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When Opportunity Knocks Winona County Courthouse Fights for Survival

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When Opportunity Knocks Winona County Courthouse Fights for Survival November-December 2000, Vol. XXVIII, No. 11 INSIDE page 2 Community partnerships page 4 Map project mushrooms Published by the Minnesota Historical Society page 6 for county and local historical societies and heritage preservation commissions Managing your collections Winona County Historical Society County Historical Winona When opportunity knocks Winona County Courthouse fights for survival ust after 3 a.m. on a Sunday in the building’s interior. A floor was added, September, the ceiling fell in on a courtrooms divided and offices squeezed Jcourtroom at the historic Winona County into every nook and cranny. Later Courthouse, shearing off several fire construction of a courthouse annex sprinklers. Before firefighters could turn nearby and the purchase of a downtown off the water, more than 4,000 gallons mall building attempted to solve the had poured down through four floors of county government’s growing space needs. the five-story structure, soaking county Today the historic courthouse once records and the building’s interior. The again faces an uncertain future. We asked disaster set off a storm of controversy in Mark Peterson, executive director of the the community over what should be done Winona County Historical Society, for his views on the community’s struggle to with the damaged building. Despite its imposing presence, the 1888 One of the first Minnesota properties determine the building’s fate. Winona County Courthouse faces an listed on the National Register of Historic uncertain future after flooding damaged How did the Winona County Places (in 1970), the 1888 Romanesque the interior. courthouse had weathered earlier threats Q.Historical Society get involved? to its preservation. In the 1960s a failed Peterson: After the flood, county preservation and other conservation campaign to replace the old courthouse commissioners came to us for names of work. They also hired an architect to resulted in a voter referendum to remodel state experts to advise on paper begin exploring the cost of a new government center. Right away people became concerned about what would happen to the historic courthouse if the Field Services in transition county abandoned it. Because the by Britta L. Bloomberg, Head, Winona County Historical Society had Historic Preservation, Field Services and Grants Department, Minnesota Historical Society been involved in earlier community This is a unique time in the history of the Field Services program at the Society. In preservation issues, people called us to September we bade farewell to David Nystuen, long-time field services coordinator, as ask what could be done to save he began retirement. Judging by the phone calls and letters I’ve received since then, the building. there’s considerable interest in the program’s future. Local opinions were so divided that I want to assure readers that the Society is committed to continuing a strong field the commissioners decided to form an services program in the years ahead that will serve Minnesota’s historical organizations. options committee to recommend a Today the organizations you represent are more than 500 strong and diverse in size, course of action. I was asked to serve on focus and reach. You are all crucial partners in advancing the cause of history statewide. the committee, along with two judges, In preparing for this transition to the next generation of field services one commissioner, the sheriff, assistant programming, I asked two questions. First, how do we best build on the strong county attorney, county assessor, county foundation that has been laid? Second, where is growth or a new vision needed to lead facilities director and county the way in the new century? administrator. Field Services continued on page 3 Winona County continued on page 7 AROUND THE STATE Building community support Partnerships pay off in unexpected ways hether you’re planning programs, means going to a few more meetings. But Natural Resources, Minnesota- raising funds or cataloging your it also means having access to many more Wisconsin Boundary Area Commission Wcollections, it may pay to take on a partner. resources – from volunteers to new and Upland Restoration Alliance. As historical societies around the state audiences to financial support. It’s Chisago County Historical Society, have discovered, partnering with local definitely worth the extra time!” 651-257-5310. organizations can reap big rewards. Here are just some of the many ways Partnerships help build audiences by in which Minnesota’s county and local ”Working with partners means bringing your group to the attention of historical organizations have teamed with going to a few more meetings. But new segments of the community. partners to preserve and interpret the it also means having access to Partnerships can broaden your funding history of their communities. Give them a many more resources – from base by tapping new sources of revenue or call to learn the secrets to their successes. volunteers to new audiences to by demonstrating community support when applying for a grant. And Program collaborations financial support.” partnerships work to strengthen your Chisago County: Perusing publicity Sherry Stirling, executive director position as a community leader and about fall programs of the Chisago Chisago County Historical Society indispensable resource. County Historical Society and its many Few groups rival the Chisago County partners serves as a good introduction to Scott County: For two years the Historical Society when it comes to the area’s business, civic and cultural Scott County Historical Society and the cultivating community partners. Says communities. A sampling: county office of the University of executive director Sherry Stirling, • Almelund’s Apple Festival, co-sponsored Minnesota Extension Service have joined “Working with partner organizations by the CCHS with Friends of Amador forces to sponsor a self-guided, city- Heritage Center, Almelund Lion’s country tour. A joint committee selects Scott County Historical Society Scott County Historical Club and S & C Bank, among the sites – this year a century farm, a local others. orchard and a geological site with spiritual • Cultural Heritage Program significance to the Dakota – then the Series, held this fall at Wild River property owners and event organizers plan State Park, partially funded by the programming at each stop on the tour. East Central Regional Arts “We like to get other members of the Council and co-sponsored with community involved,” says SCHS Friends of Wild River State Park, director John Gutteter, who this year Minnesota State Park Interpretive arranged for representatives of Shakopee’s Services, St. Croix Valley Heritage Mdewakanton Sioux Community to talk Coalition and two nearby with visitors at Boiling Springs on Eagle townships. Creek, a site managed by the Minnesota • Women in History Celebration, Department of Natural Resources. The funded by the Minnesota event is promoted by the local media and Humanities Commission and co- in the county’s newsletter, mailed to all sponsored with Working Women residents. The only cost to the historical Young visitors take in the sites at Casey Together, a local business and society: fliers with a map of the tour, sent Acres, a 260-acre dairy farm – one of professional women’s group. home with 15,000 Scott County the stops on Scott County’s City to • Natural Heritage Workshop on native Country Tour. elementary school students. Scott County landscapes past and present, co- Historical Society, 612-445-0378. sponsored with the Department of 2 Minnesota History Interpreter AROUND THE STATE Field Services continued from page 1 To grapple with these questions, Society staff met in September with representatives from eight of Minnesota’s historical organizations. Chisago County Historical Society Chisago County Historical The planning group identified numerous accomplishments that we will continue to build on: • increased professionalism • improved museum facilities and collections care Fund-raising partnerships In 1999 students from Chisago Lakes High • creative programming Carlton County: For its annual fall School’s landscape design and horticulture classes designed a new sidewalk for the • heightened awareness of the value of kickoff event and fund raiser, the Carlton Chisago County History Center in local history County Historical Society enlisted a local Lindstrom. Teacher Jeff Lindeman (left) • increased funding business, the Aid Association for supervised the installation. This year students designed and planted a perennial There is good reason to celebrate Lutherans, to match all funds raised at garden on the museum grounds. gains already made. At the same time, the county society’s swing dance, dinner our work is cut out for us. Among and silent auction. Monies will be used future issues we all must take into to upgrade the air conditioning and store. During the retail giant’s book fair, customers turning in a special coupon consideration in planning: electrical systems at the Carlton County • changing community demographics History and Heritage Center. Carlton with their purchase could designate the historical society as the recipient of a • new technologies County Historical Society, 218-879-1938. • a need to reach new audiences Edina: When Edina residents do percentage of the sale. No Barnes & Noble store in your community? Try through relevant programming their grocery shopping at the local Jerry’s • the challenge of increasing funding Foods store, they send their receipts
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