Document - Historical Society Minutes - Meeting Minutes - 9/10/2013MEETING NOTES/MINUTES
EAGAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
TUESDAY
September 10, 2013
3:30 p.m. – 2nd Floor Conference Room A/B
Members present: Chair Mary Ellen Voracek, Vice-Chair Kim Hazel, Martin DesLauriers, Millie
Gignac, Ted Ringberg, Joe Reid, Bea Bloomquist, Dawn Simpson and Bernie Jensen. Also present
was reporter, Clare Kennedy form Eagan Patch and Communication Coordinator Joanna Foote.
MEETING MINUTES & SECRETARY
The minutes from August 6, 2013 were approved and accepted without any changes.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY BUSINESS
Update and Discussion Regarding Fire at Historic 1914 Town Hall Museum
1. What Happened
Shortly before 5:00am on Sunday, September 8, 2013, a police officer spotted the fire at the
Historic Town Hall. The Fire Dept was immediately notified. By the time they arrived the
building had sustained quite a bit of damage. When the fire department heard the address
extra fire fighter responded to help save many of the historical artifacts. Foote arrived on the
scene about 7:30 am. There was a lot of water damage. The back left (SW) corner was
heavily damaged.
Many of the committee members Kim Hazel saw coverage on the morning news and came to
the site. Lori Tripp, Mary Ellen and Ron Voracheck, Dawn Simpson, Bea Blomquist and Ted
and Mary Ringberg all came to the site to assist as they could. A restoration company
located in Eagan picked up the items that had come out of the building including numerous
framed items, all of the benches, tables, chairs, the baby cradle, etc. and took them to their
facility to dry out (to prevent mold) and cataloged all items and will begin the cleaning and
restoration process. The company will go back and sifted through what is left to gather and
process. The badly damaged support beams/structure will need to be reinforced before
anyone else can enter the building. The potbelly stove will be removed and taken to the
Maintenance Facility.
2. View Photos and Media Coverage
Foote showed photos that had been taken by the fire Department upon arrival as the building
was fully engulfed in flames, others taken later of the internal (taken from outside through
hole in the side of the building) and external structural damage. Photos also included many
taken by Ron Voracek of the entire inventory of items salvaged from the building. Gignac
collected and brought all of the newsclippings that had been written about the event and these
are included with the packet.
3. Next Steps
Foote indicated that she received a call from the Minnesota Historical Society on Monday
morning. They had heard about the fire and informed her of the resources available as well
as possible grants.
Bob Herskovitz, Outreach Conservator for the Minnesota Historical Society is an expert in
collections preservation and management. He had been to our Town Hall a few years back
and was familiar with the Eagan collection. He has been assisting Foote by meeting with her,
the insurance adjusters and with the restoration company advising next steps and best
practices. He has offered to continue assisting throughout the process and work with staff and
the committee on a timeline of the necessary steps in which will be helpful in completing the
restoration of items. He also said he would be available to help in whatever capacity he is
needed.
As the building is not accessible until it can be structurally stabilized it is difficult to assess
what remains in the building and what has been lost to fire. Foote did note that anything in
the back corner was likely gone. There were remnants left of the old VOTE NO hand painted
sign from the cedar grove annexation era. She listed many more items that had been partially
or totally saved or destroyed. The committee continued to ask about more items and fill in
some of the blank on items that Foote wasn’t sure about.
Service Master has contacted a company to look at the main beam as it is sagging quite
dramatically, the flooring is unstable and the so is the chimney. Priority one will be to make
sure that the building doesn’t collapse. The building has been boarded up over the area
completely burned away, so no access can be gained through the fire opening.
Insurance adjusters will make their report. This may determine if it can be restored or if it
will be need to be razed.
The committee showed Joanna Foote their appreciation for her hard work and for representing the
organization with the media, during this terrible event.
Streets Alive/Showcase Eagan Event Sunday, September 15, 2013
The “Eagan Streets Alive/Showcase Eagan” event will be held Sunday, September 15, 2013, from
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Healthy, fun activities, games and entertainment will be provided throughout
the route. Foote indicated that Ted and Mary Ringberg have largely planned all of the activities for
the Historical Society area during the event. She noted that volunteesr should be on site by noon to
assist. She and the Ringbergs would plan to arrive earlier. Foote passed out a 1.5 mile route map to
the committee members. She showed where they would be located on the map. The Historical
Society theme is “Dancing Through the Decades.” A two man band has been hired for the first 90
minutes, and Ringberg has gathered a variety of musician and friends who dance who will be
assisting the Rigbergs in teching various dances to the public.
The committee went over the scheduled times of activities. Ringberg showed a Corn shaker and
explained the stump fiddle. There will be signs showing Eagan’s history through the decades. The
goal is to get audience participation in activities. Committee also discussed if it would be possible to
accept donations for the Town Hall fire. Foote said she would inquire with the City regarding their
policy on this issue.
Other
Blomquist indicated that she has a numbered and framed print of the Lone Oak Tree that was
commissioned for Eagan’s 125th Anniversary that she plans to bequeath to the Eagan Historical
Society.
NEXT MEETING
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at 3:30 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
DesLauriers made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Reid seconded, all members voted to
adjourn at 5:10 p.m.