Cornerstones Community Partnerships Awarded Prestigious Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant. The award, totaling $750,000, will be regranted (minus administrative costs) to preservation organizations and communities across seven rural counties in north-central New Mexico: Torrance, Taos, Santa Fe (outside the city), San Miguel, Rio Arriba, Mora, and Colfax. Applications will open May 2026.
The Paul Bruhn program, named for the late Vermont preservation leader, is administered by the National Park Service to strengthen rural communities through the rehabilitation of historic places. Prime grantees like Cornerstones regrant funds to smaller projects, ensuring that preservation directly benefits underserved regions.
“New Mexico has some of the nation’s richest heritage but also some of its deepest economic challenges,” said Jake Barrow, Cornerstones Executive Director. “This award allows us to invest in the historic assets of our rural communities—preserving their cultural legacy while fueling jobs, housing, and economic growth.”
NM Department of Cultural Affairs has noted, “Cornerstones has long played a critical and foundational role in the preservation of our cherished New Mexico heritage. To have CCP’s dedication and commitment recognized with a grant of such significance should be a point of pride. A Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant is acknowledged to be highly prized and hard won. As New Mexicans, we will continue to rely on Cornerstones to play its vital and nurturing role in our state.”
Through the Paul Bruhn program, Cornerstones will provide planning grants (up to $75,000) for assessments and design, and construction grants (up to $200,000) for on-the-ground restoration projects. Eligible properties must be in rural counties, listed on or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, and demonstrate community benefit through preservation, reuse, or tourism. Please watch the Cornerstones website for updates. Application opens May 2026.
Luna Community College Adobe Model Home Project Completion
The final class and completion ceremony for the Adobe Model Home took place on December 6, 2025, during Luna Community College’s Winterfest celebration. The 18-month building course, presented by Cornerstones Community Partnerships in partnership with Luna Community College, concluded with certificates awarded to 16 students.
The project was supported by the Luna College Foundation, New Mexico Workforce Solutions, New Mexico Rural Development Corporation, Las Vegas Community Foundation, Santa Fe Community Foundation, Remy’s Good Day Fund, Southwest Capital Bank, McCune Foundation, Thornburg Investments, and Franken Construction.
Organ Pipe National Park, AZ
Repointing with lime-amended earthen mortar
In December and January Cornerstones led two stone masonry workshops at Levy’s Store in Organ Pipe National Park, AZ. The vernacular stone building from the late 1800 is composed of uncoursed fieldstone laid in a mud mortar. It’s situated within the bounds of a Wilderness Area, 2.5 miles away from the nearest road, so participants hiked in water, tools, and materials to use in rebuilding the walls. Workshop participants were trained in wet stone masonry techniques including proper coursing and bonding as well as repointing using a lime-amended earthen mortar. Volunteers and staff also visited the Lost Cabin Mine, the site of a dry laid stone cabin, and helped to clear collapsed stone from the base of the walls and document the structure.
Welcome our
New Board Members!
Cornerstones is delighted to welcome new board members Jane Lewis and Janaki Ranpura. Jane Lewis was executive director of Villa Finale Museums & Gardens / the National Trust for Historic Preservation in San Antonio Texas from 2012 to 2025. She is a graduate of the University of Texas. “ I am delighted to be joining Cornerstones since first volunteering with the organization in 1991. Growing up in New Mexico, historic preservation was always a top priority in my family. After spending the last 15 years with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, I am looking forward to serving on the board of directors."
Janaki Ranpura holds a double masters in design and engineering from Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art and an undergraduate degree in interdisciplinary humanities from Yale University. She came to Santa Fe on a fellowship with the Santa Fe Art Institute. “Cornerstones helped me enter into a relationship with adobe, and I have seen it do that for many people new to the culture here. Its volunteer programs are a significant portal into understanding local issues. I have witnessed how it is a strong partner for communities, lending organizational power to the needs of groups all over the region.”
Cornerstones Board and Advisory committee met in January at the home of board president Gregg Henry. We thank and recognize these good friends and supporters- and look forward to working with you all in 2026!
Las Vegas Citizen’s Committee for Historic Preservation Celebrates 50 years!
LVCCHP was formed to encourage the preservation and appreciation of our area’s historic resources for the benefit of the community. Mission: to preserve, protect, and promote the historic, cultural, and architectural heritage of great Las Vegas through education and advocacy, and to encourage economic development through restoration and rehabilitation.
Scaffold Training
In preparation for upcoming workshops at the Wildrose Charcoal Kilns in Death Valley National Park, CA, Cornerstones has been working to design scaffolds that will allow workshop participants to safely access the exteriors of the 30ft tall conical stone kilns. In December, 2025, Cornerstones field staff received competent person certifications through the Scaffolding and Access Industry Association. Staff were trained to safely assemble and oversee the use of various types of scaffolds and will be on-site at the Wildrose Kilns later this spring when work begins.
Preservation Crews working on Wildrose Charcoal Kilns 1970’s