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May 23, 2024
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Evan Nicks's avatar

Thank you Kane!

John's avatar

Fascinating. Absolutely FASCINATING. Many, MANY thanks for such an interesting and informative article.

Bill Harris's avatar

I am very intrigued as to whether anyone in the lineage between you and your 2x great-grandfather engaged in social nudity.

Bill Harris's avatar

Or is that for an article yet to come?

Evan Nicks's avatar

I will expand on this in the future yes!

Evan Nicks's avatar

Well, my grandmother, Rudy's granddaughter, and all her cousins, used to engage in it when they were kiddos and their grandpa owned a nudist park. But they didn't carry it forward into adulthood, and Cobblestone only lasted a few years after Rudolph passed away. So multiple generations passed before I picked it up again.

George Hall's avatar

You certainly picked up the ball and will make it to the end zone!

Bruce Dean's avatar

Grit. Gumption. Stamina. What a guy!

I wish we had something like a register of historic nudist/naturist locations. As in, Lake Rudolph has been designated a National Historic Naturist Landmark... something with legal protection in it. What a dream...

Evan Nicks's avatar

Thank you for reading! I like the idea of a naturist landmark. It certainly qualifies, as do a few others that have been lost over the years. The pool was unfortunately long ago reclaimed by nature. It still exists as a large hole in the ground, but it is mostly a home to shrubs and lichen now. I've stood in it, and have photos of its current state, which I'll share in a future chapter.

Incidentally, the stone house is a registered historic structure, and I shared some details about that in the last post: https://www.planetnude.co/p/laborious-fruits/

https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/932f3231-e1af-4632-853b-79dd856b68b2

Bruce Dean's avatar

Oh wow! At least the house has that distinction... I know I read that earlier post, maybe the designation association was in the back of my mind.

George Hall's avatar

There are any number of places that would be eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, state registers, and local registers. Local listing generally offers the most protection, though National listing is an effective way to raise awareness and educate. I wonderful if there are any listed naturist landmarks? A “context statement” is the path of travel: establish the themes and significance and identify potential sites. Eligibility is not necessarily based on the design of the building, object, or landscape, but could also be based on history, events, individuals.

George Hall's avatar

Thanks for this! So much history, and such engaging stories. A biography I should want to read even if I were not a nudist.

Evan Nicks's avatar

Thank you George!

Chuck's avatar

This was a fascinating read and I think just the story of the building of the house and pool deserve their own telling apart from the ASA politics aspect. I have the greatest respect for those people who build something amazing and difficult with little help. I am glad the house survives but a little sad that the pool has been reclaimed by nature. Who owns the property now? It must have been a tremendously poignant moment for Evan Nicks to stand in the now weed beset pool built by his ancestor.

Evan Nicks's avatar

Thank you Chuck! While the house and pool are no longer owned by my family, adjacent properties in the area still are. Here’s another piece I wrote about visiting my first cousin twice removed last year: https://www.planetnude.co/p/laborious-fruits/comments

Chuck's avatar

I read the other piece yesterday also. I subscribed recently and am working my way through your posts. I also happened across your podcast interview on Stephane D's podcast. I'm a bit of a family history buff and have enjoyed learning about my own ancestors, none of whom where quite as colorful as your g-great grandfather. They were all Mennonites and pretty much the total opposite of your fore-bearers although I know skinny dipping in stock ponds and irrigation canals was a thing even for them.

After you achieve fame and fortune in the film biz I hope you go back and buy the old place and bring it fully back to life!

Evan Nicks's avatar

😂 thank you for the kind words