Document - Historical information/data - Victim Impact Statement for Arsonist Sentencing - 10/31/2016Victim Impact Statement on behalf of the Eagan Historical Society
The Impacts of the fire that was deliberately set to the 100-year old Eagan Town Hall have been many. As the City staff person to the Historical Society, for whom the building served
as a community museum, housing many of the photos and treasures of Eagan’s 150+ year history, I have spent hundreds of hours inside the Town Hall, learning and sharing its history,
alongside many members of the Eagan Historical Society. Members have included former City and Township officials, Justice of the Peace, Town Clerks, Constables/Police personnel, Mayors,
life-long residents, and many members of the community. The building served as the seat of Eagan’s government, as the community meeting place for Town Board and the voting location
for local, State and National elections from 1914 to 1965. Since 1990 it has served as the community’s museum welcoming tours of school classes, scout troops and anyone interested in
learning about their hometown.
The impacts of the senseless crime committed by Wade and Wynn Arvidson/Damron are too numerous to outline here, but I will note some of what has occurred in the wake of the arson to
help illustrate the most important. Most immediately, the impact was the huge sense of loss an violation that occurred on the morning of September 8, 2013. Several members of the Eagan
Historical Society and I came to the scene of a still smoldering building. We found its contents – furniture, artifacts, certificates, photos, flags and tiny bits of newspaper clippings
all lying in a soggy, smoky mess in the parking lot. We could tell immediately, that despite the quick and effective response by Police and Firefighters, we all strongly feared that
our beloved Town Hall –a community icon, may have seen its last public gathering. We were very thankful to find no one was injured battling the fire, but noted that one-third of the
south side of the building was now a large, charred hole. The roof was sagging badly and morning sun was clearly visible through the rafters. We had little hope that the structure had
a future in those early days following the arson.
As the realities set in and more information became known we learned that insurance was for a simple wooden structure. It came nowhere near replacing the building and its contents. In
fact, it barely covered the cost of cleaning the items that could be salvaged from inside. Several original items were completely destroyed by the fire, such as a flag that flew at
the Town Hall in the 1900s and a collected list of named individuals from a 1930s gathering (names supplied by community members over many years—most of the community members are now
deceased so the list cannot be replicated). Other items were damaged beyond repair and cannot be replaced. Every single piece of history that had been on display, the day before the
Arvidson/Damron brothers decided to inflict their hatred on this building, was no longer available for the community. Some of the collection will be replicated, but there is not a
single item that remained usable in its current state.
Furthermore, the damaged building was completely off limits to the public and to the Historical Society for more than two years. During that time, the building celebrated its 100th Anniversary,
yet no one had access to step inside. Rebuilding took nearly $500,000, numerous agonizing decisions and a great deal of skilled craftsmanship to simply get back what we had the day
before the fire. Every single board, window frame, wainscoting section, ceiling panel and surface had to be painstakingly removed from the
site to be treated to eliminate the smoke that had penetrated every surface. Had we not done this, the building would not ever be able to be opened to the public again.
As we went through the restoration process, an inordinate amount of time was spent on how to better secure the building, how to alarm the building, can we place cameras, motion detectors,
lighting… and so many other things that the building has not needed for its first 100-years. It is disgusting to think that an act like this takes away 100 years of security from a
building and community.
Prior to the fire, the Eagan Town Hall was simply a nice view across the road from my office window. Since the arson I cannot look across without questioning the motive of every vehicle
that turns into the parking lot and scrutinize every individual who wants to take a closer look at this public building. I never used to think twice. I have even been so fearful about
someone causing harm again, that I’ve called 9-1-1 twice on inspectors walking the property to do their jobs!
Mr. Arvidson/Damron has a personal vendetta and took out his anger on the Eagan Town Hall. He gave no thought to the history of the building, what it meant to the community history.
He was simply acting out his own selfish rage and this old structure was an easy target. Since he and his brother made that choice, Eagan Historical Society members, community members
and I have all feared that there is nothing stopping him from trying again. Our comfort has been in the fact he has remained in jail. The people who care for and curate this building
are now afraid to work inside the building, but are also afraid to leave it unattended as they wholeheartedly believe he will not hesitate to make another attempt if he is let free.
The only time the Historical Society members feel safe from another such senseless act is when Mr. Arvidson/Damron is in custody.
The money and time that had to be spent to restore this building might otherwise have helped add to the collection and increase public programming and to allow people to visit and learn
about Eagan’s history. The amount would have funded regular Historical Society activities (based on the organizations current annual budget) for more than 150 years.
The Historical Society members and I would press for the longest possible sentence as well as restitution. Mr. Arvidson/Damron has not shown any remorse. He has a long history of this
type of criminal behavior and there is no evidence to show that this crime and others like it will not continue as long as he is given the opportunity. The Historical Society would
like to request that Mr. Arvidson/Damron also give an explanation for his crime and issue a public apology. They further wish to have this printed in a local newspaper or other publication.
Members of the Historical Society have also submitted individual responses to the Victim Impact Statement which I have included below:
How has this crime impacted you emotionally? (Consider lasting injuries/ongoing care if needed)
A: This has been a slap in the face of our community. Eagan is community that is proud of our history and our city. Proof in that lies in the attendance of hundreds of people, from
Eagan as well as neighboring communities that have come to visit and support the Old Town Hall. This attack on our city was pure cowardice. And needs punishment!
What conditions or sentence do you feel the court should impose (example: jail time, probation, counseling, apology letter, etc.)
A: Maximum jail time, probation and 500 hours of community service would be a start!
What other information would you like to share with the court regarding the offense and how it affected you?
A: Sadly this cowardly act of violence against our city add a dark page to our history of a proud community. Please don't take the sentencing of this act lightly. This attack endangered
firefighters, police and disrespected all Eagan residents!
How has this crime impacted you financially?
Repair & restoration to the Old Town Hall (OTH) was very, very costly to the city of Eagan. Monies spent were part of the city’s budget, thus affected everyone living in the city.
What conditions or sentence do you feel the court should impose (example: jail time, probation, counseling, apology letter, etc.)
Jail time, probation, community service (if he could be trusted even with supervision), $$ restitution toward the monies spent for the OTH repair.
What other information would you like to share with the court regarding the offense and how it affected you?
All items, photos, articles, etc. that were lost in the arson fire set at the OTH were outright STOLEN not only from the Historical Society of Eagan, but also from the citizens of Eagan,
Dakota County and the State of Minnesota. This was part of our history. Many of the items and photos had been donated by family members of our early settlers. They were given to
the EHS as a tribute to their ancestors who were among the first residents of the area. Priceless photos were lost. All of these items were entrusted to the EHS for safe keeping and
preservation for their descendants and all citizens to enjoy and remember those who came before them. These items can never be replaced.
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The reconstruction cost well over $400,000. The precise cost of the restoration should be noted and the city should be compensated.
More importantly, the impact on our community of an important landmark like our town hall cannot simply be relegated to a simple preservation of sentimentality. In this case, those who
came before us provided, by their actions, a symbol that defines our community and encourages love of country, civic duty, dignity and a true sense of permanence. These vile souls
tried to destroy that marker and, in so doing, attacked the values and ideals signified by the landmark itself.
You can't put a price tag on what they tried to steal.
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How has this crime impacted you emotionally? (Consider lasting injuries/ongoing care if needed)
Sad that the previous EHS member's work was destroyed because I know how hard they worked.
Angry because I personally spent sixty hours remaking displays this spring so we could reopen the Old Town Hall to the public.
What concerns do you have, if any, about your safety and security?
Scared that the offenders and/or their family members will come back and do it again. Or that I will be inside when they do.
What conditions or sentence do you feel the court should impose (example: jail time, probation, counseling, apology letter, etc.)
I want them in prison for the maximum amount of time-no community service and no parole. They have proven that the only time the public and public servants are safe is when they are
locked up.
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Jail time for sure! (Throw away the key). Restitution if possible and letter of apology to the EHS and the Citizens of Eagan! Published in the paper too!!
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How has this crime impacted you emotionally? (Consider lasting injuries/ongoing care if needed)
Fear we would not be able to fix the Old Town Hall and it would have to be torn down.
How has this crime impacted you physically? (Consider lasting injuries/ongoing care if needed)
Many hours of volunteer time for our Eagan Historical Committee, to try and save, recreate, or replace displays.
How has this crime impacted you financially?
There has been a great deal of monies spent to restore this historical building back to its original state.
Many of the displays and photos we had, were destroyed and they will not all able to be reconstructed.
What concerns do you have, if any, about your safety and security?
If these two arsonist are not given jail time, what is our security and safety that they will not do this again?
They seem to have disregard for the fact the people could have been killed or seriously injured in the act of putting this fire out.
What conditions or sentence do you feel the court should impose (example: jail time, probation, counseling, apology letter, etc.)
MAXIMUM JAIL TIME! Along with mental health counseling, anyone who would do this is mentally Ill.
What other information would you like to share with the court regarding the offense and how it affected you?
Our historical Town Hall, is still a work in progress to get it back to where it was. The Eagan Historical Soc. which supports and runs the historical building is volunteer committee.
Most of our volunteers are over the age of 65. We have VERY few funds to replace, recreate these lost displays, MANY of which were donated. It is likely the replacement of displays
could still take several years after the building has now been repaired.
This is a city landmark, we open up to public residents, schools, Boy Scout & Girl Scout groups to help them understand Eagan’s history and beginnings. It is very simply a learning
center for history.
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Sincerely,
Eagan Historical Society