The Prairie County Museum is using the off-season to tackle preservation work across its historic site, with masonry repairs next on the list for the museum’s main building.
Masonry work is scheduled for the west side of the building, where cracks run along the wall and one corner has deteriorated. The project is funded through a $55,000 grant awarded last year from the State Historic Preservation Office. Museum leaders said the wall repairs are tied directly to how the building functions inside, since the condition of the structure has limited use of the original bank vault area for displays.
Along with the masonry scope, museum officials want to replace windows on the north side of the building to create a fully weathertight interior in the bank vault section. Once the exterior work and window replacements are complete, the museum plans to use the additional protected space for more exhibits from its historical collection.
Other site projects have already moved forward with donations and volunteer effort. Work has been completed on the roof of the museum’s historic heated outhouse and on the Northern Pacific train depot, including repairs to the depot’s landing and walkway, painting, and shingle replacement. The museum describes the heated outhouse as the first historic heated outhouse west of the Mississippi River, and it recently received handmade shingles and new spindles to restore its historic appearance and keep rain out.
Looking ahead, the museum plans informational signs, a gravel path to manage weeds and improve accessibility, and a restoration project for the caboose in front of the depot.
Read the full, original article from Terry Tribune here.