Contact: Jeff Morgan, Jeff.Morgan@iowa.gov, (515) 281-3858

(DES MOINES) – The State Historical Society of Iowa announced today it has awarded $504,895 in 2008 REAP/HRDP grants to 30 organizations across the state for historic preservation, museum and documentary collections projects.

The Historical Resource Development Program (HRDP) is funded by the Resource Enhancement and Protection Act (REAP), passed by the Iowa General Assembly in 1989. Through REAP, local government units, various organizations and private individuals can receive funding for eligible projects. REAP/HRDP provides grants to preserve, conserve, interpret and educate the public about historical resources. The grant awards announced today require organizations to supply matching funds.

At the same time, the Historical Society announced the awards for its 2008 HRDP/Country School Grant program. This program focuses on the preservation of one-room or two-room buildings once used as country schools in Iowa. Four grants were awarded, providing a total of $20,000 in grant funds.

The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs is responsible for developing the state’s interest in the areas of the arts, history and other cultural matters with the advice and assistance from its two divisions: the State Historical Society of Iowa and the Iowa Arts Council. DCA preserves, researches, interprets and promotes an awareness and understanding of local, state and regional history and stimulates and encourages the study and presentation of the performing and fine arts and public interest and participation in them. It implements tourism-related art and history projects as directed by the General Assembly and designs a comprehensive, statewide, long-range plan with the assistance of the Iowa Arts Council to develop the arts in Iowa. More information about DCA is available at www.culturalaffairs.org.

The list of grant awards follows:

2008 HRDP Grant Awards

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
Sullivan Building Foundation, Inc.
Sarah Bierstedt
1709 East Lucas Street
Algona, IA 50511
Thirty-seven base terra cotta tiles on the Algona Land and Loan Office will be replicated and replaced. Repair of other base terra cotta tiles will take place. There will be repointing of the brick mortar and window base terra cotta.
Kossuth County – Restoration of the Base Terra Cotta to the Algona Land and Loan Office
Grant Money: $52,604

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
Amana Arts Guild
Mike Mintle, Director
PO Box 114
Amana, IA 52203
The project involves the removal and replacement of the wooden shingles with new wooden shingles on the Folk-Life building of the Amana Arts Guild Center Complex in High Amana, Iowa.
Iowa County – Reshingle the Amana Arts Guild, Folk Life Center
Grant Money: $8,000

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
City of Ames
Ray Anderson, Project Manager
515 Clark Avenue
PO Box 811
Ames, IA 50010-0811
The City of Ames Historic Preservation Commission intends to hire a consultant to produce a comprehensive historic preservation plan to integrate preservation planning into the city's Land Use Policy Plan.
Story County – 2008 Ames Comprehensive Historic Preservation Plan
Grant Money: $30,000

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
Anamosa Library and Learning Center
Kristy Raine, Grant Writer and Trustee
600 East 1st Street
Anamosa, IA 52205
Discovered in the concrete vault of Anamosa's original library facility in June, 2003, this authentic Civil War battle flag will be preserved and housed in an archival-quality display for future public viewing in the city's new library.
Jones County – The Civil War Battle Flag Preservation Project
Grant Money: $3,000

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
Davis County Courthouse Preservation Fund
Linda Boatman, President
PO Box 136
Bloomfield, IA 52537
This project proposes to continue rehabilitating the courthouse by repairing the east entrance steps; repairing roof flashing to stop leaks into the courtroom; and removing internal drains from the bell room that are leaking into the courtroom.
Davis County – Continuing Rehabilitation of Davis County Courthouse
Grant Money: $36,000

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
Friends of Prairie Center Church
Tom Lundberg
1128 193rd Street
Boone, IA 50036
Project funds will be used to hire a preservation architect who will follow up on a technical assessment to create a Master Plan for Building Stabilization and Rehabilitation. Selective, exploratory construction will reveal the extent of needed repairs.
Dallas County – Stabilization and Rehabilitation Planning to Address Structural Concerns
Grant Money: $10,375

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
African American Historical Museum and Cultural Center of Iowa
Susan Kuecker
55 12th Avenue Southeast
Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
The African American Historical Museum and Cultural Center of Iowa is seeking funding to preserve and interpret the history of Iowa’s largest majority African American coal camp, Buxton, Iowa.
Linn County – Expansion of the African American Historical Museum and Cultural Center of Iowa’s Archive
Grant Award: $3,000

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
African American Historical Museum and Cultural Center of Iowa
Erin Thomas, Education Director
55 12th Avenue Southeast
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
The African American Historical Museum will hire a professional teacher to write a curriculum based on its permanent exhibit "Doorways" which will then be made available to educators statewide.
Linn County – African American Elementary Curriculum
Grant Money: $7,500

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
Appanoose County Historical Society
Linda Zintz
PO Box 384
Centerville, IA 52544-0384
This grant project will reroof the kitchen and jail additions, control storm water, and correct moisture problems inside the historic Appanoose County jail.
Appanoose County – New Roof and Drainage on the Appanoose Jail
Grant Money: $17,400

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
French Icarian Colony Foundation
Saundra Clem Leininger
503 8th Street
Corning, IA 50841
This project will preserve original documents and photos relating to the history of the Icaria Colony and its people, including original colony minutes, newspapers, photographs and other paper documents.
Adams County – Preserving Icaria History
Grant Money: $2,820

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
Putnam Museum of History and Natural Science
Eunice J. Schlichting, Chief Curator
1717 West 12th Street
Davenport, IA 52804
This project will conserve an eagle steamboat figurehead, the signature object in the Putnam Museum's collection. The project includes development of a display about steamboating and featuring this artifact's use, history, and conservation.
Scott County – Conservation and Exhibit of Steamboat Figurehead
Grant Money: $31,800

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
Third and Main Properties, L.C.
Stephen Schalk
310 North Main Street
Davenport, IA 52801
This rehabilitation project will restore and repair the significant terra cotta facades and masonry elements of the south and east facades of the building at 202-220 West 3rd Street in Davenport.
Scott County – Terra Cotta and Masonry Restoration/Repair of 202 West 3rd Street
Grant Money: $40,000

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
Fort Des Moines Museum and Education Center
Heather Hawkins, Exhibit and Collection Coordinator
75 East Army Post Road
Des Moines, IA 50315
A gift of approximately 400 artifacts has been given to the Museum. This grant funding will ensure that the new additions to the permanent collection will be properly managed. The grant will allow these objects to be packed, moved, documented and stored.
Polk County – Permanent Collection Expansion, Moving, Storing and Housing
Grant Money: $910

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
Sherman Hill Association, Inc.
Jim Quilty, President
Mickle Center
1620 Pleasant Street Suite 254
Des Moines, IA 50314
The Sherman Hill Association proposes to conduct an intensive architectural and historical survey, evaluate and prepare documentation of areas of the neighborhood not included in the Sherman Hill Historic District.
Polk County – Sherman Hill Intensive Survey, Evaluation and Documentation
Grant Money: $12,420

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
Terrace Hill Foundation
Brian Browning, Administrator
2300 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50312
This project focuses on archaeological investigation and documentation of grounds at Terrace Hill which may contain historic features such as pathways, a water feature, and building foundations.
Polk County – Historic Path and Water Feature Exploratory Archaeology
Grant Money: $3,400

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
Wallace House Foundation
Ann Taylor
756 16th Street
Des Moines, IA 50314
The Wallace House Foundation will hire a preservation consultant to assess its collection and make short, medium and long-term recommendations for proper cataloging, storage and management.
Polk County – Overall General Collections Needs Assessment
Grant Money: $4,176

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
Hardin County Historic Preservation Commission
Deb Crosser, Executive Director Economic
1442 Washington Street
Eldora, IA 50627
The project will retain the services of a qualified historic preservation professional for the purposes of research and preparation of a National Register nomination for specific portions of downtown Eldora as a Historic District.
Hardin County – National Register of Historic Places Nomination for a Historic District in Downtown Eldora
Grant Money: $12,370

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
Emmetsburg Public Library
Nathan R. E. Clark, Library Director
707 North Superior
Emmetsburg, IA 50536
The applicant proposes to preserve five bound volumes of newspapers by microfilming them, having the microfilm digitized, and preserving the original copies. In addition, preservation of 15 additional volumes that have already been microfilmed is proposed.
Palo Alto County – Preserving Emmetsburg's Newspapers
Grant Money: $1,970

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
Maasdam Barns Preservation Committee
Dick Reed, President
709 South Maple Street
Fairfield, IA 52556
This project will complete Phase 1 for a three-phased project involving the Historic Maasdam Barn Farmstead. The project will complete the rehabilitation of the Mare Barn and Show Barn and complete a Phase 1 archaeological survey.
] Jefferson County – Maasdam Barns Rehabilitation Project
Grant Money: $35,250

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
Blanden Memorial Art Museum
Lindsay E. Shannon, Registrar and Curator
920 3rd Avenue South
Fort Dodge, IA 50501
The Blanden Memorial Art Museum in Fort Dodge will be organizing a 2009 exhibition of artifacts from the women's suffrage movement in Iowa, to honor the 90th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment.
Webster County – Iowa Women's Suffrage Artifact Exhibition, 2009
Grant Money: $20,000

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
Margaret Abolt
Ms. Abolt
2879 Chalk Ridge Road
Fort Madison, IA 52627
The project provides labor and material to repair ornamental plaster damaged by water intrusion. After plaster is repaired, the entry hall and dining rooms will be decoratively painted.
Lee County – Ornamental Plaster Repair of the W. A. Sheaffer House
Grant Money: $7,849

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
Garner Main Street, Inc.
Jill Blank
c/o Garner Chamber of Commerce
211 State Street
Garner, IA 50438-1121
The project will (1) help fund professional assistance for the building's National Register nomination; (2) create a Master Plan for restoration; and (3) reduce the moisture level in the building.
Hancock County – Avery Movie Theatre Nomination and Master Planning
Grant Money: $16,720

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
Iowa Transportation Museum
John Swanson
927 4th Avenue
Grinnell, IA 50112
From 1911 to 1916, the Spaulding Mfg. Co. in Grinnell built 1461 motor cars and a few trucks. In 2005, the Iowa Transportation Museum acquired what remains of the only known Spaulding--a 1913 Model 40. The project will restore this car for exhibit.
Poweshiek County – 1913 Spaulding Automobile Restoration
Grant Money: $33,610

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
Office of the State Archaeologist, University of Iowa
Stephen C. Lensink, Interim Director
Office of the State Archaeologist, University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA 52242
This project will digitize and microfilm 20,603 pages of catalog sheets for 5,588 collections in the official State Archaeological Repository at the Office of the State Archaeologist, University of Iowa.
Johnson County – Preservation of Iowa's Repository Catalog Sheets
Grant Money: $2,810

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
Jackson County Board of Supervisors
Elaine Edwards, Project Director
201 West Platt Street
Maquoketa, IA 52060
This project proposes to repair and replace soffits and fascia, cornice and cornice returns, and chimneys on the historic Jackson County Insane Asylum Building.
Jackson County – Jackson County Insane Asylum Rehabilitation
Grant Money: $9,605

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
Jackson County Historical Society
Bonnie W. Mitchell, Curator
1212 Quarry Street
PO Box 1245
Maquoketa, IA 52060
The Clinton Engines Administration Building was once home to the world's largest producer of small gasoline engines. From Iowa's Most Endangered Properties List to the National Register of Historic Places, it is now undergoing extensive rehabilitation.
Jackson County – Clinton Engines Museum Project
Grant Money: $24,217

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
Golden Hills RC&D
Mary Lou Goettsch
712 South Highway 6
PO Box 189
Oakland, IA 51560
This project is to conduct a preliminary assessment of the currently identified cultural resources of the Loess Hills.
Pottawattamie County – Loess Hills Cultural Resources Study
Grant Money: $45,000

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
Tabor Historical Society
Wanda Ewalt, President
512 Orange Street
PO Box 417
Tabor, IA 51653
The project would establish a system for keeping track of accessions, recording and filing information about accessions, and attaching identification labels to items in the Tabor Historical Society's collection.
Fremont County – Accessions Organization
Grant Money: $5,425

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
Iowa Museum Association
Jennie Bailey, Executive Director
PO Box 65314
West Des Moines, IA 50265
The Iowa Museum Association will coordinate a two-day training program for museum workers at the freshman and sophomore level of museum work, providing hands-on projects in constructing archival storage containers and exhibit mounts.
Polk County – Iowa Museum Association's Hands-On, Take-Home, Exhibit and Collection Institutes
Grant Money: $12,664

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
Henry County Historic Preservation Commission
R. Lindy Chrisinger
410 South Locust Street
Winfield, IA 52659
The Henry County Historic Commission will undertake an intensive level historical and architectural survey of 120 selected properties in Winfield and develop a historic context for Winfield.
Henry County – Intensive Level Survey I of Selected Properties in Winfield
Grant Money: $14,000

2008 Country School Grant Awards

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
DeShon Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution
Barbara J. MacDougall, Regent
1925 150th Street
Boone, IA 50036-7325
The applicant's goal is to restore Cole School, a brick, one-room schoolhouse and move it into Boone where it will be accessible to students and visitors to experience rural Iowa one-room education.
Boone County – Cole School Restoration Project
Grant Money: $5,000

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
European Rural Heritage Institute
Arnold Guyer, Treasurer
PO Box 328
Clermont, IA 52135
Two country schools that are located in the Heritage Farm Park are in need of energy efficiency improvements and repair and/or replacement of windows.
Fayette County – Window Replacement and Insulating Two Country Schools at Heritage Farm Park
Grant Money: $5,000

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
Kevin Frueh
Cindy Frueh
1907 180th Street
Donnellson, IA 52625
The project will hire a stonemason to repair a badly damaged limestone school building. Work includes tearing out a corner of the schoolhouse, replacing footings, and removing and replacing a portion of the foundation. Original limestone will then be relaid.
Lee County – Dover Schoolhouse Restoration Project
Grant Money: $5,000

Applicant, Contact, and Project Description
Chickasaw County Historical Society
Karen Wilson
2729 Cheyenne Avenue
Nashua, IA 50658
The project replaces the temporary cinder blocks currently used as the school's foundation with a permanent concrete foundation. The project also calls for replacing the roof shingles.
Chickasaw County – Stabilization of the Country School Infrastructure
Grant Money: $5,000

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