| SNOWDRIFT began its life in 1914 as the Babbitt Brothers Mercantile Store. The store had four sections: a grocery section with a large selection of canned goods; a central clothing section; a section that sold caste iron stoves, wash tubs and other conveniences; and an Indian goods department located in the upper mezzanine. |
| 1914 |
| Today |
| Repairing the North Wall |
| Installing an armature |
| Renovating the main exhibition space |
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Though Babbitt Brothers operated the store
for decades, by the 1970s it had been sold
and was known as the P&H Store. Just
next door to the east was Troutner's Men's
Clothing Store, with the famous Route 66
icon of a curvy cowgirl and the slogan "For
Men Only" that graced billboards all along
the mother road. Sadly, Troutner's fell
victim to fire and was demolished in the
1990s.
for decades, by the 1970s it had been sold
and was known as the P&H Store. Just
next door to the east was Troutner's Men's
Clothing Store, with the famous Route 66
icon of a curvy cowgirl and the slogan "For
Men Only" that graced billboards all along
the mother road. Sadly, Troutner's fell
victim to fire and was demolished in the
1990s.
Dan Lutzick, an artist and partner in the La
Posada Hotel restoration project, purchased
the building in 2002. Dan first looked at the
building in 2000 when the price was $2,
which reflected both the condition of the
building and of downtown Winslow in
general. The building had been unoccupied
for close to a decade, the rear wall had
collapsed, and the pigeons pretty much
owned the place. But Winslow was changing,
and with La Posada as an anchor, downtown
revitalization was beginning to happen.
Posada Hotel restoration project, purchased
the building in 2002. Dan first looked at the
building in 2000 when the price was $2,
which reflected both the condition of the
building and of downtown Winslow in
general. The building had been unoccupied
for close to a decade, the rear wall had
collapsed, and the pigeons pretty much
owned the place. But Winslow was changing,
and with La Posada as an anchor, downtown
revitalization was beginning to happen.
The focus of the first phase of restoration
was to stabilize the collapsed north wall.
In addition, the building's entire
electrical and plumbing systems were
abandoned, and the upper mezzanine,
where of a series of offices and stock
rooms had been, was completely gutted
to make way for a loft apartment.
The building had significant water
damage, and sections of the 10,000
square foot main floor were stripped and
replaced. The original tin ceiling was
patched and a skylight, one of 4, was
rebuilt.
Outside, the old signage that had been
tacked to the building over the years was
removed. New siding was attached along
the Route 66 side of the building, and
the facade was scrapped, sealed, and
painted. The entire 10,000 square foot
roof was stripped and sealed by Dan
alone, a process that took over two years.
While all of this was happening, Dan
was continually producing and installing
new work, with sculpture armatures
evolving in the exhibition space that was
itself still under construction.
Today the majority of the structural work
is done and work now center on
improving the main exhibition space and
building a 10,000 sq ft studio and
exhibition space in the basement.
was to stabilize the collapsed north wall.
In addition, the building's entire
electrical and plumbing systems were
abandoned, and the upper mezzanine,
where of a series of offices and stock
rooms had been, was completely gutted
to make way for a loft apartment.
The building had significant water
damage, and sections of the 10,000
square foot main floor were stripped and
replaced. The original tin ceiling was
patched and a skylight, one of 4, was
rebuilt.
Outside, the old signage that had been
tacked to the building over the years was
removed. New siding was attached along
the Route 66 side of the building, and
the facade was scrapped, sealed, and
painted. The entire 10,000 square foot
roof was stripped and sealed by Dan
alone, a process that took over two years.
While all of this was happening, Dan
was continually producing and installing
new work, with sculpture armatures
evolving in the exhibition space that was
itself still under construction.
Today the majority of the structural work
is done and work now center on
improving the main exhibition space and
building a 10,000 sq ft studio and
exhibition space in the basement.
| 1930s |
| 1970s |