Fresh air, open spaces and good food. When it came to treating tuberculosis in the early part of the 20th century, that’s just what doctors ordered.

And that’s probably why the state of Minnesota built the Aw-Gwah-Ching complex, the state’s first center for the treatment of TB, on a piece of wind-swept Cass County land next to a massive freshwater lake filled with bass, walleye and Northern Pike.

Located 200 miles north of the Twin Cities in Shingobee Township, near the shores of Leech Lake, Aw-Gwah-Ching took on a new mission about 46 years ago when it became a state-run regional treatment center and nursing home.

Last year, Aw-Gwah-Ching marked its 100th anniversary, an impressive milestone for the historic buildings that account for 250,000 square feet of building space on a 170-acre campus.

But the campus’ days are numbered.

The treatment center officially closed a month ago. Cass County officials are making plans to quickly demolish all 22 buildings on the campus, making way for a $34 million hospital and other uses.he county’s plans are well known - but not universally appreciated.

The Aw-Gwah-Ching buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places, and Twin Cities preservation officials contacted for this story were surprised to hear that demolition appears to be on the fast track.

Britta Bloomberg, the deputy state historic preservation officer at the State Historic Preservation Office, said Ah-Gwah-Ching has enormous architectural and historical significance and that it demonstrated the state’s “acceptance of responsibility” for treating tuberculosis.

“It’s a real tragedy that they are going forward to demolish a property of this importance,” she added. “It is truly an exceptional property.

“Facilities like this were built in pastoral, rural settings. The buildings tell a unique story about how people that were suffering from TB were cared for. It’s a really impressive historical ocomplex.”

The county, which is in the process of acquiring 75 acres of the Ah-Gwah-Ching property from the state for $1, is seeking bids for demolition, excavation, grading and other site work to prepare for the new development.

“We hope to have hard bids or very refined estimates on each project element by June 3,” said Robert Yochum, Cass County’s administrator. “And if the numbers come in the way we want them to, our board will consider accepting 75 acres from the state and we will proceed with our reuse plan.”

Higher-than-expected bids could put the land acquisition on hold. The county board will make a final determination to buy based on the numbers that come out of the bids and estimates for demolition and utilities, according to Larry Wolfe, Cass County chief financial officer.

The 2008 state bonding bill includes $400,000 for demolition and $1.9 million for sewer and water connections related to the project. Previously, the state approved $4 million for an engineering study.

Renee Geving, director of the Cass County Museum and Historical Society, understands that the county needs health care services. It’s one of the few counties in Minnesota that doesn’t have a community hospital.

Still, she’s sorry that the end is near for what she calls an “impressive old bunch of buildings” with thick, sturdy walls.

“It always hurts to see history go, because you can’t regain it,” Geving said. “Once it’s gone, it’s gone. And that really tugs at me.

“It’s an economic and an emotional impact,” she added. “A lot of the people in this area were there themselves or had family members there. … They have a lot of ties and it’s hard to let it go.”

Dwindling numbers

Designed by state architect Clarence Johnston, Ah-Gwah-Ching includes a “complex of residential cottages” that represent “a variety of revival styles,” according to a 2003 report from the Minnesota Historical Society.

Ah-Gwah-Ching - like Fergus Falls State Hospital, the Willmar Regional Treatment Center and other state-run health care buildings - was a symbol of civic pride, the report noted.

Activity at Aw-Gwah-Ching’s campus peaked in the 1920s, when it served about 300 patients. It included large dormitory-style buildings and congregate dining areas for its live-in patients.

“And that was certainly pre-air conditioning,” Yochum said. “They were set up with cross-ventilation. You opened the windows, winter and summer, and let the wind blow through and fed people well and hoped they recovered.”

In 1962, Ah-Gwah-Ching altered its mission and became a regional treatment center for “people with challenging behaviors who require nursing home level of care,” according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

It was a niche that succeeded for a while. But with the emergence of group homes and other smaller, community-based alternatives, Ah-Gwah-Ching and other state facilities saw their resident populations dwindle.

As of February, only 10 patients remained at Aw-Gwah-Ching; the facility discharged its last patient about a month ago.

Knowing that the center’s days were numbered, preservationists have tried for years to find new uses for the buildings. The state and the county commissioned several reuse studies.

One of the challenges was finding a willing user for a far-flung, sprawling campus that would likely require major retrofits.

“That was about a two-year process of trying to figure out if anybody was interested in reusing the buildings,” Yochum said. “And the answer was, ‘No.’ You have buildings that were built for a very specific purpose.

“And now the state of Minnesota has decided they don’t want to be in the nursing home business, at least in a campus environment.”

In the end, the campus “served its purpose and we should celebrate that,” Yochum said.

Some of the history will be spared. The county has taken steps to preserve certain artifacts from the buildings, including a collection of artwork produced by locals through the federal Depression-era Works Progress Administration program.

In addition, a “historic photo record” of the complex has been created, as well as a narrative history that’s housed in the state archives, according to Bloomberg.

She’s said it’s a “tragedy” to see the loss of Ah-Gwah-Ching on the horizon, but she clings to a hope that the buildings may yet be saved.

“It’s hard to know how you begin to count the cost of that loss,” she said, “because it can’t be brought back. … Our hope is, ‘Is there any way there can be one last effort?’ Our hope would be that demolition be delayed as long as possible.”

Answer: They are all listed on the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota’s 2008 Ten Most Endangered Historic Places List. On Thursday May 1, 2008 the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota officially unveiled the list with a press conference held in Minneapolis’ Peavey Plaza, one of the sites on this year’s list.

This list, the 15th annual compilation the Alliance has released, profiles the state’s most endangered historic sites. The Ten Most Endangered program is designed to spotlight historic properties that face imminent danger through demolition, neglect, severe alteration, or inappropriate public policy. Through this program the Alliance seeks favorable outcomes that can be achieved through a preservation approach.

The Ten Most Endangered Historic Places are selected from nominations submitted by citizens and groups from around the state. The selection committee is comprised of preservation professionals representing the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota; State Historic Preservation Office; Minnesota Historical Society; Historic Saint Paul; Preserve Minneapolis; the Historic Resources Committee of the American Institute of Architects-Minnesota; and the Minnesota advisors to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The 2008 Ten Most Endangered Historic Places List includes:
* St Louis County Jail, Duluth
* Historic Mantorville Normal School, Mantorville
* McGrath Old State Bank, McGrath
* Layman’s/Pioneer and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery, Minneapolis
* Oakland Apartments, Minneapolis
* Peavey Plaza, Minneapolis
* St. Anthony Falls Historic District Archaeological Resources, Minneapolis
* Floral Hall (Olmsted County Fairgrounds Building #31), Rochester
* St. Matthews (Rock of Ages) Evangelical Lutheran Church, St. Paul
* Buch House, Shakopee

* For detailed information regarding each specific property, please refer to the “2008 Ten Most Endangered” Page, found under the “Programs” tab on our homepage!

Ten Most Endangered Resources:
2008 Ten Most Endangered Brochure - This brochure accompanies a traveling exhibit that traverses Minnesota throughout the year in promotion of the Ten Most Endangered Program. Designed by Drumminhands Design and sponsored by Kodet Architecture and Pioneer Photography, the 2008 Ten Most Endangered Brochure is a great resource that concisely highlights each property, the specific threat and potential positive outcomes for the property.

2008 Ten Most Endangered Media Kit - The Alliance has assembled a media kit that you can use in your community to promote preservation and the Ten Most Endangered List. This Media Kit includes
* 2008 Ten Most Endangered Short Press Release
* 2008 Ten Most Endangered Detailed Press Release
* Preservation Alliance of Minnesota Ten Most Endangered Process Statement
* Complete “Saved or Lost”Listing of all Ten Most Endangered Properties
* Preservation Alliance of Minnesota Organizational Statement
* Downloadable photos and previous Ten Most Endangered Lists

What can you do to help Minnesota’s historic resources? By joining as a member of the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota, you can be assured that you are among hundreds throughout Minnesota who are concerned about our historic resources and are dedicated to preserving, protecting and promoting our history. Join online today (under the “get involved” tab on our homepage), we would love to have you as a member!

WINONA, Minn. - Winona authors Dr. Greg Gaut and Marsha Neff received the David Stanley Gebhard Award from the Minnesota Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians at their annual meeting and banquet on March 26 at the Minnesota Humanities Center in St. Paul.

The Gebhard Award is given biannually to the best book or article on the subject of Minnesota’s built environment. The major criterion is how well the work strikes a balance between scholarship and accessibility. Their prize-winning article, titled “‘Save the Lady’ - The Struggle for the Winona County Courthouse,” appeared in Minnesota History, Vol. 59, No. 7 (Winter 2005-2006).

In the article, Gaut and Neff provide an extensive history of the Winona County Courthouse and examine why the courthouse has been at the center of one of the state’s longest battles regarding the historic preservation of a public building. The couple detail the reasons why some Winonans in the ’50s and ’60s fought to restore the courthouse, while others thought its Victorian architecture made the town look “old fashioned.” The article also recounts a second controversy over whether or not to repair the building in 2000 after a fourth-floor ceiling collapsed, breaking water pipes and flooding the building.
Gaut serves as an associate professor in the Saint Mary’s University Department of History, and Neff is the grants development coordinator for Mercy Medical Center, North Iowa.

To order the complete article, go to http://www.mnhs.org/market/mhspress/MinnesotaHistory/backissues.html

For more information on the David Stanley Gebhard Award, visit http://www.mnsah.org/gebhard.php

Employment with the City of Minneapolis offers the opportunity to advance your career while working on a variety of real-world projects that help affect positive change for residents, businesses, and visitors to Minneapolis and the surrounding region. For more information, see www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/jobs/docs/faq.pdf

Please contact Jack Byers at (612) 673-2634 with further questions.

http://www.preservationaction.org

The Alliance’s annual Ten Most Endangered Historic Places List marks its 15th anniversary in 2008. This year’s list will be announced on Thursday, May 1 in commemoration of the start of National Preservation Month.

Saving Sacred places: St. Rose blossoms again

Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN

By Heather J. Carlson

KENYON — It’s a story that still captivates Jill Palof.

In the 1870s, a small but dedicated group of Irish immigrants settled in Cherry Grove Township and, stone by stone, built St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church.

Palof believes that history is worth preserving.

“We want to be able to save the building for future generations to be able to share the story of Irish immigration to Goodhue County,” she said, “so that people can walk and touch and see inside a place that was built by the hands of people who left their homeland to come here.”

St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church is among the growing number of abandoned rural churches in Minnesota and across the country in danger of disappearing. There is the story of Rice Lake Methodist Church, which sits in the Dodge County ghost town of Rice Lake. It was built in 1878 and appeared destined to be demolished. But residents in the mid-1970s joined together to buy the building and in recent years have begun to restore it, recently installing a new foundation. Then there is Westfield Lutheran Church near Blooming Prairie. The once abandoned church now hosts special services three times a year that draw standing-room only crowds.

“It makes me feel good to see people come,” said Evelyn Trom, one of the residents who has worked to save Westfield Lutheran.

A major challenge to these preservation efforts is often a lack of state and federal grants available. Religious institutions frequently do not qualify for these government funds because of separation of church and state, said Bob Jaeger, executive director of Partners for Sacred Places, a national, nonprofit dedicated to helping save religious structures. Jaeger said it can also be a challenge convincing other donors — especially corporations — to support these preservation efforts.

“The religious scene in America is very fractured. We’re so divided and split up, it’s a task to convince folks that many of these places are in fact public resources and that we all depend on them and we all have a stake in them,” Jaeger said.

Since 1989, Partners for Sacred Places has been working with congregations and church leaders to save these buildings. In the Twin Cities, the nonprofit teamed up with the local Lutheran Synod and worked with 10 congregations to help preserve aging urban churches. The group is now hoping to expand those efforts statewide.

A key part of the nonprofit’s training for congregations often centers on helping parishioners understand the importance of showing others the church’s broader significance.

“We emphasize learning and articulating the story of why this place is special, why this has a larger value and why people should care so that you are not appealing simply to those 50 people who left,” he said. “You are also appealing to your neighbors, former members who have moved on, business people nearby and others who, if they hear this story can absolutely agree, this is a place they want to see stay open.”

That is an approach that seems to be working for those trying to save St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. Six years ago, the 130-year-old limestone church was placed on the state’s Ten Most Endangered Historic Properties list by the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota. Since then, a group of residents has founded the nonprofit Friends of St. Rose to save the building. The group began researching the church’s history and discovered its importance in telling the Irish immigrant story in Goodhue County. The members even persuaded Archbishop Harry Flynn to allow the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis to sell the church to the nonprofit for $1.

The Friends of St. Rose have since been busy fundraising and repairing the vacant church. Improvements have included plastering and painting the Sanctuary, installing new cement steps outside the Sacristy and re-shingling the roof. In November, a new furnace was installed. The group now is hoping to restore the church’s ceiling and windows.

Palof, a Catholic who lives a mile from the church, said the group’s goal is to preserve the church so it can be used for weddings, funerals and other special events. The nonprofit’s vice chair said that restoring the church is also a way to honor the faithful who built it.

She added, “The past parishioners have always been my greatest motivation — to continue the memory of people who are buried at St. Rose and not let their work fall apart.”
This article, with pictures and interactive media, can be found online on the Rochester Post Bulletin’s website - www.postbulletin.com

Preservation Alliance of Minnesota is One of 24 Partners Sharing in $5 Million in Grants to Strengthen Local Preservation Efforts

FEBRUARY 28, 2008 (ST. PAUL, MINN) – The National Trust for Historic Preservation yesterday announced the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota (Alliance) will receive a $110,000 Partners in the Field matching grant to deliver preservation information and provide technical assistance throughout the state. Twenty-four organizations nationally were selected as recipients of the inaugural, multi-year Partner in the Field grants. Funds will be used to expand the scope of on-the-ground field services and assistance to property owners, developers, local officials, and others needing information and tools to protect and enhance their communities.

The Alliance, based in St. Paul, was eligible to apply for the new matching grants because it is one of more than 100 Statewide and Local Partners of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Partners program, created in 1993, helps emerging and established state and local nonprofit preservation organizations by providing organizational development assistance, grant support, specialized workshops and training, information resources, and networking opportunities.

“Our statewide and local partners, including the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota, are at the creative forefront of preservation in the 21^st century,” said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “Preservation fosters innovative solutions to complex problems. Our Partners in the Field matching grants will help our network of preservation organizations across the country use proven tools to save places and revitalize communities.”

“Minnesota has a long-held and highly valued tradition of grassroots activism and public process,” said Will Stark, Alliance Board Chair. “The Alliance is thrilled about the opportunity to nurture more local preservation efforts, and make our support and advice more widely available to members and organizations throughout the state.”

Partners in the Field challenge grants are funded by a $5 million gift to the National Trust for Historic Preservation from the Robert W. Wilson Charitable Trust and matched by significant contributions from local donors and foundations. The three-year grant through Partners in the Field will enable the Alliance to hire a third full-time staff person specifically dedicated to field services. The Alliance has already raised $75,000 toward its $110,000 goal. “We’ve been overwhelmed by the support from our donors in undertaking this challenge. They share our excitement for the opportunity to provide increased services across Minnesota,” said Bonnie McDonald, Alliance Executive Director. The Alliance anticipates having its match in place by the end of March, 2008. The new Field Representative is expected to be hired in summer, 2008 and will work closely with the National Trust’s Midwest Office in Chicago.

A total of $3 million was awarded in the first round of the new grant program, with another $2 million to be awarded next year. Round one awards ranging in size from $60,000 to $150,000 went to:

· APVA Preservation Virginia, $105,000, to provide hands-on technical assistance in local communities throughout Virginia;

· Bosco-Milligan Foundation (Portland OR), $150,000, to launch a new initiative of field services and technical assistance to meet critical preservation challenges in Portland;

· Center for Desert Archaeology (Tucson), $111,500, to expand the scope of historic preservation and conservation easement programs across the Southwest;

· Cleveland Restoration Society, $147,000, to provide preservation assistance and access to low-interest rehabilitation loans to homeowners throughout Northeast Ohio and statewide;

· Galveston Historical Foundation, $147,000, to educate the public to better prepare for natural disasters, work with lead-based paint and increase energy efficiency in historic buildings;

· Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, $140,000, to preserve more historic buildings, houses and structures throughout Georgia and use preservation field services as a catalyst for economic development;

· Heritage Alliance of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, $70,000, to expand field services to address unmet needs for hands-on preservation technical assistance;

· Historic Augusta (GA), $120,000, to provide expanded field services in the Greater Augusta area that incorporates preservation into community planning and development;

· Historic Boston, Inc., and Boston Preservation Alliance, $150,000, to collaborate in providing comprehensive neighborhood outreach and preservation services to 19 Boston Main Streets districts;

· Historic Denver, Inc., $122,000, to offer technical support and preservation services to historic communities and homeowners in Denver and its first ring suburbs;

· Historic Hawaii Foundation, $150,000, to deliver on-site technical preservation assistance and information services to rural and isolated communities on each of the major islands;

· Historic Savannah Foundation (GA), $90,000, to work with city government to bring preservation field services and technical expertise to underserved, threatened historic residential neighborhoods;

· Knox Heritage (TN), $97,500, to provide preservation field services in a nine-county Greater Knoxville region and increase regional preservation activities;

· Los Angeles Conservancy, $140,000, to expand historic preservation work and foster community-based preservation leadership in Los Angeles‘ Latino community;

· Michigan Historic Preservation Network, $75,000, to support a new, full-time preservation field representative working throughout the state, including the Upper Peninsula;

· Missouri Preservation, $125,000; to provide direct preservation field services and technical support throughout the state of Missouri;

· Montana Preservation Alliance, $150,000, to expand Most Endangered activities into a grassroots preservation program in collaboration with other state and national partners;

· Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, $150,000, to provide expanded preservation services to African American neighborhood organizations and homeowners;

· Preservation Alliance of Minnesota, $110,000, to deliver preservation information and provide technical assistance throughout the state of Minnesota;

· Preservation Maryland, $120,000; to provide expanded preservation field services to communities on Maryland’s Eastern Shore;

· Preservation Massachusetts, $127,500, to expand preservation field services to Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket;

· Preservation North Carolina, $125,000, to establish full-time urban preservation services and work on preservation issues in North Carolina’s capital city, Raleigh;

· Preservation Pennsylvania, $150,000, to provide direct technical assistance and hands-on preservation expertise to communities throughout Pennsylvania;

· Preserve Rhode Island, $127,500, to establish an on-the-ground field services program in Rhode Island.

About the National Trust for Historic Preservation

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a non-profit membership organization bringing people together to protect, enhance and enjoy the places that matter to them. By saving the places where great moments from history – and the important moments of everyday life – took place, the National Trust for Historic Preservation helps revitalize neighborhoods and communities, spark economic development and promote environmental sustainability. With headquarters in Washington, DC, nine regional and field offices, 29 historic sites, and partner organizations in all 50 states, the National Trust for Historic Preservation provides leadership, education, advocacy and resources to a national network of people, organizations and local communities committed to saving places, connecting us to our history and collectively shaping the future of America’s stories. For more information visit www.PreservationNation.org.

About the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota

The Preservation Alliance of Minnesota is the statewide, nonprofit historic preservation advocacy and education organization. Our mission-driven services empower local leaders across Minnesota with the tools needed to protect significant historic resources. The Alliance was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 1981 by Minnesota citizens concerned about the future of the state’s architectural and cultural landmarks. The Alliance has grown into a network representing thousands of voices across the state. Beyond our membership, we collaborate and partner with organizations and agencies from the local to the national local level. For more information, visit our website at www.mnpreservation.org.

Art Space Could Come to southern Minnesota by Cristina Frank
KIMT News 3

 Albert Lea - A creative place for artists could be coming to southern Minnesota. Some hope a fresh coat of paint will make the downtown more vivid. And this could all be coming to Albert Lea.

While attending a historic preservation conference in Saint Paul, she thought a non-profit group called “Art Space” could help Albert Lea.”Decided that this is something that could really help grow the art scene in Albert Lea. And they have this incredible way of helping an economy. And we have the buildings, so it seemed like a good fit,” Crane said.

“So that’s really the biggest economic push for the community is that we bring in 30 or 40 people to live in our downtown. Which automatically creates a need for different business,” Albert Lea City Manager Victoria Simonsen said.

In the beginning of May, ”Art Space” will be coming to downtown Albert Lea to check out several buildings for the project. One of those locations is the Freeborn Bank Building. Some say the project could bring more life and energy to Albert Lea’s downtown.”Are known for our galleries and our creativity and a tourist economy that is both recreational and cultural. And I do believe we can have it all here,” Crane said. After the groups visit in May, the city will decide if the project will go ahead. Albert Lea’s City Manager says tax credits and low income housing funds will pay for the project.