Monday, Sept. 20, 2004 | 8:34 a.m.
One of Austin's most promising tourism cottage industries may rely on grown-ups playing dress up or dabbling in clay.
About two dozen people gathered in the tiny rural Nevada town over the weekend to learn about making high Victorian fashions from thrift-shop finds or creating clay pots.
The workshops are the latest scheme cooked up by Jan Morrison, a former Las Vegas real estate agent who moved to Austin in summer 2003 to try her hand at selling history instead of houses.
And Austin has plenty of history. It sits on U.S. 50 in the exact geographic center of the state, a five-hour drive, and eras away, from Las Vegas. Eleven of the former 19th century mining town's buildings were placed on the National Register of Historic Places -- 10 of them added in one 2003 decision.
It's pretty much "the whole town," a state historian said at the time.
Austin's well-preserved buildings represent its 1860s to 1880s heyday, when it was one of Nevada's most prosperous communities.
But that 19th century city of 10,000 has given way to a 21st century community of about 270. And being in Lander County places it in one of eight Nevada counties a state demographer's May report predicts will lose population by 2024, while other parts of the state are projected to boom.
Morrison owns the historic Main Street Shops along the main drag, St. Augustine's Catholic Church, one of the registered buildings, and an 1863 house in which she lives.
A former seamstress for Singer, Morrison is conducting two-day workshops on making Victorian ladies' hats and gowns. Jo Robinson, an acclaimed artist from Fallon who also owns a home in Austin, is leading the three-session pottery workshop.
That workshop is now closed, as the first session was Saturday. But it will be offered again during the summer, Morrison said. The first millinery and dress workshop was conducted over the weekend too, but spots are open for others scheduled Oct. 16-17 and Nov. 20-21.
"I started out life as a sewing instructor," Morrison said. "I learned French couture, which uses a lot of the same elements as (Victorian style). It's like 50 million stitches."
She will show participants about 50 million shortcuts instead, as they create Victorian costumes she says will fool even a keen eye.
Of course, one needs a place to wear one's 19th century get-up. Morrison has taken care of that too. On New Year's Eve she will conduct a 19th century gala and silent auction.
Every event brings more outsiders, many of whom come from the Las Vegas Valley seeking a quiet, scenic place to settle.
"If we had 100 homes, 100 homes would be sold," she said. "But you've got to bring your own money."
Morrison hopes to ignite a self-supporting tourism industry that will bring economic opportunities for locals -- an idea she knows isn't embraced by some of her neighbors.
"There are newcomers who don't want anything to change. But things will be changing. Our population is 270 and steadily going down," she said. "We need to get up to 500 so we can open a bank."
The hat and dressmaking workshop costs $50 for both days. For registration and information on what to bring, contact Morrison, (775) 964-1100.
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