Historic Hillsboro Landmark Achieves Preservation Goal

Union Block, 2010 Photo Courtesy John TosoA commercial building at the heart of downtown Hillsboro, ND has a new lease on life after completion of a multi-year rehabilitation.  The two story brick building, constructed in 1891 as part of Union Block, had fallen into disrepair in recent years. In 2006, the Hillsboro community spoke out strongly for preservation of this downtown landmark. To this end, a group of volunteers formed Hillsboro Community Partnership (HCP), a nonprofit affiliate of Preservation North Dakota. With tremendous community support, HCP directed a series of repair and stabilization phases.

Steps required in the process included rebuilding the back wall, new roofing, interior joist replacement for the floor, ceiling and roof as well as exterior brick tuck pointing of the elegant storefront architecture. In 2011, energy efficient, historically replicated second story windows were installed to complete the final phase of the Union Block Project for this building.

Known locally as “the former Johnson Store”, for the department store located there from the 1940s through the 1980s, this L-shaped commerce center now has new owners. Amanda and Joe Johnson of Hillsboro will operate Our Town Bakery from this location when their renovations are completed.

Hillsboro Community Partnership will be hosting a walk-through open house at the 3 North Main St. property on Saturday afternoon, February 11, from 2-4 pm. Everyone interested in seeing what’s been accomplished by this community effort is welcome. Free refreshments will include Our Town Bakery goods and will be served at 5 North Main St. where HCP’s rehab work continues.

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.

2011 Honor Awards - Volunteer of the Year

Volunteer of the Year

The Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes an individual for extraordinary dedication to volunteer service in the field of historic preservation in North Dakota.

Marilu Person - Hillsboro, ND
Marilu Person became an advocate for historic preservation when Union Block – a commercial building in downtown Hillsboro – was threatened. She and her husband, Bruce, purchased the building for back taxes and donated it to the newly formed Hillsboro Community Partnership for restoration.

In addition to co-founding HCP and taking on a significant restoration project, Marilu also joined the PND board of directors. Her particular expertise on the PND board focused on the Local Affiliate Program. As the Local Affiliate Coordinator, Marilu helped set up new affiliates, kept the affiliate paperwork updated, and successfully streamlined the program to increase its efficiency and ensure compliance with all IRS regulations.

Marilu continues to serve on the Local Affiliate Committee, the Traill County Historical Society Board of Directors, and, of course, the Hillsboro Community Partnership board of directors. We are pleased to present this award in honor of her dedication to preservation in North Dakota.

Marilu Person

2011 Honor Awards - Artisan Award

 The Preservation North Dakota Honor Awards recognize outstanding achievements and excellence in historic preservation across the state of North Dakota.

Artisan Award

Bradco Restoration, Inc. of Fergus Falls, MN was nominated for their excellence in historic masonry preservation. Notable tuck-point and stone repair projects of theirs include Fargo, North Dakota’s Gardner Hotel, St. Mary’s Cathedral and the former Northern School Supply Building, now known as NDSU’s Renaissance Hall. In 2010, one of Bradco’s projects was masonry storefront restoration of Union Block’s south half in Hillsboro, ND for Hillsboro Community Partnership (HCP).

 The Union Block masonry restoration began with skillful removal of the c.1890s deteriorated mortar. Broken bricks were replaced as the storefronts were re-pointed with tinted mortar that matched the original in color and strength, according to National Park Service standards. The mortar was expertly tooled and finished to match the original. The repairs to cracks and delaminated areas of the storefronts’ sandstone detailing were artistically matched to original color and texture. The restored architectural grandeur of these storefronts can now be enjoyed for decades to come due to the superior craftsmanship of Bradco Restoration, Inc.

Bradco Restoration, Inc. has received the 1989 Craftsman of the Year award by North Dakota American Institute of Architects and 1991 Craftmanship Award by Fargo Heritage Society. Their remarkable expertise is highly deserving of this additional honor.

Union Block - Hillsboro, ND

Union Block - Hillsboro, ND