2011 Grassroots Grant Recipients

The Grassroots Grant Program has been providing funding for historic preservation projects in North Dakota since 2001. Grants generally range from $500 to $5,000, with a total of $18,000 dedicated to the 2011 grant round.

This was another highly competitive grant round. We had over $31,000 in requests, and, after much deliberation, the committee selected eight projects that best demonstrated need and a good overall plan to preserve their prairie places.

Grant applications are made in two categories: Prairie Churches – dedicated to helping historic church buildings, whether or not they currently serve religious purposes, to preserve their unique character; and Prairie Places – open to helping any other kind of structure or place in need of preservation, restoration, or rehabilitation.

We awarded three Prairie Churches grants:

Emmaus Congregational United Church of Christ – Carson, Grant County

Emmaus Congregational UCC received $1,000 to assist with exterior painting. Built in 1912, the church was moved into Carson in 1916. Featuring pointed arch windows and a steeple more reminiscent of a castle than a church, Emmaus is a unique community landmark.

St. Andrew’s Preservation Committee – Zeeland Vicinity, McIntosh County

St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church was built in 1906 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. St. Andrew’s received a $1,725 grant to assist with roof repairs.

A beautiful Colonial Revival church, St. Andrew’s is locally known as “The Beacon on the Prairie.” The church has an active community, including the St. Andrew’s Preservation Committee, which organized for the explicit purpose of providing direction for ongoing preservation, and it has been featured on several tours celebrating the area’s German-Russian culture. You can follow St. Andrew's Preservation Committee on Facebook!

Vang Lutheran Church – Manfred, Wells County

Vang Lutheran Church was built in 1906 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Members received a $3,600 to assist with major roof repairs.

In addition to hosting regular services, Vang Lutheran Church is a contributing property to the Manfred Heritage Museum, hosting exhibit space and community gatherings. For more information about the community of Manfred, visit www.manfrednd.org.

We also awarded five Prairie Places grants:

Hillsboro Community Partnership – Hillsboro, Traill County

Hillsboro Community Partnership is currently in the middle of a multi-phase rehabilitation of the southern half of Union Block, a turn-of-the-century brick commercial building in downtown Hillsboro. Union Block is a significant community landmark, with beautiful storefronts on Main Street and Caledonia Avenue.

After completing major roof repairs, rebuilding the back wall, and turning a caved-in basement into a functional crawl space, HCP has moved on to restoring the fifteen second story windows, of which only two or three are intact. A $4,700 grant from PND is assisting with window restoration.

Johnson-Ostrem Preservation Fund – Manfred, Wells County

Members of Johnson-Ostrem Preservation Fund are restoring the Johnson-Jacobson-Ostrem House in Manfred, ND. Built in 1905, it was home to several prominent local leaders. Upon completion of restoration, the house will be accessioned into the Manfred Heritage Museum and will be used to interpret aspects of local history. Learn more about Manfred by visiting www.manfrednd.org.

A $1,450 grant from PND is assisting with interior repairs and restoration of plaster and lath.

Mayville Campus Preservation Society – Mayville, Traill County

MCPS is currently undertaking a multi-phase rehabilitation of Northwest Hall on the campus of Mayville State University. A former dormitory – among other uses – Northwest Hall will be home to MSU’s Alumni Center.

A $1,050 grant from PND is assisting with the restoration of the copper roof on the west portico.

OPERA, Inc. – Ellendale, Dickey County

OPERA – Organization of People in Ellendale for Restoration of the Arts – is a local non-profit that owns the Ellendale Opera House. Built in 1908, the Ellendale Opera House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and hosts several arts and cultural events each year. Visit www.ellendalend.com and select “Historical Attractions” to learn more.

OPERA was awarded a $2,750 grant from PND to assist with exterior stucco repair.

Wimbledon Community Museum – Wimbledon, Barnes County

The Wimbledon Community Museum is restoring the historic Midland Continental Depot in Wimbledon, ND.

The depot was built in 1903 as a stop for the Midland Continental Railroad, which was intended to be a north-south transcontinental railroad linking grain markets in Winnepeg, Manitoba with sea ports in Galveston, Texas. However, the sixty-seven mile shortline railroad connecting Edgeley, Jamestown, and Wimbledon was as far as it was ever built.

The depot in Wimbledon is the last reminder of this grand, but ultimately unsuccessful plan. It also has connections to Norma Egstrom, a woman more famously known as Peggy Lee, who lived in the depot with her father from 1934 to 1937 while he served as the depot agent.

Wimbledon Community Museum was awarded a $1,725 grant from PND to assist with reconstruction of the boardwalk and exterior painting to return the depot to its original paint colors (cream and green).

If you are interested in applying to the Grassroots Grant Program, check out our website for more information: www.prairieplaces.org. Applications have a postmark date of May 15th each year.

The Grassroots Grant Program is funded by individual donations and corporate gifts; to make a donation to the Grassroots Grant Fund at Preservation North Dakota, contact us at (701) 356-3001 or info@prairieplaces.org, or donate online at www.prairieplaces.org.

"Many Hands Make Light Work" - Work Day at Manfred a Huge Success

On Saturday, May 7th, volunteers from across the state met in the tiny village of Manfred, ND (approximately 80 miles SE of Minot on ND Highway 52) for the first widely-publicized volunteer work day to clean out the 1910 Manfred School and 1899 Solheim House.

With the help of twenty-five volunteers, members of Rural Vestige Alliance (a PND Affiliate) accomplished this enormous task in just under seven hours. Both the school and neighboring house had been used as storage and eventually were abandoned with mounds of "stuff" inside, but this did not discourage RVA members who knew that with a little help, these places could be cleaned out and restored to be one day used again.



1899 Solheim House & 1910 Manfred School



Second floor classroom - before

Second floor classroom - after

Burnable garbage - out the window, into a sturdy farm truck, and headed to the burn pile

The other second floor classroom - before



The other second floor classroom - cleaning up nicely! The football helmets were saved...

In other Manfred news...

The east grain elevator has finally given up the ghost, so to speak. It was demolished shortly before the work day. What a huge change to the landscape...



East grain elevator - Fall 2010




Remains of east grain elevator - Spring 2011




Remains of east grain elevator - Spring 2011




2011 Honor Awards - Preservation Excellence Award

Preservation Excellence Award

The Preservation Excellence Award recognizes excellence in the preservation of an historically significant building, structure, resource, or site that has contributed in a tangible and exemplary manner to furthering preservation in North Dakota.  

Manfred is a small community in Wells County right along ND Highway 52. In 2000, descendants of the original settlers founded Manfred History & Preservation, Incorporated to preserve the community’s history and restore some of the existing buildings. Preservation and restoration efforts in this small community have been so successful that several off-shoots of the original nonprofit have formed through PND’s Local Affiliate Program to take on specific projects. There are now four nonprofit organizations operating in Manfred. As a preservation project concludes, the building is accessioned into the Manfred Heritage Museum Complex.

In addition to the museum complex and the preservation projects, Vang Lutheran Church in Manfred has an active congregation. The members of the various nonprofits continue to help the congregation preserve their beautiful church.

The cooperation among various groups in this small rural community has been instrumental in the success of this ambitious project to preserve and celebrate the heritage of rural America.

1910 Manfred School

1899 Solheim House

2009-2010 Grassroots Grant Site Visits

A few weeks ago I headed out one extremely rainy September morning to conduct site visits for several of our 2009-2010 Grassroots Grant projects. My route took me close to a few past projects and some new areas, so I stopped in on them as well. It was wonderful to see the current projects and talk with the local champions who did the heavy lifting - it's always inspiring! But, after 14 hours and 593 miles (round-trip!), I was happy to be home again.

Manfred, ND
If you've never been to the small town of Manfred, ND, you should really make it a point to go. It's located along ND Highway 52 between Fessenden and Harvey. When you first pull in, head to what's known locally as the Melby-Rogness House, which is the headquarters of Manfred's museum complex. Several nonprofits have incorporated under PND's Local Affiliate Program to save various architectural gems and dedicate them into the museum complex. It truly is an authentic settler's village.

Rural Vestige Alliance, one of Manfred's four nonprofits, received a $2500 2009 Prairie Places Grassroots Grant from PND to assist with roof repair and new shingles for the Manfred School and Solheim House.

Manfred School

Solheim House

Melby Heritage Alliance, another member of PND's Local Affiliate Program, is currently working on the preservation of Hotel Johnson in Manfred. The hotel was built in 1906 and originally had a two-level board walk running the length of the building. Over time, the building has settled, so installing a more modest one-level boardwalk was the only feasible way to reconstruct this important element of the hotel. Accessibility was also taken into consideration, so a ramp was included on the south end of the boardwalk. Eventually, the hotel's windows will be restored and the first floor windows will feature shadow boxes with interpretive displays.

Hotel Johnson's boardwalk - Manfred

Hotel Johnson - Manfred

While in Manfred, I learned that both grain elevators in town are currently threatened. The eastern most elevator is slated for demolition this fall. The western elevator is for sale, and while everyone is hoping for the best, it too will likely be lost in the near future. Manfred's landscape will be forever changed.

East Elevator - Manfred

West Elevator - Manfred

Egeland, ND

Egeland is a small town in Towner County. Egeland Presbyterian Church closed in 2006 and is now home to the Towner County Historical Society. The church is often used for weddings, special services, and community events, as well as housing TCHS's collections. The steeple received repair and new shingles assisted by a $2,000 Prairie Churches Grassroots Grant from Preservation North Dakota.

For Fun...

Here's some photos I took along the way.

Gazebo - Wells County Fair Grounds The Wells County Fair Grounds was built as a WPA project and is listed on the National Register. The fair board is planning to preserve the gazebo.

Viking Lutheran Church - rural Maddock, ND Viking Lutheran Church received a $3000 Prairie Churches Grassroots Grant from PND in 2004 to assist with repair & repainting, including the steeple. Viking Lutheran is one of the most elaborate wood frame churches in the state.



North Trinity Lutheran Church - near Nash, ND North Trinity was built in 1893 and is listed on the National Register. In 2006, they received a $7,000 Prairie Churches Grant from Preservation North Dakota to assist with steeple repair, repainting, and new shingles. The church is best known for a long-standing Christmas Eve tradition of rining the bells; parishoners call family members who have moved away on their cell phones so they can hear the bells tolling.



West Side Drive In - Grafton Once popular, drive ins are quickly disappearing from our cities and towns. More research is needed, but I thought this Grafton drive in was charming!

Twin Strand Theatre - Grafton This was my first trip through Grafton, and I was truly impressed with the town. Movie theatres have been the topic of much discussion lately, and so I've added this one to our photo collection.