Architectural Salvage - Preservation Alliance of Minnesota

Published by the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota “to preserve, protect, and promote Minnesota’s historic resources.”
March - April 2009
Architectural Salvage
Preservationist
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Volume 12, Number 2
March - April 2009
Published bimonthly by the
Preservation Alliance of Minnesota
219 Landmark Center
75 W. Fifth Street
Saint Paul, MN 55102-9775
651-293-9047
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.mnpreservation.org
Board of Directors
Claire Stokes, Saint Paul, Chair
Amy Douma, Minneapolis, Vice Chair
Donna Stevermer, Farmington, Treasurer
Todd Nelson, Saint Paul, Secretary
Jeff rey Allman, Rochester
Laura Faucher, AIA, Minneapolis
Timothy Griffin, Saint Paul
David Kelliher, Minneapolis
Mary Alice Kopf, Minneapolis
Renay Leone, Excelsior
Michael Logan, Minneapolis
Ann Meyer, Farmington
Ron Schirmer, Ph.D., Mankato
Robert Schmitz, Minneapolis
Sarah Voigt, Lake Elmo
Lyssa Washington, Minneapolis
Mary Wingerd, Ph.D., Saint Paul
JeriLynn Young, Minneapolis
Ex-Officio
Nina Archabal*, Saint Paul
Britta Bloomberg, Saint Paul
Will Stark**, Minneapolis
Carolyn Sundquist**, Duluth
Honorary Director
Richard T. Murphy, Saint Paul
Staff
Bonnie McDonald, Executive Director
Erin Hanafin Berg, Field Representative
Kelli Andre, Administrative Assistant
Marvel Anderson, Volunteer Coordinator
Editing Team
Kelli Andre, Editor
Daniel Abrahamson, Design
Contributors to this Issue
Nicole Becken, Erin Hanafin Berg, Roger
Brooks, Amanda Kolson Hurley, Cynthia
Kriha, Bonnie McDonald, Bill Morgan,
Doug Ohman, Curt Richter, Katherine
Scott, Claire Stokes
*State Historic Preservation Officer
**Advisor to the National Trust
for Historic Preservation
The Preservation Alliance of Minnesota is a private,
nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization dedicated to preserving,
protecting, and promoting Minnesota’s historic resources.
The Alliance is a Statewide Partner of the National
Trust for Historic Preservation. Views expressed in the
Minnesota Preservationist do not necessarily reflect the
position of the Alliance or its board of directors.
2
Chair’s View
By Claire Stokes
Salvage professionals, we salute you!
When buildings aren’t saved, can’t be saved,
or are altered, it’s good to know that not all
need be lost. This issue of The Minnesota
Preservationist takes an upbeat look at the
downside of dismantling historic places,
and we hope this issue broadens your
preservation horizons and you gain an
appreciation for architectural salvage.
As you read this, the Alliance will be
entering the third month of our 36-Month
Strategic Direction Plan (2009–2011). I am
please to report that we are already working
on a number of the goals identified in the
plan. Let me share our activities in two areas
that will shape and benefit preservation in
Minnesota.
The Alliance was created in 1981 primarily
to advocate for the protection and
preservation of historic places in
Minnesota. Advocacy remains one of our
three most important areas of focus, but
we also identified the strategic importance
of growing tools for preservation in
Minnesota. This is not new for us, but our
strategic planning process clearly identified
this as a primary activity for the Alliance in
the coming years.
Minnesota needs a State Rehabilitation
Tax Credit program. States with rehabilitation tax credits use them to great advantage in saving historic infrastructure and
contributing to the economic vitality of
communities. A tax credit will increase the
tax base for Minnesota. In light of the state’s
budget deficit we are proceeding with caution in this legislative session to reintroduce
a rehabilitation tax credit bill. The Alliance
has been working on this effort since 1999,
and we won’t give up on this important piece
of legislation. Keep tuned on this one!
Claire Stokes, Chair
Another needed critical tool is a statewide
Main Street Program. The Alliance has
been working with our partners over the
past year to study how best to implement
this program. This year we move forward
with an organizational structure that
includes two Minnesota Main Street
Committees – an Advisory Committee
and a smaller Steering Committee. The
Steering Committee will work to design a
Main Street Program and will seek funding
for the program. The Alliance will function
as the umbrella organization for the Main
Street Program as it takes shape and the
operational funding is secured.
The Alliance will keep you informed of progress on these and other efforts to build tools
that incentivize preservation in Minnesota.
Watch for updates here, on our website,
and in the Minnesota Historic Preservation
E-Newsletter. If you are not currently receiving the E-Newsletter, contact Kelli Andre
at [email protected] to be added
to the distribution list. This monthly communication has recent news and upcoming
event listings. It’s a great way to stay connected to the preservation community.
Claire Stokes
Chair
The Minnesota Preservationist
Editor’s Notes
By Kelli Andre
M
uch like an onion, preservation is a layered profession.
One layer is advocacy, another is preservation policy, and
still another is physical preservation work. In issues past, The
Minnesota Preservationist has highlighted these more common
preservation topics. In this issue however, we turn to the lesser
discussed, but equally important - and interesting - topic of
architectural salvage.
Architectural salvage is somewhat of a catch-22, in that salvaging
saves remnants of our heritage, but at the same time, salvage is only
possible because our built heritage is being destroyed. Personal
opinions on salvage vary. There are those that tout the practice
as a final way to save pieces of our heritage from buildings and
structures slated for demolition. They believe it is best to save what
you can from a building that is going to be demolished, rather than
see re-usable items be resigned to a landfill. Then there are those
that fear that architectural pieces are being removed from historic
buildings that are vacant, waiting for reuse, or not necessarily
going to be torn down. The loss of historic integrity to both the
building and the salvaged pieces are of utmost concern.
On the Cover
S
tained glass windows are common examples of
treasures that can be found at local salvage stores,
like this window from Architectural Antiques in
Minneapolis. Architectural salvage is a controversial
topic in preservation and both the pros and cons are
discussed at length in the following pages.
Photo by Roger Brooks, 2009.
National Register Nominations
Historic Tax Credit Applications
Cultural Resource Surveys
Section 106 Compliance
Exhibits and Interpretation
HABS/HAER Documentation
Archival Research
Historic Landscape Reports
HESS ROISE
100 North First Street
Minneapolis MN 55401
612-338-1987
www.hessroise.com
With today’s current economic climate and troubled housing
market, salvage has taken a new twist, as stories of vacant homes
being stripped of their copper piping, or stories of homeowners
selling off architectural fixtures for quick cash, become more
prevalent. Check out eBay or Craigslist right now and you will
discover that the market is flooded with such pieces. But not
all salvage is bad. Salvage yards that are legitimately authorized
to salvage are reporting higher demand for their products as
homeowners and property owners turn to salvage warehouses
looking for authentic pieces, such as doors and windows to use in
the restoration of their own properties.
Whether you like, dislike, or the jury is still out on salvage,
we hope you appreciate this issue. Two feature articles from
practicing salvagers are contrasted with articles that discuss
both the pros and the cons of the industry to give a well-rounded
overview of the topic. While we at The Minnesota Preservationist
are not advocating for or against salvage, we hope that this issue
sheds some much needed light on the topic and encourages you to
discover more.
Kelli Andre
Editor
March - April 2009
3
S
tanding tall admit piles of clutter, it instantly caught my eye, its
cool bronze and steel and glass throwing off the dim afternoon
light. Its lines were impossibly sleek, its details stylish and vaguely
Oriental. I was smitten. But taking it home would have cost $15,000,
far more than I could afford.
This Old
Stuff:
Architectural
Salvage enters the
Mainstream
By Amanda Kolson Hurley
This article originally appeared
in the July/August 2006
edition of The National Trust
for Historic Preservation’s
“Preservation” magazine.
Reprinted with permission
4
My crush that day was on an art deco ticket booth. I encountered
it the way many Americans come upon similar objects: during a
weekend browse through an architectural salvage warehouse. In
Baltimore, where I live, the biggest salvage operation by far is Second
Chance, Inc., a nonprofit that has more than 100,000 square feet
of salvage warehouse space behind the city’s professional football
stadium. Founded in 2002, Second Chance has grown into one of
the leading salvage businesses on the East Coast and now employs
more than 30 people.
The ticket booth, I later learned, had been plucked from the
Convention Hall at the Philadelphia Civic Center, an imposing
art deco landmark built in 1931. The hall--where FDR received
the nomination for his second term as president--was razed
last year. But not before the University of Pennsylvania Health
System, which owned the building and whose expansion led to the
demolition, awarded Second Chance a contract to salvage the hall’s
rich interior.
Last January, shadowing local union workers who showed them how
to handle certain architectural elements, Second Chance trainees
gleaned multicolored terra-cotta, oversized light fixtures, and
leaded-glass windows from the hall, abandoned more than 15 years
ago. By any standard, the yield was incredible. Yet it could have been
more substantial, said Second Chance’s executive director, a brawny,
friendly man named Mark Foster.
As we chatted in his Baltimore office one morning, Foster explained
why. Although Penn Health System had granted Second Chance
permission to salvage, once the demolitionists showed up, ownership
of the building immediately transferred to them. (This arrangement
is typical.) And time is money in the wrecking trade: The demo guys
generally don’t want to wait around while salvagers cherry-pick more
decorations. Salvagers, meanwhile, have to prioritize and be realistic
about what they can and can’t save. Foster still talks wistfully about
the carved limestone arches at the Civic Center that his crew simply
didn’t have time to take down.
Why do developers, homeowners, and institutions like Penn Health
System seek out Second Chance? To limit the historical losses from
a teardown, yes; but there are other, more obviously compelling
reasons. “The economics are good for developers who work with
Second Chance instead of the demolition man only,” Foster told
me, leaning back behind a desk overspread with yellow reports on
upcoming jobs. When they bring in a 501(c)3 organization like
Second Chance, property owners can claim a tax deduction on the
entire appraised value of the materials to be salvaged. For developers,
The Minnesota Preservationist
there’s also a public relations benefit. Even if
a demolition is controversial, they can tout
themselves as preservation minded.
In the end, Second Chance had 90 days to
strip Convention Hall of its finery, now on
display at the organization’s south Baltimore
premises. In Warehouse No.2, where
hundreds of wood doors march in tight
lines like dominoes, one small room is filled
exclusively with stunning ironwork-grates,
grilles, and so on. A homemade poster on a
nearby wall suggests that the objects could be
turned into distinctive bedroom headboards.
Some have already sold for $600 and more.
Welcome to the hard-headed, somewhat
obscure, often contradictory trade of
architectural salvage. The more of her
heritage America tears down, the more the
industry thrives.
Even to call architectural salvage an “industry” is misleading: The word suggests a degree
of cohesion that simply doesn’t exist. Dealers
in architectural artifacts or fragments are a
disparate and fiercely independent bunch.
The larger businesses--mainly for-profits-sometimes work together, agreeing, for example, to split a particularly good haul. But
this occasional cooperation does little to dent
the every-man-for-himself ethic. “Everyone’s
a bit of a rebel,” noted Stuart Grannen, who
founded Chicago’s Architectural Artifacts,
March - April 2009
Photo by Roger Brooks, 2009.
No one would argue that such exquisite pieces, transplanted to city lofts and
suburban bungalows, would be better off in
the landfill. But what happened in Philadelphia is a good illustration of the salvager’s
complicated role in saving doomed historic
buildings or at least fragments of them. Is
Foster a preservationist? He’s adamant that
he is: “We’re not involved in the debate over
demolishing buildings,” he said. “Our role
is played once the battle [to save a building]
has been lost. We ensure that preservation
of some of the fabric takes place--we mitigate
the loss.” Paradoxically, however, the success
of his enterprise depends on old buildings
being razed. His group’s annual fundraiser
is called the “Wrecker’s Ball,” a name that
would make many a preservationist queasy.
Terra Cotta decorative piece from Architectural Antiques in Minneapolis.
Inc., in 1987. “Very few people are interested
in organizing anything.”
There is no national trade association for
salvagers to join, no annual convention
they can attend. And because of the trade’s
amorphous nature, statistics are hard to come
by. But there are signs of surging growth. “It’s
on fire,” said Rich Ellis of Roanoke, Va., who
launched a newsletter called Architectural
Salvage News in 2004. “People love salvage
right now.” Second Chance--which has never
advertised, relying on word of mouth instead-is currently expanding into Philadelphia
and Washington, D.C. New York City’s
Olde Good Things recently opened a store
in Chicago, which joins its two others in
Manhattan, a fourth in Los Angeles, and a
warehouse in Scranton. “Demand is stronger
than ever,” according to manager Kevin
5
Brass door handles found at Architectural Antiques.
As new-home construction sets records across the country (last
year, work began on more than 1.7 million single-family homes, an
all-time high), owners of expensive custom-built houses scour local
stores or the Internet for just the right personalizing touch, like
Victorian stained glass for a transom window. Popular television
shows such as This Old House and Trading Spaces have made viewers
more aware of salvage and how salvaged items can be used in
renovations or additions.
waste. Because it can work in conjunction with “green” building
techniques, reducing the need for new materials, deconstruction
has taken off in the environmentally conscious Pacific Northwest.
There, even salvagers who don’t practice deconstruction are
committed environmentalists. “We divert a tremendous amount of
tonnage each month from the landfills, which we’re proud of,” said
Michael Armstrong, co-owner of Second Use in Seattle, a business
that deals mainly in used doors, windows, cabinets, and flooring,
rather than architectural details. “If something is usable, why throw
it away?” Armstrong asked. Conserving the environment “is my
motivation, l10 percent,” he emphasized.
With all this demand, salvage companies are finding it increasingly
necessary to distinguish themselves in some way. Baltimore’s
Second Chance does this by offering a training program for lowincome workers, teaching them about carpentry and architectural
elements. And it practices what’s known as deconstruction-the art
of disassembling a structure so that as many elements as possible
can be reused. Whereas a typical salvage operation strips away
the Outer layer of a building--doors, moldings, mantelpieces,
and so on--deconstruction probes deeper, down to the bones: old
brickwork, supporting wood beams, the whole plumbing system.
Deconstruction is systematic and thorough, and it minimizes
To Grannen, setting himself apart from the mainstream of the
salvage trade is all-important. “They might have one good fireplace
in their store,” he said of the competition. ‘We’ll have 400 that are
killers. We really strive to be the best.” Grannen likes to think of
what he sells as fine art and prides himself on an inventory that is
deeper and aesthetically richer than any other in the country. This
fall, Architectural Artifacts, Inc., will open an 18,000-square-foot
museum in downtown Chicago to display its most important pieces,
including original windows from Frank Lloyd Wright houses. “We
deal in some pretty high-end things, not just a pile of old bathtubs,”
he said, a slight edge of derision in his voice.
Browne. Meanwhile, “architectural antiques” is one of the fastestgrowing categories on eBay.
6
The Minnesota Preservationist
Photo by Roger Brooks, 2009.
Even on the phone, Grannen’s cowboy
swagger is unmistakable (he boasted to me
that he’d just bought a historic mansion
in Buenos Aires, sight unseen). But he
has serious grievances about the lack of
professionalism in the industry. “Maybe I’ll
show up on Saturday; maybe I won’t” is how
he summed up the prevailing attitude. In one
respect at least, the absence of industry-wide
standards ought to trouble the preservation
community: There are no settled rules on
what dealers should and shouldn’t accept
if the origins of an item are murky or if the
person trying to sell it seems shady.
“There is a black market because there’s high
demand and prices have gone up,” said Patty
Williams, a co-owner of Wooden Nickel
Antiques in Cincinnati, which specializes
in stained glass and historic wood bars.
“It’s amazing how much stuff is stolen,” In
the late 1995, for example, New Orleans
detectives cracked a major crime ring
trafficking in statues, wrought-iron benches,
marble urns, and other artifacts from the
city’s historic cemeteries. Those implicated
ranged from heroin-addicted petty thieves to
wealthy, respected antiques dealers and even
preservationists.
More recently, the Chicago Tribune reported
on a spate of thefts from renovated historic
properties around the city. Over an
eight-week period in 2003, thieves took
antique woodwork valued at more than
$75,000—including mantels and fluted
pillars from a 1930s apartment building being
converted into condos. Those pieces most
likely ended up on the black market, sold on
the Internet to unscrupulous dealers.
Across the Atlantic, a small London-based
organization called Salvo provides an
information and support network for dealers
in architectural antiques throughout the
United Kingdom and Ireland. Since 1992,
founder Thornton Kay has issued theft alerts
to salvagers and the police when valuable
pieces are reported missing. The system
works, said Kay: “In the 1980s, things were
being stolen from heritage properties and
sold abroad--statues, garden features. Theft
March - April 2009
alerts made it very much harder, and the
criminals stopped bothering.”
toric building can or should be saved, many
readily admit.
Kay also encourages dealers to adhere to the
“Salvo Code,” which stipulates such ethical
working practices as not buying an item “if
there is the slightest suspicion that it may
be stolen,” not knowingly buying items from
protected historical properties, writing down
the license plate number of the seller and
asking to see his or her ID, and so on. Some
130 dealers have signed on to this voluntary
code and are now policed by their peers.
In this spirit, some preservationists are now
embracing salvage. One group in North
Carolina, Preservation Greensboro, has
operated a salvage arm, called Architectural
Salvage of Greensboro, since 1995. It keeps
its two-story showroom, a former Packard
dealership, stocked with a wide inventory of
doors, flooring, lighting fixtures, and mantels.
A paid salesperson works the floor part-time,
the S.WA.T. (Saving Worn Architectural
Treasures) teams that glean materials from
houses prior to demolition are composed of
volunteers who are trained and supervised in
removal.
“It’s not in their interest to deal in stolen stuff,”
Kay insisted. “Once you start down that
road, every tea leaf [Cockney rhyming slang
for ‘thief ’] in the area will be bringing stolen
stuff to your yard. It’ll happen so quickly that
you’ll get arrested.” He mentioned a man who
bought and sold stolen Tiffany glass, briefly,
before getting caught. “You can’t sustain a
trade in stolen anything for long.”
S
ince 1995, Dwight Young has offered up
his witty, sometimes tart observations
on the presence of the past on the National
Trust’s magazine, Preservation’s Back Page
column. When asked for his views on
architectural salvage, Young--the National
Trust’s senior communications associate-wavered a little. “Twenty years ago, I looked on
(salvagers) sort of suspiciously.” He recalled.
“I thought they were like vultures, gathering
these sad remnants of good buildings. Now,
I don’t know. They’re becoming a really
valuable resource for people who are restoring
old buildings.”
Young’s ambivalence reflects broader changes in the American preservation movement
since its genesis in the 1960s. Back then,
historic landmarks, notably, New York’s
original Penn Station, an architectural masterpiece, could be razed even if there was a
public outcry. Today, thankfully, the battle
to raise awareness of preservation’s worth has
largely been won. On the whole, Americans
value old buildings and want to protect them
or future generations. Meanwhile, preservationists, backed by a strong public mandate,
can afford to be pragmatic. Not every his-
Architectural Salvage of Greensboro brings
in $20,000 to $25,000 a year, money that is
then plowed back into renovations and other
community projects. “It’s a public face to our
organization, a way to include more people,”
said Benjamin Briggs, executive director of
Preservation Greensboro. The approach, he
explained, also “opens up a whole dynamic of
craftsmanship into the discussion of historic
preservation.” Preservation Greensboro’s
success inspired another North Carolina
group, the Historic Wilmington Foundation,
to venture into salvage six years ago. Its side
business, Wilmington Architectural Salvage,
is smaller than Greensboro’s and entirely
volunteer-staffed (and currently closed, after
the foundation failed to find a new space).
Even so, it has not only kept high-quality
architectural pieces out of the landfill but
also placed them in historic houses within
the same region.
Last year, the Trust gave a National
Preservation Honor Award to the BoscoMilligan Foundation of Portland, Ore. Jerry
Bosco and Ben Milligan were craftsmen and
preservationists who salvaged thousands of
items from demolition sites over a period of
25 years. Their collection is now displayed
at the foundation’s 40000-square-foot
Architectural Heritage Center, where visitors
can learn about building crafts and historic
architecture.
7
The Trust award may signal that salvage is entering the mainstream
of the preservation movement. Yet some people worry that the
practice, if allowed to flourish unchecked, could undermine
preservationists’ aims. Greensboro’s Briggs complained that
historic mills are being disassembled top to bottom--for salvage.
‘We lose about one a month in this region to salvage operations,” he
said. “They do it for the bricks and for the timbers, which are then
resawn into flooring,” Cathy Galbraith, executive director of the
Bosco-Milligan Foundation, has heard of metal salvagers tearing up
bridges in the Northwest. “People have found that there’s value in
building materials,” she said. “But I would hate to see incentives to
tear down buildings coming from the fact that the parts are worth
more than the sum.”
Briggs and Galbraith can take heart from the dilemma that [Patti]
Williams of Cincinnati finds herself in. She remembers when she
got into the business 30 years ago: carved panels and stained glass
were plentiful because so many old houses are coming down. Now,
“public awareness is much higher,” she observed. Buildings stay up-which means that although salvage is in great demand, her inventory
remains low. She changed her business plan accordingly; Wooden
Nickel Antiques now fabricates replica stained glass in addition to
selling original pieces.
Williams doesn’t mind. “Back when cities were building beltways
and connecting highways, that’s when they tore down block after
block of old neighborhoods,” she said. ‘’A lot of that’s gone now.
You’ve got to be glad for saving this stuff. I’m happy we’re not tearing
America apart.”
Historic windows for sale at Architectural Antiques in Minneapolis.
8
The Minnesota Preservationist
Old Wine, New Bottle:
Architectural salvage helps buildings live on
An interview with John Eckley, Owner of City Salvage in Minneapolis, by Cynthia Kriha,
Communications Committee Member, Preservation Alliance of Minnesota
How did you get interested in architectural
reuse and salvage?
I have always been interested in history
especially related to architectural styles. My
Mom owned a gift shop in Minneapolis at
one time called “The Yesterday Shop” and we
were always looking for antiques and other
items to include in the shop. This started my
interest in home restoration.
Photo by Katherine Scott, 2009.
How did you get started in the salvage
business?
I grew up in Chicago and had an interest in
glasswork and art glass in particular. While I
was a student at the University of Minnesota
in the mid-70s studying architecture, I
worked part-time for Kathy Koskey and
Diane Fliss who owned a prop company called
“Scroungers”. This was my first introduction
to the salvage business. After working with
Kathy and Diane, we, along with Barbara
Harrison, formed Architectural Antiques.
I opened City Salvage thirteen years ago
March - April 2009
with the same crew of 3–12 people for years.
Sometimes we have as little as 24 hours to
remove the items prior to demolition so it
helps to have an experienced group of people
to call on with short notice and who are
willing to work long hours often required to
meet a demolition deadline. In many cases
we also need to bring our own infrastructure
meaning electricity, heat, etc., since much of
that infrastructure can be already gone by
the time we get there.
so after 35 years I’m still actively involved
in architectural reuse. I estimate that my
companies have influenced many salvage
companies around the country in the past 30
years.
How do you identify salvage
opportunities?
For me the thrill of this business is the hunt
for treasure. I have established great contacts
over the years that let me know about possible
demolitions. There really is an “inner circle”
of people involved in this business and we all
know each other. The Internet has made a
huge difference in how this business works.
Everyday I spend time responding to queries
that come through our website and phone
calls. We look for opportunities anywhere
in the US. One recent and very welcome
change is that the City of Minneapolis
is interested in working with us before a
building is demolished – especially in the
case of foreclosure. This is great because it
will save the City money since it reduces the
total demolition cost and keeps items out of
a landfill.
What do your customers expect related
to the authentication of items? Do they
expect you and your staff to be history and
architecture experts?
We do our best to know the origin of what
we sell. Experience is really key and we are
continually learning from and teaching
Salvage in process at Andrew
Riverside Church in 2003.
Once I identify an opportunity and the
available salvage items, I’ll make a bid based
on my experience and knowledge of the resale
value for the items. Nothing is available for
free. We don’t go to auctions since the prices
tend to be inflated due to emotional bidding.
What is the process for obtaining the
salvaged items?
I have a crew of independent people who
really enjoy the process of removing these
architectural elements. I’ve been working
Photo courtesy of Nicole Becken
F
or over thirty-five years, John Eckley
has been involved in businesses that
preserve architectural elements even when
their original context is no longer viable.
His interest in salvage has influenced the
business not only in Minnesota but also
around the United States. As John explains
in this interview, the salvage process can
often be more art than science with definite
challenges but the thrill of the treasure
hunt remains. And like all businesses, there
have been many changes over the decades
including those introduced recently by the
decline in our economy and the increase in
sustainability and reuse.
9
Owner John Eckley of City Salvage
each other. If we haven’t salvaged the item
ourselves, the source is another dealer we
already know who can tell us about the item.
If I know the history, it’s easier to make the
sale; people really do appreciate the story.
Unfortunately, huge amounts of product are
actually sold without questions – the buyer is
only interested in the visual appearance and
the dimensions. That can be disappointing
but that’s how it is.
What was the most exciting project you
ever worked on?
That would be the Andrew-Riverside
Presbyterian
Church
in
southeast
Minneapolis that was demolished in 2003.
That church was designed by architect
Charles S. Sedwick and built in the late
10
1800s with limestone dating to 1878. This
was a great project due the scope of it; we
removed huge stained glass windows and
even the bell from the bell tower. There are
quite a few stories about all the effort it took
to get everything out of there.
be replaced due to a lack of similar materials
like the incredible white pine timber beams
used a century ago. The economy is helping
preservation because it is slowing down new
development that often destroys historic
structures.
What is the impact of the “green” and
sustainability movement on architectural
reuse?
How has the recession impacted your
business? What are some of the trends
you’ve noticed in the past twelve months?
It’s definitely having an impact.
Neighborhoods are becoming more aware
of the possible negative impacts of new
development and figuring out that you can
actually improve a neighborhood by saving
the existing structures. Many of the older
buildings in Minneapolis are built much
better than new construction and really can’t
The economy has had a very adverse effect
as new construction slowed and spending on
discretionary items declined. Our business
tends to follow the trends in the antiques
business although things have started to pick
up the past four months. I am starting to see
more do-it-yourself interest however 90% of
our business is with 30–50 year olds who are
The Minnesota Preservationist
“UNIVAC 490 Real-Time Computer System, Sperry Rand Company, St. Paul.” Photograph Collection ca. 1958, MHS Collections.
interested mainly in finished pieces. I do see a resurgence of interest
in the crafts and I think the more you understand about the old
production processes the more you appreciate the old things.
Unfortunately the state of the current housing market has been a
double-edged sword; there are more opportunities for salvage but
often little of value is left once owners and vandals strip a property.
I do get calls from homeowners looking to generate some cash by
selling off things in their homes.
What is the biggest challenge for your business?
The business needs to continually reinvent itself. The market
for salvage has changed from items that buyers would restore
themselves to a market demanding quality items, finished and ready
to be reinstalled in a new location. There is a willingness to pay more
for a certain level of quality and finished restoration. Hopefully, the
throw-away society is going away. I also find that there is a lack of
appreciation for the true cost of salvage; it’s not only what I pay for
the items but also the cost to carefully remove those items and then
restore them that has an impact on the final price. You can’t get
something for free just because it looks old.
Photo courtesy of Nicole Becken
What advice would you give preservationists related to the role
of architectural reuse and salvage? How would you define the
relationship between salvage and historic preservation?
We are preservationists too and involved in trying to save structures
and find a reuse. It’s important to save and not toss something that
could have another use. We share an attitude that our architectural
history is important. The notion that new is better than old is rarely
true if you look at building construction and the craftsmanship
involved in many of these older buildings.
My final piece of advice – Call us before you throw something away;
everybody needs something historical in their life.
For more information about City Salvage, see
www.citysalvage.com.
Can you help us
modernize our
office?
As a non-profit corporation, the Preservation
Alliance of Minnesota is always watching our budget.
We often forgo needed capital improvements to
expand our outreach or programming.
Our wish list is growing and we thought that one
of our members may have just what we need. Here’s
a list of items or services needed in the Alliance
office:
• In-kind printing services
• InDesign program training
• Postage meter, scale, and stamps
• Two four-drawer filing cabinets
• A small refrigerator
• Donated snacks, water for tours
• Office supplies (reams of recycled paper, gentlyused binders, Post-It notes, large envelopes,
power strips)
Contact Kelli Andre if you can help:
[email protected]
(651) 293-9047 x101
March - April 2009
11
Recycling History:
The Case for Architectural Salvage
By Katherine Scott,
Intern, Preservation Alliance of Minnesota
P
reservationists are sometimes faced
with the unfortunate possibility that a
structure will be demolished. While the least
desirable outcome of a preservation struggle
is demolition, such a scenario still has the
potential for positive outcomes. Through
the practice of architectural salvage, it is
possible for many significant elements of
a structure to be saved. Related to salvage
is an increasingly popular process known
as deconstruction. Deconstruction is the
systematic disassembly of a building, with
the purpose of recovering valuable materials
for reuse in construction, renovation or
manufacturing into new products.1
Over the last several years the architectural
salvage industry has grown drastically.
Dealers of salvaged pieces and antique
wood are becoming more common across
the country. Owners of new and old homes
alike are drawn to the unique character of
antique pieces; now salvage shops previously
reserved for die-hard preservationists are
patronized by mainstream consumers.2 The
increased popularity of deconstruction is
due in part to the fact that it is economical.
If an entity must demolish a building,
tax breaks and donation benefits may be
available to make deconstruction more
cost-effective than demolition. In addition,
savings from these benefits, combined with
the resale value of salvaged pieces, can even
make deconstruction profitable for the
3
building owner. Furthermore, both salvage
and deconstruction have gained momentum
in recent years because they are sustainable
building practices in that they work to reuse
already existing resources.
However, as an industry, architectural
salvage and deconstruction is not without
12
its controversy or critics. Many salvagers
are seen as vultures poised to swoop
in and strip a property of all valuable
materials, regardless of the condition of the
structure. Yet salvage companies only do
their work when demolition is imminent
and after they have legally purchased the
rights or gained permission to salvage a
building. In addition, the primary goal
of many large salvage operations is not to
generate revenue. Groups such as Second
Chance, Inc. (Baltimore), the Architectural
Salvage Warehouse (Detroit), Building
Materials Resource Center (Boston),
and the ReUse Center (Minneapolis)
are non-profit organizations who focus
mainly on environmentalism, community
improvement, and job training.4
Critics also claim that the ever-expanding
market and increasingly lucrative nature
of the salvage industry attracts thieves
who have salvaged materials illegally. They
also argue that the market is at a greater
risk to be permeated with materials which
are not genuinely antique. It is true that
consumers must be wary of stolen goods,
and if any suspicions arise regarding the
legitimacy of a dealers’ merchandise, proof
of authentication should be requested. Just
as with traditional antique dealers, it is the
buyer’s right to be assured that an item is
everything it claims to be.
Even preservationists have differing
opinions on the merits of salvage. From a
preservation standpoint, the most common
argument against salvage is that once an
architectural element is removed from
its historic context, it loses its historical
integrity. While this is true to a certain
extent, careful documentation of the
context prior to salvage ensures that much
of the history remains intact. In this regard,
salvage can be likened to a structure that
is moved in order to be saved. Although
the building is being removed from its
historic context, the structure itself is saved
and retains much of its story. Similarly,
proponents of architectural salvage argue
that it is better to save individual elements
of a structure rather than nothing at all.
Another common concern with salvaged
pieces is that it can be confusing when
assessing structures for historical value. If
salvaged pieces have been used in remodeling
without proper documentation, the process
of accurately dating a building can become
cumbersome. Keeping careful records of any
changes to a house or building can reduce
the likelihood of future complications.
In certain situations architectural salvage
is encouraged as a preservation practice.
The Advisory Council on Historic
Preservation (ACHP) has recognized
salvage as a legitimate mitigation measure
in instances where demolition is inevitable
or necessary for public safety. For instance,
in the aftermath of natural disasters,
salvage plays a vital role in saving historic
resources. Following hurricanes Katrina
and Rita in 2005, many historic properties
in Louisiana, Mississippi, and other states
were damaged beyond repair; however, it
was possible for significant architectural
elements to be salvaged from the debris
for use in other buildings. In this case,
the ACHP encouraged salvage as one way
to lessen adverse effects of the disasters.5
Similar salvage strategies could be applied
to events common in Minnesota such as
tornadoes and floods. Likewise, salvaged
The Minnesota Preservationist
pieces acquired from any building slated for demolition can be
used in the restoration of historic buildings.
For historic homeowners looking to restore their properties,
antique dealers and salvage stores can be an invaluable resource.
Preservationists typically agree that it is more desirable for a
historic building to be restored with period pieces, even if they
come from a different source, rather than utilizing inappropriate
architectural elements or modern reproductions.
Increasingly, salvage is being promoted as a preservation measure
by public entities. Several jurisdictions now require that before a
demolition permit is granted, proper documentation of a building
must take place and the opportunity for salvage be afforded. 6
Numerous cities, including New York, Seattle, Portland, and San
Jose include information on deconstruction and salvage as part of
their environmental services.7
Architectural salvage and deconstruction are not without their
critics, yet preservationists are increasingly touting salvage as
a form of preservation when circumstances make demolition
imminent. Through salvage and deconstruction, many important
architectural and decorative elements of a structure can be
retained, allowing the history of a property to live on long after
the building itself has been razed. In today’s society, which is
increasingly concerned with green living and economic health,
salvage and deconstruction are finding their niche as sustainable
and economically viable practices. Despite their somewhat
misleading names, architectural salvage and deconstruction are
invaluable resources for preservationists working to save our
nation’s history.
1 Institute for Local Self-Reliance, “Waste to Wealth Deconstruction,” <http://
www.ilsr.org/recycling/decon/index.html 2008>, accessed 1/19/09
2 Siskos, Catherine, “House Parts with a Pedigree,” Old House
Journal, June 2007, <http://www.oldhousejournal.com/house_parts_
with_a_pedigree/magazine/1357>, accessed on 1/22/09
3 The ReUse People, “Deconstruction,” 2008, <http://www.
thereusepeople.org/Deconstruction/>, accessed 1/23/09
4 Second Chance Inc., “About Us,” <http://www.secondchanceinc.
org/default.aspx?kw=aboutus>, accessed 1/28/09
City of New York, “NYC WasteLe$$ Business: Green Building,” <http://www.nyc
.gov/html/nycwasteless/html/in_business/green_building.shtml> accessed 1/27/09
City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, “Deconstruction,” <http://
www.portlandonline.com/osd/index.cfm?c=ecbbe&a=bbehdc>, accessed 1/27/09
City of Seattle Department of Planning and Development, “DPD Green
Building: Commercial Incentives and Assistance,” <http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/
GreenBuilding/Commercial/IncentivesAssistance/default.asp>, accessed 1/27/09
Places to Shop
All State Salvage Inc. – (651) 488-6675,
1354 Jackson St., St. Paul MN 55117
Architectural Antiques – (612) 332-8344,
1330 Quincy St. NE, Minneapolis 55413
http://www.archantiques.com
Art + Architecture – (612) 904-1776
3338 University Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
City Salvage – (612) 627-9107 505 1st Ave. NE,
Minneapolis, MN 55413 http://www.citysalvage.com
Northwest Architectural Salvage – (651) 644-9270
981 Selby Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104
The ReUse Center – (612) 724-2608,
2801 21st Ave. S, Suite 180, Minneapolis, MN 55407
http://www.thereusecenter.com
Welcome New Members
Capitol Area Architectural and Planning
Board, Saint Paul, MN
Carlsson, Cindy, Saint Paul, MN
Christenson, Hazel, Spencer, IA
Isenberg, Lisa, Saint Paul, MN
Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit, <http://
www.aswdetroit.org/>, accessed 1/28/09
Building Materials Resource Center, <http://www.bostonbmrc.
org/bostonbmrc/index.html> accessed 1/28/09
The ReUse Center, “About Us,” <http://www.thereusecenter.
com/about.html>, accessed 1/21/09
5Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, “Protecting Historic Properties:
Section 106 In Action,” Case Digest, Winter 2007 <http://www.achp.
gov/docs/case_digest_winter07small.pdf>, accessed on 1/15/09
6Miller, Julia H, “Protecting Potential Landmarks Through Demolition Review,”
National Trust for Historic Preservation, 2006, <http://www.preservationnation.org/
issues/teardowns/additional-resources/demolition_review.pdf>, accessed on 1/19/09
7 City of San Jose, “Environmental Services: Deconstruction Recovery
and Reuse Listings,” <http://www.sjrecycles.org/constructiondemolition/deconstruction.asp>, accessed 1/27/09
March - April 2009
13
Salvager and
Preservationist?
I
n 2003, Curt Richter started Rustic
Innovations (RI), a company that
specializes in the deconstruction and
relocation of old timberframe barns and
log buildings. It is his personal motivation
and his company practices that allow him to
proudly say that he is a preservationist.
Can a person tear down old barns and
buildings and also be a preservationist? Curt
Richter of Scandia, MN says, “Absolutely.”
The groundwork for Rustic Innovations
was laid in 1997 when Curt designed and
constructed his own “new growth wood”
timber-frame house. In the years following,
Curt began studying old barns, especially
the timber-frame techniques and designs of
the early craftsman. It was then that Curt
realized that numerous old barns were
being torn down or burned, despite the fact
that most of them still had wonderful old
wood and plenty of character. As such, the
concept for Rustic Innovations was born.
Photos by Curt Richter
By Rustic Innovations
1870 log building before deconstruction and after in its new location in Texas.
Rustic Innovations finds barns or other
old structures that are destined for
destruction, and then solicits customers
who are interested in reusing the buildings
as barns, cabins, or homes. The process
begins with careful documentation of the
building. Then, the slow, and sometimes
dangerous, process of dismantling the barn
in the reverse order it was built, begins. RI
works to ensure that as much as possible of
the building is recycled; the thousands of
nails pulled from the barn are collected and
melted down.
Unfortunately, Curt laments, increasingly
large numbers of Minnesota barns are being
destroyed without salvaging the materials.
Economics and the real or perceived belief
that old barns are obsolete are driving factors
in the disappearance of barns throughout
the nation. Barn salvaging, Curt argues,
is a responsible effort to recycle the quality
materials that may otherwise be lost.
Over the years however, RI has built a strong
reputation and now many barn owners
proactively approach Curt and his team
when they are faced with the possibility
of removing their barns. Curt inspects the
barns to determine condition, size, and
possible reuse. If preservation is reasonable,
Curt encourages the barn owners to
14
The Minnesota Preservationist
consider preserving the barn themselves. RI
has a brochure for owners titled, “What do
I do with my old barn?” that can assist with
preservation ideas. Rustic Innovations’
focus is on reusing the entire building. If
a barn is found not suitable for relocation,
RI may recommend that the owners find a
wood salvager.
When reusing buildings, RI tries to
maintain the original building integrity.
March - April 2009
They are not just saving the wood, but the
character of the building. The “new” building
typically will maintain the basic shape and
appearance of the old. Original wall heights
and rooflines are often maintained, and
where possible, original window and door
locations are reused. Frequently old barn
board siding and metal roofing will again
provide protection to the new building.
Roof boards, floorboards and surplus
beams are reused for various interior décor.
If RI’s customer desires to have more space
than the building provides, period-looking
additions can be added with surplus barn
wood from other buildings.
RI recently saved a threatened historic store
destined for decay. The 1870 log building
was dismantled, cleaned, repaired and then
shipped to Texas. A cut stone addition was
added to the back and a fireplace replaced
the rotten sections by the old front store
15
When nearby residents expressed sorrow over the loss, Curt
commiserated, but also encouraged them to support the many
other old structures in their community that are threatened by
neglect, zoning laws, and development. He encouraged them
to participate in their local historical organizations and barn
preservation groups.
Presenting at a 2006 Friends of Minnesota Barns (a non-profit
barn preservationist group) meeting, Curt demonstrated that
salvaging can be part of preservation. Curt’s Barn Preservation
Ladder, comprised of eight rungs, charts the various levels of barn
preservation. Every barn should be preserved on the highest rung,
or preservation method, as possible. Salvaging, though on lower
rungs, has its place when a barn, its location, or its condition,
prevents a higher and better preservation option. RI operates in
the Relocation and Adaptation rung.
materials, often leaving an ugly mess in their wake. Curt suggests
that barn owners faced with an aging barn should proceed patiently
and thoughtfully.
To ensure that your barn is preserved or salvaged in the best
method possible, begin by fully investigating the ability to preserve
the barn on site. If the barn is to be salvaged, Curt cautions to only
contact an established salvager and ensure that the salvager clearly
demonstrates a preservationist’s attitude. Contact the salvager’s
references and past clients and always ask for a copy of the salvager’s
insurances. If you own an old barn and/or have questions about
barn preservation and salvage, contact Curt Richter at Rustic
Innovations at 651.491.6430.
While salvaging a barn is a desirable outcome for properties slated
for demolition, Curt cautions that no two salvagers are the same
and not all salvagers are preservationists. Curt can recall many
instances in which he has watched a barn come down by what he
calls “wood butchers.” “Wood butchers” carelessly cut into siding
and old growth timber beams without regard for the value of the
16
The Minnesota Preservationist
Photo by Erin Hanafin Berg, 2009.
windows. The customer still plans to install porches made with
old wood to protect the logs from rain and sun.
Field Notes
By Erin Hanafin Berg
Out Standing
in the Field
The Litchfield Opera House is currently undergoing restoration. This view of the balcony shows piles of salvaged insulation that will be reused.
W
e are so proud of the preservation folks in Litchfield. In
2003, the Litchfield Opera House was included on the Alliance’s annual Ten Most Endangered Minnesota Historic Places
list. The city, which owned the opera house and had used it as the
City Hall since 1965, decided to abandon the building after mold
hazards were discovered. Between 2003 and 2007, the Litchfield
City Council voted at least three times to demolish the building
which was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in
1984. During that same period, a group of active citizens fought
to save the building by conducting an independently financed reuse study and nominating the opera house to the Alliance’s Ten
Most Endangered list for a second time in 2007. The city conducted a mandatory Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW)
in 2006 in preparation for sale or demolition and, in the spring of
2007, commissioned a second reuse study to circumvent a court
challenge. As the study neared completion, the members of the
reuse study committee and other interested citizens formed the
Greater Litchfield Opera House Association (GLOHA) as a nonprofit organization. GLOHA offered to purchase the building for
March - April 2009
$100,000 but asked that the city reduce the price by the cost of
demolition. GLOHA bought the building from the City of Litchfield in January 2008 for one silver dollar. The date on the coin was
1900, commemorating the construction date of the opera house.
Now, less than two years after the second endangered designation
and a scant twelve months since acquiring the building, GLOHA
is hard at work restoring the opera house. Within months, a team
17
of volunteers had scoured the building and
environmental hazards, including asbestos,
lead, mold, and mercury, were removed,
enabling GLOHA to begin hosting events
in the spring. Led by Butch Schulte, chairman of GLOHA’s facilities committee, volunteers have removed later alterations and
drafted plans to return the grand lobby to
its original design. The auditorium’s interior wall surfaces have been removed and the
wiring and heating upgraded. The floor will
be refinished as soon as the weather warms.
When I visited the opera house at the end of
January, I was impressed not only with the
magnitude of the task GLOHA members
have set for themselves, but also the way
they are going about doing it. Butch and his
crew are taking a sustainable approach by
salvaging lumber, reusing much of the existing insulation, and saving everything that
can be reused, including pressed wallboard
and a 1905 piano.
Even the staunchest preservationist in a
community can become overwhelmed by local opposition or the sheer volume of work
that must be done to restore or rehabilitate
a historic building or site. The preservation
advocates in Litchfield have shown that diligence and perseverance can be effective—
in response to the community’s growing
The opera house was once the state’s premier performance venue outside of the Twin Cities. The large
proscenium stage was removed in 1935 but its opening is still visible at the edges of this photograph.
support for preservation, Litchfield’s city
council recently approved a Heritage Preservation Ordinance and became a Certified
Local Government. The ongoing renovation of the opera house demonstrates that,
with a dedicated force of volunteer laborers, buildings can be put back into service
at an early stage and that the project can
embrace the principles of sustainability by
reusing existing materials. As we strive to
form a statewide network of advocates and
preservationists who lean on and learn from
each other, we hope that several communities will be inspired by Litchfield’s excellent
example.
Read more about the Litchfield Opera
House and GLOHA on our website at www.
m n p r e s e r v a t i o n . o r g /p r o g r a m s - t e n
- m o s t- e n d a n g e r e d / 2 0 0 7 t e n m o s t
endangered/ and www.mnpreservation.org/
programs/minnesota-preservation-awards/.
The basement of the opera house is piled high with old-growth lumber
that has been salvaged and will be used in the restoration.
Photo by Erin Hanafin Berg, 2009.
Erin Hanafin Berg
Field Representative
18
The Minnesota Preservationist
The Last Word
By Bonnie McDonald
For example, Xcel Energy is moving
forward with the demolition of its St.
Paul High Bridge Plant, a coal-fired
power plant built in stages between 1924
speaker on the topic of “Sustainable
Stewardship” and the Trust’s Sustainability
Initiative. Additional national, regional,
and local speakers are being assembled
for a full-day of panels on this important
topic. We appreciate the lead sponsorship
gift recently made by Target for making
this event possible and affordable
for attendees. Please watch your
Inbox for more information about
this event.
The Alliance continues to be your
advocate at the State Capitol for
needed preservation incentives.
This spring, the Alliance is
proposing the reintroduction
of the State Rehabilitation
Tax Credit bill that was close
to success in 2007. Education
about the bill will focus on its
Was it serendipity or coincidence
potential to spur local economic
Detail of the ornate casting on Metropolitan Building balustrade
that on that same date 47 years
development, build local tax base,
earlier the wrecking ball began dismantling
and 1957 (the property was determined
and stimulate job creation in the green
the Metropolitan Building?1 Serendipity,
ineligible for listing in the National
sector. Our bill connects directly to these
I believe, knowing that this issue would
Register of Historic Places). Using the
legislative priorities. We are also working
focus on architectural salvage. Much of the
innovative “embodied energy” calculator at
diligently to ensure that incentives or grants
Metropolitan sits in a granite yard in Delano
http://www.thegreenestbuilding.org, the
for historic preservation are included in the
as an example of the load construction waste
equivalent of 2.6 million gallons of gas will
Legacy Amendment funding. Your voice is
places on our environment. Annually, we
be lost in embodied energy by demolishing
important—grassroots advocacy on behalf
throw away 164 million tons of construction
the old plant and spent to build the new
of these two legislative initiatives will be
debris, or enough to fill the Metrodome 75
3
plant.
key in 2009. We need your help to show
That is equal to $4.8 million
times.2 I thank the person who salvaged
that historic preservation incentives are
dollars at the current price of a gallon of
this decorative grate to mark in more than
needed across the state. Please watch your
gas and the carbon emissions equivalent
photographs that this landmark once stood,
e-mail box for action alerts asking you to
of placing roughly 4,425 new cars on the
recognizing that if the building wasn’t to
talk with your legislators. Not signed up
road. Certainly the new gas-fired plant is
be reused, its pieces could continue to be
for action alerts? Just go to our website at
more energy efficient and better for the
useful.
www.mnpreservation.org and click on
environment than its coal counterpart, but
the “Get Involved” tab. Thank you for
arguably
there
was
a
way
to
save
additional
Historic preservation has been called “the
being a voice for the historic places in your
resources by finding a reuse for the existing
ultimate recycling.” Architect Carl Elefante
community.
plant
or
salvaging
its
materials.
is attributed with the next generation of this
Photo by Katherine Scott, 2009
Photo by Erin Hanafin Berg, 2009.
W
hen Erin Hanafin Berg and I walked
into the Mantorville Opera House
on December 18 to give a presentation, the
last thing I might have expected
was to be greeted by an original
cast iron balustrade from the famed
Metropolitan Building. There it
was—a piece of preservation history.
I was so excited to see an original
piece of this legendary building
that Paul Larsen of the Mantorville
Restoration Association, who had
purchased the artifact at a flea
market, donated it to the Alliance
on the spot.
sustainable practice that is not only good for
the environment, but good for the pocket
book.
expression—that is, “The greenest building
is the one already built.” To proactively
prevent demolition, we must change hearts
and minds that preservation is not only
about history, community, and culture. We
have the opportunity to reframe the reuse
of historic buildings and structures as a
In November of this year, the Alliance will
host a symposium focused on the topic of
historic preservation as sustainable design.
We are pleased to announce that Richard
Moe, President of the National Trust for
Historic Preservation, will be our keynote
Bonnie McDonald
Executive Director
1 Millett, Larry. Lost Twin Cities. St. Paul, Minnesota: Minnesota Historical Society, 1992. 1.
2 Whole Building Design Guide, “Executive Order 13423 Technical Guidance - Construction Waste” <www.wbdg.org/references/mou_cw.php <http://www.wbdg.org/references/mou_cw.php>>,
accessed February 6, 2009.
3 Embodied energy is essentially the energy stored in the existing building representing the resource cost to originally extract the raw materials, assemble them into building products, transport
those products to the site, and construct the building. Not to mention the energy expended to operate and improve it over its lifetime.
March - April 2009
19
Photos by Doug Ohman, Pioneer Photography
Where Is It?
By Bill Morgan
P
eople are drawn to round and octagonal
structures because of their unusual form.
(The Internet has a wonderful list of Minnesota
round barns.)
Although our state is graced with several
round barns, an oddly-shaped school building
is rarely found on the Minnesota landscape.
Only Marvel Anderson recognized the District
13 School in Big Stone County. This rare
octagonal-shaped wooden building was added
to the National Register in 1985. The structure
is described in Gebhard and Martinson’s Guide
to the Architecture of Minnesota.
This bridge is, perhaps, a more easily identifiable
landmark. Doug Ohman photographed both
landmarks.
Where is it this time?
My e-mail address is: wtmorgan@
stcloudstate.edu. Bill Morgan, 834 Village
Avenue, Sartell, MN, 56377. Please send
me a photograph of a favorite Minnesota
landmark for a future issue.
Where was it last time? Big Stone County.
Preserv
Preservationist
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