautiful planning, the neighborhood would include tree-lined streets, be pedestrian-friendly and include a central public park.

In 1907, James Newlands, Jr., nephew of Francis G. Newlands took over operations of the Newlands Company. Over the course of the next 50 years or so, the Newlands Neighborhood continued to grow west toward Marsh Avenue and south toward Ely Street (now Monroe Street). As the neighborhood

Francis G. Newlands Memorial Fountain, Chevy Chase, Maryland

NEWLANDS’ CONTROVERSIAL HISTORY

For a number years there has been discussion locally about changing the Newlands Neighborhood name because of Newlands’ outspoken white supremacist views and documented opposition to the rights of African-Americans. A similar effort has been underway in Maryland since 2014 when a proposal to rename a memorial fountain dedicated to Francis G. Newlands was brought before the Chevy Chase Advisory Neighborhood Commission. The fountain, and traffic circle it resides in, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places which, along with some local opposition, has complicated the renaming process.

In addition to the potential name change for the Newlands Neighborhood here in Reno, there has been discussion of amending the language of the neighborhood’s deed restrictions that, even to this day, state that African-Americans are not permitted to own homes in the neighborhood.

As recently as a week prior to the drafting of this article, a post on NextDoor.com, a popular online neighborhood convener website, posed the question about whether the name of the neighborhood should be changed, particularly given recent national events related to equal rights for people of color. To date, the post has more than 350 comments, both in favor of and in opposition to the name change. To participate in the discussion, check out www.nextdoor.com and search for “Old Southwest Reno.”

design, architectural styles changed with the times.

From the stately mansions on the bluff above the

river, to the small bungalows along Nixon and

Gordon, to the sprawling ranch-style homes of the

Newlands Manor subdivision added in the late 1920’s, the Newlands Neighborhood became a veritable library of late 19th and early 20th century architectural styles.

Historic marker located at the corner of Nixon Avenue and Manor Drive

Francis Newlands’ aspirations as a land developer were not solely limited to Nevada. He also developed neighborhoods using City Beautiful ideals in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and San Francisco.

Newlands remained a politician until his death on December 24, 1917. A monument to Senator Newlands was erected in 1924 in Newlands Park. Although the text is

How do you science?

Science Distilled, the informal lecture series created by Desert Research Institute and The Discovery, makes cutting-edge science approachable through intimate and interactive presentations on current and curious topics held at hip locations in a social atmosphere. Find an upcoming event at sciencedistilled.org worth a visit if only to ponder what it might have been like to live “so far” from downtown Reno as our treasured neighborhood was developing into the jewel it is today.

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HERITAGE PEOPLE, HOMES AND HISTORYof Old Southwest Reno

As seen in the neighborhood.

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