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Home My WebLink About20090316 - VI-05CITY OF TO: Mayor Paul Hicks HASTINGS City Council Members CITY HALL FROM: Cindy Thury Smith 1014th Street East Curator, Hastings Pioneer Room Hastings, MN 55033-1955 651-480-2350 Fax: 651-437-7082 DATE: March 2, 2009 www.ci.hastings.mn.us cityhall@ci.hastings.mn.us RE: 2008 Annual Report from Pioneer Room Department of Summary: Building Safety 651-480-2342 2008 was a busy year and several big improvements were able to be completed in addition to the usual recordkeeping. Now that 2008 has Engineering/ ended the Obituaries Index can be brought up to date; the next five Planning/HRA/HPC year volume (2004-2008} has been an ongoing project that should be 651-480-2334 completed by May 2009. Due to ill health, the volunteer who has been keeping records on Hastings Weddings has had to bow out and I have been updating and expanding that record base as well. Public works Ses uicentennial Wra u The ear be an with wra m u the q p p' y g pp g p 1225 Progress Drive 651-480-6185 records of and thanking the Sesquicentennial Committee for all their hard work. We had events each month that were open to the public and a publication was completed which the Pioneer Room can Parks 6z Recreation continue to sell for several years. 920 10th Street West 651-480-6175 Historic Needlework Competition: February began with a coop- erative project with the LeDuc House. "Modern Interpretations of Historic Designs" is a needlework competition featuring designs from Police the tissue paper collection of the LeDuc daughters which we have 150 3rd Street East here in the PR. I selected several dozen designs in five different 651-480-2300 motif categories. I met with Heidi Langenfeld and her committee and we whittled the options down to 24. We also set the entry rules for the competition. I scanned in these 24 designs and forwarded them Fire to DCHS where they were put up on their website. Margaret 115 5th Street West Goderstad and I handled publicizing the event through emails. This 651-480-6150 will culminate in a display in June 2009 (which I will be sure to photograph for the PR). Civic Arena 2801 Red Wing Boulevard Display Shelving Installation: In April-May wooden display 651-480-6159 shelving was installed in the hallway outside the PR. Behnke Woodworking did a lovely job making this display shelf look like it was always there. Funding was from the PR donations fund, which Aquatic Center had built up for several years. See attached photos showing 901 Maple street woodworking details on these shelves. _ -~_?_:~~_~~ ``~- '~- 651-480-2392 ° =~ ~ - .~ -~° ~_ Hastings on the Mississippi Women Veterans Display: In May I put up a new photo display on the new shelving; "Women Veterans of Hastings: WWI and WWII" has been a very popular display. It took several months to get these dozen women's histories and I still have another 20+ to go. I asked each woman to complete a questionnaire and allow me to scan a copy of their military service photos. Also in May the PR had another display at the Green Aware Fair, "Historic Ecosystems of Hastings: How We Have Changed." Most of the viewers were really surprised how drastically the Lock and Dam changed the area around Hastings. Alumni Association: In May I compiled a PowerPoint presentation for the Alumni Association. This was 75 photos on the graduating classes through the years gleaned from the annuals and our photo collections. I gave the Alumni Association a copy of the presentation on a disk for their future use. They, in turn, gave the PR two big boxes of various memorabilia, including MANY graduation ceremony programs and photos. Cultural/Architectural Survey for MnDOT: This spring the PR was visited many times by consultants working with MN Dept. of Transportation on planning for the new bridge over the Mississippi. By law they had to do research on the various historical sites where the new bridge might be located. I was able to assist them with information and historical photos on the various areas and I also scanned many photos to disk for them so they could use them in their final reports. They seemed very happy to have access to so much information. Please see the attached letter from Will Stark. Artwork and Renovation: The renovation project in City Hall meant the PR ended up as temporary storage for much of the artwork that had been on the walls in the renovated areas. Melanie M-L requested I distribute artwork around the new lobby area which I did, working in a place for the new City Council photo plus acquiring a few new pieces and a few specially requested pieces. The PR had a very long architectural drawing of the Spiral Bridge which I never had a place to display, but with Melanie's approval (and her budget code) it was double matted and framed for the long wall in one of the meeting rooms. City Website: In the fall I began researching information for short pages to be posted on the City's website. The category, "Faces and Places" features photos and a few paragraphs on notable people and architecture in Hastings. Eventually f hope to have a page for every Historical Registry site and several dozen of our famous citizens online also. Binding Historic Minute Books: In November, after researching pricing on repairing versus recasing of bound volumes, I met with Campbell Logan Bindery in Minneapolis to get an estimate for recasing the original City Council Minute Books. This is an ongoing project. I have submitted an application to the State for possible help in funding this project. If we are selected for a grant it would pay half of the cost. The Grant Review Committee meets April 1, 2009; we hope to hear shortly after that date if we have received this grant. Art Collection and Displaying: Also in November was the 2008 LeDuc Artists Show. This year we had 75% repeat artists and 25% new artists. From this show several new art pieces were purchased by the Art Committee for display in City Hall, including two that the PR purchased for display in the Lobby. This was a cooperative effort with Art Nordstrom, head of the Art Committee. Storage: In December the PR received a new filing cabinet, which might not seem exciting to most people but these extra five drawers allowed me to move ALL the files so there was room to insert your hand and also allowed for better organization of the files. Currently there is probably room for expanding records for another three years. Research Services: Throughout the year I get requests for genealogical and property information and these are very enjoyable for me to research. This year two stood out in my mind: 1. A request from a relative of the Estergreen family who was hoping to compile a family history book. I was able to give biographical information but they seemed particularly pleased with the graphics I shared with them (advertisements for the wagon shop, portrait photos and a scanned in copy of the Sanborn Map showing where the family wagon shop was located). 2. A request from a gentleman who lives out of state in a senior assisted living community. He'd been accused of being senile because he talked about the Spiral Bridge in Hastings, said he'd gone over it when he was young. I copied various information plus several photographs and mailed it to him; I could almost hear him cackling as he received them. BOOKS AND PHOTO COLLECTIONS: In 2008 the Pioneer Room purchased 15 new books (down significantly from 2007 due to more framing expenditures in 2008). Sixty new photographs were added to our biographical portrait files including group photos of the Sesquicentennial Committee and the 2007 City Council, 13 photos of WWII women veterans from Hastings, 46 photos of the entire 1928 graduating class (scanned while the group graduation photo was being repaired), and 3 photos of Dr. Harold Lyon while he was conducting his research in Hawaii. Close to 250 new subject photos were added to our photo collection including: (a) the dedication of the new boat dock on the Mississippi, (b) the remodeling of the railroad bridge over the Vermillion River Gorge, (c) the painting of the second mural on the west wall of 106 Second St. E., (d) a late 19th century photo of Moorhouse's Ladies Furnishings and Fancy Goods Store, (e} the watering trough at Wilson Park circa 1910, (f) a collection of photos showing the repairs on the historic walls running north/south on Vermillion Street taken during summer 2008, (g) photos of Dan Foster diving off the Spiral Bridge in the 1930s. (h) the 2007 residential Preservation Awards nominated houses, (i) installation of rainwater gardens at the LeDuc, and (j) photos from August 1957 showing the interior of the LeDuc House. Please note (d), (e) and (g) above are examples of checking other historic photo collections (in this case MHS) to make sure we have copies of any photos they have that are pertinent to our collections. In 2009 we will be getting close to 50 photos from DCHS and we will be supplying them with photos in return. When DCHS and the PR exchange photos they will be scanned images on disk and we can each print the images out when budgets and time allows. This is a pretty low cost way to expand both our collections. ARTIFACTS COLLECTIONS: Several new artifacts have been added to our collections including: (a) a collection of commencement programs for Hastings High School graduation ceremonies 1918 through 1995 except for 18 years and (b) collection of Smead Co. Christmas cards. One artifact of particular note is the Crazy Quilt sewn for display at the LeDuc House. The reason I mention this quilt is because although it was completed in off hours and with outside help (as was the case of the Streak of Lightening quilt), I was careful to get written consent from all the quilting participants that both of these quilts were to become the property of the City of Hastings and used for display at the LeDuc House. I explained the City owned the LeDuc House but that DCHS ran the tours; I then asked for them to vote who should retain ownership of these two quilts so that there would be no question who owns (and therefore has responsibility for storing) the quilts. This way these quilts, paid for and sewn primarily by Hastings quitters, will remain in the City of Hastings and can occasionally be used for other purposes within City limits. The Crazy Quilt is particularly valuable being all silk and heavily hand embroidered (estimated value of $2,500). Another artifact we were lucky enough to get in 2008 was an original 1918 World War I recruitment poster featuring artwork by Howard Chandler Christy. Dick Darsow donated this poster to be part of the Women Veterans of Hastings display which was set up for Memorial Day. Originally we placed the value at $500 but upon doing more research (this poster is almost mint condition) I would place the value of this poster now at over $2,000. I informed Dick of this increased value and he still wanted to donate it so I grabbed it and had it archivally framed using museum glass. ONGOING PROJECTS: Obituaries Index Hastings Weddings Index Scanning of all Photos (to provide at least a digital negative for every photo) Faces and Places of Hastings webpages Copying Large Maps onto Archival Material Using Engineering's Oce 7055 copier (so we have an image that can be used by the public while the original map is preserved) Current Newspapers (copying to add to subject and biographical files) Begin Working on Replacement Volume for Historic Hastings Handbook (organize a committee, define theme of book, begin collecting photos) Bring Book Library up to date, print out listing (copies to Pleasant Hill Library and DCHS) 2009 PROJECTS: Complete 2004-2008 Obituaries Index, print out a copy and send a copy to DCHS Complete photo exchange with DCHS Complete updating to current Hastings Weddings Index (copy to DCHS) Get bulletin board and artwork mounted on west wall in PR Displays in Rotunda: department oriented displays ... EaE ~R~_NCtc Snn._aF ~.~: i~.c~ .. .. 'tie 'SUS SM1~ ~.~ =.anc.s:.. ..4 a .l ~i.~B.i~~U.~~n ~~Sa~ Snc en~~stc~~ t:~ I~cln and tt - a' Fenc'ns a ,. _ ^9^- od c. - v 6.~: ~nr .an .. Banc ~ s o ~ .. _ dn,9 W tel. ~+. C -n- +.a- .. ~casr!f t!ncause Fc. SM1t'.vorkeC as? Nti.sc 5 4~tlc ~~'~ M1ospnals .n M1sSOl1'~ S Wiscons~r -~ ended So~U~..~r~ r n n e f.Ont min j115Fr. fait n~ ary ~ - _. n - re~:ped M1e'~S oaden he an . eu{loot am d rvitr: tnc~ t: $ Posta: SC~'~CE wf~~r_ Snc w0.+etl toy ntdny v rs {Above). Removable section of display shelf over hallway speaker- (Below) Angled cuts were made near all corners to prevent accidents. IMAGE OF NORMAN ROCKWEI~ PAIN7ING (left) Workers were urgently needed to fill short- ages created eciafl a%pthe production of e tonomy. esp yin rn'litary hardware. These women who wore hard-hats and overalls and operated heavy achinery representetl a radical departure from the « aditional American feminine ideal of housewife and mother. In 1942, a popular song about a patriotic female defense worker called Rosie the Riveter provided the name that became synonymous with this new kind of American woman. Painted for the cover of the May 29, 1943 edition of Thoe S aturo Riveterlbecame aNclassm December 16, 2008 Mayor Paul Hicks Council Member Alongi Council Member Hazlet Council Member Riveness Council Member Schultz Council Member Slavik Council Member Hollenbeck City of Hastings 101 East 4th Street Hastings, Minnesota 55033 Dear Mayor Hicks and Honorable Council Members: I am an architectural historian and was recently contracted by the Minnesota Department of Transportation to conduct an architectural history survey of the area of potential effect for the Hastings Bridge replacement project. This project entailed a survey, and evaluation of National Register eligibility for over 100 buildings, structures and sites in Hastings' downtown and residential neighborhoods. As you know, Hastings has a long and important history, which is vividly illustrated and enhanced by the preservation efforts of the past decades. This recent study, I hope, helped to deepen the understanding of, and appreciation for the city's unique heritage and some of the significant resources. The level of academic research and historic context development in this study, and others, would not have been possible without fine resources and staff of the Hastings Pioneer Room. I have conducted archival work for historic preservation review throughout Minnesota, and to my knowledge, there is no other city of comparable size that has as extensively catalogued its history, and made it available to the public in the way Hastings has. I want to thank, and congratulate the City for its investment in this extraordinary effort and resource. Facilities such as the Pioneer Room help a broad range of researchers interested in local history, and in turn help to position Hastings as a place of cultural importance and interest. This is a true enhancement to your City, and can be used as a unique and valuable tool for heritage preservation. I also want to express my gratitude to the many volunteer researches who compiled and catalogued the information in the Pioneer Room over many years, and also to Cindy Smith, whose knowledge of the City's history, tfie Pioneer Room resources, and general helpfulness was of great assistance to me during this study. Other staff members, including Justin Fortney and John Grossman, kindly provided useful information on the City's heritage preservation efforts. 2840 43rd Avenue South • Minneapolis, Minnesota 55406 • 651.353.2628 • www.starkpreservation.com Stark Preservation Planning LLC December 16, 2008 Again, I want to thank the city for this wonderful resource. I encourage your continued support and enhancement of the Pioneer Room. Sincerely, ~i~l Will Stark Principal Page 2 cc: Cindy Smith Justin Fortney / John 6rossmanv