Fred Schoonmaker and Alfred Parkinson were a couple who attempted to establish a gay intentional community to be called Stonewall Park in rural Nevada. The bulk of the collection spans the years 1984-1987 and pertains to the business of Stonewall Park and related ventures, as well as of the National Association of Lesbians and Gays (NALAG) and Lavender Press.

Fred Schoonmaker and Alfred Parkinson were a couple who attempted to establish a gay intentional community to be called Stonewall Park in rural Nevada. Prior to moving to Nevada, the two lived in the San Francisco Bay Area. During their time living in San Francisco, the couple owned and operated an ice cream shop called Munchkin’s while also operating Lavender Press and the National Association of Lesbians and Gays (NALAG). In the last three years of Fred’s life, as Munchkin’s failed to stay open and as they had to close their ice cream business, Fred and Al decided to embark on a new dream to open up a gay intentional community in rural Nevada which would be named Stonewall Park. Schoonmaker and Parkinson dreamed of creating a “safe and peaceful place” where they could live without interference as a gay interracial couple (Schoonmaker was white, Parkinson African American). They first tried to build on a ranch in the existing town of Silver Springs, and then ultimately attempted to build Stonewall Park in the ghost town of Rhyolite. Both attempts to purchase land for their community were thwarted by local homophobia and hate. The final attempt was the successful purchase of land near Thunder Mountain in rural Pershing County, but this work, too, was halted after opposition and threats. Their venture left Schoonmaker and Parkinson destitute. In 1987, Fred Schoonmaker was diagnosed with AIDS and he died that same year.

4.5 linear feet (two cartons, three manuscript boxes)

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Collection is open for research.