Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: The dream of J. Carlton Adair

Saturday, Feb. 12, 2000 | 10:04 a.m.

Mike O'Callaghan is executive editor of the Sun. He also is publisher of the Henderson HomeNews, where this column first appeared as "One Man's View."

THE LONGER A PERSON LIVES in this area the more he or she will become critical of many new writers who view local history from a more recent perspective. Most recently the success story of beautiful Lake Las Vegas has been written about extensively. Most of the articles are accurate, beginning with the entrance of Transcontinental Properties. This usually includes the vision of that corporation's Ronald Boeddeker, who made it become a reality.

Actually the vision of Lake Las Vegas came from J. Carlton Adair more than 35 years ago. If he had succeeded in putting together the money it would be called Lake Adair. That's when the late Las Vegas Sun Publisher Hank Greenspun wrote: "There is some present controversy between conflicting groups in Henderson about a possible further development. And, as in all areas of change, the conflict arises between the stand-patters and those seeking expansion.

"I, frankly, am not knowledgeable enough to know whether the proposed Lake Adair project is indeed feasible or even ascertainable, but if even the remotest possibility exists, it should be pursued without obstacles cast in its path.

"Just a cursory examination shows the involvement of some of the nation's large multimillion dollar real estate and utility corporations in this project, and if Lake Adair should become a reality, Henderson may soon become the largest and most beautiful city in the state."

Greenspun, a former Boulder City resident and landowner in Henderson, long ago foresaw the Henderson of today and tomorrow. He was one of the few locals who appreciated Adair's views and dreams of the future, because he already had his own dreams about the addition of Green Valley to Henderson. These he brought into being and today Henderson is bigger and more beautiful than ever.

More than 20 years later, in 1989 Hank wrote: "The impossible dream. That's what some pessimists called Carlton Adair's plan for a community to be built at Lake Mead. It was to have been called Lake Adair. Carlton and his lovely wife, Perry Sheehan Adair, spent many thousands of hours trying to develop their idea, but it never was realized. Their dream may soon become a reality if the developers of the Lake at Las Vegas project, the modern-day version of Lake Adair, are successful in their efforts to gain regulatory approval.

"Carlton's 'lake' came to mind the other day when I received a letter from him in which he commiserated with me over my present illness and reminded me we had known each other for 35 years. Leaving aside the extravagant references to myself and family in Carlton's letter, a portion bears repeating because it adds to the history of Southern Nevada.

"Carlton wrote: 'I must tell you that I have been engaged as a consultant to Transcontinental Properties for the Lake at Las Vegas project. Among other things, I am writing the history of what used to be called Lake Adair development from the time an obscure drayman, one Dan Potter, acquired the original site in 1926.' "

Yes, Lake Las Vegas is an invaluable property and adds to the beauty of Clark County. It was a dream of J. Carlton Adair who never forgot Dan Potter. For historical accuracy and good taste it behooves all of us to remember the man with the dream that came true, J. Carlton Adair.

It's important that Adair be given the credit because of the ridicule he took from some media members and local wheeler-dealers. He, like Greenspun, was a strong man who refused to have his dream buried by men who couldn't dream.