Through a concerted effort, our state historic and cultural treasures will be preserved for future generations. The Minnesota Historical Society had awarded a Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grant in the amount of $103,825 to the Dodge County Historical Society. The grant was approved by the MNHS Executive Council on December 4, 2017, and will support the Wasioja Civil War Recruiting Station restoration project.
Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants are made possible by the Legacy Amendment of the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through a vote of Minnesotans on November 4, 2008. The grants are awarded to projects of enduring value for the cause of history and historic preservation across the state.
The Wasioja Civil War Recruiting Station project is of enduring value because it will assure the complete and professional restoration of a tangible link to the past. Work is set to begin on April 15, 2018, with a maximum anticipated completion in 14 weeks. MacDonald & Mack Architects (Minneapolis) drafted the specifications and created plans for the project.
The work will include mortar testing, repointing of brick and stone, replacing sealant, removing and replacing of wood shingle roof, and excavation and reseeding. The Wasioja Civil War Recruiting Station is located in the Dodge County hamlet of Wasioja. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 as part of the Wasioja Historic District.
DCHS Executive Director Donald Westfall remarked, “I can’t think of a better Christmas present than this news. It tops off a very eventful year for us and gives us traction to plow into 2018 with energy and dedication.”
The Minnesota Historical Society is a non-profit educational and cultural institution established in 1849. MNHS collects, preserves, and tells the story of the state’s past through exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs, and book publishing. For more information about the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants program, including deadlines, visit legacy.mnhs.org/grants. To learn about current and past grant projects, visit legacy.mnhs.org.
