Happy spring! We hope allergies aren't getting the better of you and that you're enjoying the longer daylight hours. We've been busy here at Cornerstones and are excited to share our past and current projects as well as a new volunteer opportunity.
Our Adobe Mixer in February was a success! The top twenty photos from our photo contest were on display and of course we celebrated our four contest winners.
First Place: The Light Remembers by Louisa Madriles
Second Place: El Horno by Dani Bustos
Third Place: El Mismo Desierto by Briana Vargas
Fourth Place: Layers Back in Time by Theo Keeley-LeClaire
We'd like to give a big Thank You to our prize donors, La Fonda Santa Fe, Heritage Hotels, Ten Thousand Waves and La Choza and to The Museum of International Folk Art for hosting the winning photos for the month of March.
Cornerstones in the News: Historic Preservation Edition of Green Fire Times
Cornerstones Community Partnerships is proud to have collaborated with Green Fire Times on the March–April Historic Preservation Edition, a special issue highlighting the people, places, and partnerships shaping preservation efforts across New Mexico and the Southwest.
Published bimonthly, Green Fire Times is a regional publication featuring community-based articles and essays that serve residents, business owners, students, and visitors interested in the history, culture, and spirit of the region. The publication is known for bringing together multicultural perspectives that connect cutting-edge environmental and social innovations with the time-honored traditions that define New Mexico.
This special preservation edition brings together voices from Tribal communities, local organizations, government agencies, municipalities, educators, and individual practitioners to present a snapshot of preservation work happening now—as well as the initiatives and ideas shaping the future. From community-led restoration projects to emerging preservation strategies and educational efforts, the issue reflects the collaborative spirit that sustains New Mexico’s cultural landscapes.
You can pick up a hard copy of this periodical in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Taos, and other NM sites, or go online to review it here.
Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant Program Update
Cornerstones Community Partnerships is moving forward with outreach and program preparation for the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants Program, which will support preservation projects across a seven-county region in northern New Mexico: Colfax, Mora, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Santa Fe (county not city), Taos, and Torrance. The Cornerstones / Paul Bruhn Revitalization Grants will provide funding to support the preservation and revitalization of historic properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places, either individually or as contributing properties within a historic district. This program invests in rural communities by supporting preservation, adaptive reuse, accessibility improvements, and stabilization projects that enhance cultural identity, heritage tourism, and community well-being. Organizations stewarding historic properties are encouraged to review the materials early and begin preparing for the upcoming application cycle.
Please note: All awards under this program are made on a cost-reimbursement basis only. No grant funds will be advanced. Subgrantees must obligate, incur, and pay all eligible project costs upfront using non-federal funds. Reimbursement will be made only after expenses have been paid in full and complete, approved documentation has been submitted and accepted by Cornerstones Community Partnerships.
Subgrant funds may support:
Exterior and interior rehabilitation of historic structures
Stabilization and structural safety improvements
Roofing, drainage, and envelope repair
Masonry, adobe, and plaster conservation
Historic window and door repair
Life-safety upgrades directly tied to historic preservation
Preservation construction that follows the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards
Eligible applicants include:
Nonprofit organizations
Local governments (Certified Local Government programs (CLG), New Mexico Mainstreets organizations, etc.)
Tribal entities
Religious institutions (for preservation of historic structures, not for religious programming)
Educational institutions
Community-based groups with ownership or long-term site control
Private property owners (if the project demonstrates significant community benefit)*
*Eligibility requirements may vary depending on federal rules; Cornerstones will provide clarification during outreach.
The Cornerstones website is now live with a program overview, timeline, federal guidance links, and an eligibility questionnaire / Letter of Interest (LOI) to help potential applicants determine readiness.
Old Santa Fe Association Celebrates 100 years!
The Old Santa Fe Association mission statement: to preserve and maintain the ancient landmarks, historical structures and traditions of Old Santa Fe; to guide its growth and development in such as way as to sacrifice as little as possible of that unique charm, born of age, tradition and environment which are the priceless assets and heritage of Old Santa Fe.
New Funding Availability:
Hart Family Fund for Small Towns (National Trust for Historic Preservation)
May 1, 2026 application deadline
$2,500 - $15,000 funding (dollar for dollar cash match required)
Eligible applicants:
Public Agency, 501c3 nonprofits
<10,000 population
Organization level member of NTHP forum or mainstreet member (not necessary at time of application but necessary if awarded)
Eligible Activities:
Planning
Education and Outreach
Ineligible Activities:
Building/construction activities
Research
Acquisition
Surveys
Conference Support
Organizational capacity building unless NTHP approved
For more information:
Visit: https://savingplaces.org/hart-family-fund or email grants@savingplaces.org
Organ Pipe National Monument
Issac Logsdon and Isaiah Romo led plaster workshops in Organ Pipe National Monument. Participants were trained in lime and earthen plaster preparation and application. They removed cementitious stucco from the Dos Lomitas Ranch House, an adobe structure whose period of significance spans from the early to mid 1900s, and completed repairs to the exposed adobe walls before applying an earthen plaster followed by a lime plaster and lime wash.
WFA Training
In February, Cornerstones field staff participated in an intensive two day wilderness medicine course, hosted by the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). Participants were trained and certified in Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and developed skills to address medical situations in a backcountry/wilderness setting. Cornerstones often hosts workshops and trainings in remote areas, away from quick and easy access to medical services. The training provides our Cornerstones field employees with tools to assess and provide a basic level of care to patients in the field and increase preparedness for unexpected situations.
Call for Volunteers for DEVA Kilns Project
April 28-May 6 and May 12-20
PROJECT INFO
Location and Background
The Wildrose Charcoal Kilns are in a very remote setting in Death Valley National Park, CA. Cornerstones will be working to remove inappropriate portland cement mortars and repair the Charcoal Kilns using a traditional lime-based mortar.
Scope of Work
● Remove cement mortars
● Repoint stone mortar joints with a lime-based mortar
● Scaffolding a domed structure
Volunteer Requirements
This job is physically demanding and participants should be able to comfortably lift 35lbs repeatedly. We will work approximately 7:30-5pm (includes time driving to site) each day.
Ideally, volunteers will join for a full session (either April 28-May 6 or May 12-20, 2026), but some exceptions can be made. We are hoping to have 3-4 volunteers at a time. Priority will go to those who can join for both sessions for longer periods of time. Volunteers will receive a free campsite in the park, including access to a pit toilet. There will be very limited electricity, very limited or no access to cell service or internet.
Please contact Issac Logsdon at issac@cstones.org if you are interested! We are compiling a list of interested people and will send more detailed information in a few weeks. We have limited camping gear available to share.
SAVE THE DATES
MAY IS NATIONAL PRESERVATION MONTH
May 1 - Cornerstones Paul Bruhn Historic Preservation Revitalization grant portal opens
May 21 - Annual Heritage Preservation Awards, 5:30 pm, San Miguel Chapel, 401 Old Santa Fe Trail; sponsored by the City of Santa Fe, Old Santa Fe Association, and Historic Santa Fe Foundation. In collaboration with San Miguel Chapel. More information at https://www.historicsantafe.org/2026-preservation-month
May 29 - NMSHPD Awards (to be announced)
May 30 - Historic Santa Fe Foundation Symposium - Preserving Place: The Santa Fe Continuum, New Mexico History Museum, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. To stay informed and join the notification list when tickets are available, email info@historicsantafe.org.