2009 Historic Preservation Success Story

St. Anna School - Wells County

The restoration of St. Anna School has clearly been a labor of love for Terry and Mary Meier. Both natives of Harvey, ND, Mary became an elementary school teacher, and Terry graduated from NDSU with a degree in Architectural Engineering. Mary and all her siblings, four of whom grew up to become teachers, attended St. Anna School. "My desire in restoring St. Anna School," Mary wrote in her nomination, "was to recreate [the era of one-room country schools] and preserve the important role that those schools played" in the history of education in North Dakota.

Built circa 1898, St. Anna's School is architecturally unique. While most country schools were rectangular with three windows on two parallel walls, St. Anna has a bank of five large windows on the east wall to let in the morning light. The roof has a very steep pitch with an offset bell tower entry porch. The attention given to these architectural elements makes it clear that education was important in the eyes of parents and educational leaders in Wells County.

The building served as a rural school until 1960 and continued to be maintained by the St. Anna township board as a meeting and polling place for many years. However, it was eventually abandoned and weather, wildlife, and time took its toll on the building.

The restoration took two years to complete. The original bell tower had been removed, but it was reconstructed and a school bell found and hung in the tower. The wood shingles were uncovered, rotten ones replaced. The interior restoration included re-sanding the floors and salvaging paint chips to return the walls, ceiling, and wood trim to the original colors of the classroom. Then, Mary searched for historically accurate furnishings for the school, including desks, blackboards, and lights. Area residents donated items so that it could be restored to look as it did when Mary attended school there in the 1940s and 1950s.

Mary compiled a booklet in which she documented the history of the school. In July, 2008, the Meiers hosted an open house where former students and teachers were reunited and they plan to make it an annual event.

Photo Credit:
St. Anna School
Color Photos: Mary Meier
Historic Photo: unknown

Success Story Honorable Mention: Bismarck Cathedral Area Historic District - Bismarck, ND

The Bismarck Cathedral Area Historic District is the only residential historic district in Bismarck. It honors 129 residential sites built from the 1880s to the 1940s. It also recognizes the sense of place that one feels when surrounded by the unique built and natural environment, epitomized by the stately elms that frame the Queen Anne, Eclectic, and Modern styles of homes.

The district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, but was threatened by a Washington Street widening project, which would have destroyed 83 mature American elm trees. The ongoing fight between the City of Bismarck and neighborhood activists began in the 1950s. It dragged on until innovative street design options were developed that eliminated the need to destroy such a large number of trees. A conflict resolution design process, the charette, was adapted by the City of Bismarck and neighborhood stakeholders at the urging of Kadrmas, Lee and Jackson, a regional engineering, surveying, planning, and asset development firm. The charette allowed all stakeholders to share in the design of the project along with the engineers and planners.

By awarding this Honorable Mention listing, PND recognizes the outstanding work of those involved in the conflict resolution process, including City Council Member Connie Sprynczynatyk, Mayor John Warford, and KLJ’s design team.