The Henderson Historical Society aims to preserve city’s history

By gathering the stories and experiences of those who lived Henderson's history, the Henderson Historical Society hopes to help preserve the town's memory.

"The purpose of Henderson Historical Society is to encourage and foster public awareness and pride and to preserve the history of Henderson," said Valerie La Porta-Haynes, board secretary of the group. "We are going to do the best we can do. There is so much history; people don't know what (Henderson) looked like back then."

La Porta-Haynes said it is important to teach people, whether they are youths or those who just moved to the area, the history of where the city came from.

The Henderson Historical Society is run by board president Louis La Porta, who has been a resident of Henderson since 1945, before the city was incorporated. He served as one of the first city councilmen in 1953.

La Porta remembers when Henderson was struggling to remain a city after World War II.

"There was about 3,500 people here," La Porta said. "We all assimilated into an effective group."

That group was adamant about seeing Henderson survive. Almost 60 years later, the city has grown and continues to thrive.

Because of his experience and knowledge about Henderson, La Porta was asked to chronicle his experience.

In 2011, former Henderson Chamber of Commerce CEO and president Alice Martz asked La Porta to write a memoir.

"I know she meant well," La Porta said. "But why would anyone read a memoir from just one individual?"

In La Porta's mind, Henderson's history should be told through a collective experience, not just one person.

La Porta told Martz, who he knew was planning to retire in 2011, to consider developing a historical society with him that would capture the city's entire history.

The two started the organization, which has since formed a board that includes other long-time Henderson residents. The society also asked Mark Hall-Patton, administrator for Clark County Museums, to be its adviser.

"He has a wealth of information," La Porta said.

The city of Henderson has also gotten involved. When the city found out the organization wanted to organize historical walking tours, it partnered with the organization to see that goal carried out.

The city and the historical society have offered a historical walking tour since the Heritage Day Parade and Festival in April. Participants can take a self-guided tour through the Water Street District to learn about the origins of Henderson.

People can pick up a copy of the tour from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Henderson Convention Center, 200 S. Water St., or download a version at waterstreet
district.com.

When he was starting the organization, La Porta knew the only way to be successful was to have an established website where people could find all the information they need.

The website also features information about individual memberships or business sponsorships. Individual memberships start at $25 and include updates on the society's activities.

"In time, we will have a newsletter, too," La Porta said.

Businesses can contribute $200 to $1,000, which offers a chance to be highlighted on the home page of the website.

The society also is developing programs as Henderson Speaks, which collects stories from people who have been in Henderson from the early 1940s to the 1980s.

"We are getting people who have been here since day one," La Porta said.

Rick Watson, a board member, said the group is preserving history by collecting stories.

"You have a formal kind of history historians and scholars write," Watson said. "Then you have a history that comes from stories people remember, stories from people living in tents or building the plants, stories from people who opened the first shops. A lot of those people have children who are still alive. We want to talk to them while we still have the opportunity to get an oral history."

The society had its first Henderson Speaks event April 21. Family members and children of original Henderson pioneers, as well as long-time Henderson residents, shared their memories.

Watson said this was the first of many events the society hopes to put on.

La Porta said he doesn't know how the group will progress. However, he hopes one day to offer a lecture series through the Henderson Historical Society.

"I don't know where we will end up," La Porta said.

For more information, visit henderson
historicalsociety.org.

Contact Henderson/Anthem View reporter Michael Lyle at mlyle@viewnews.com or 387-5201.