Document - Historical Society Minutes - Historical Society Meeting Minutes - 10/10/2017
MEETING NOTES/MINUTES
EAGAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
TUESDAY
October 10, 2017
3:40 p.m. – First Floor Conference Room
Members present: Chair Mary Ellen Voracek, Lori Tripp, Greg Oxley, Ted Ringberg, Joe Reid, Bea
Blomquist, Lynae Geseke. Also present was Jack Kennelly (guest) and Communication Coordinator
Joanna Foote.
Jack Kennelly, volunteer for the Burnsville Historical Society, introduced himself noting he has been
working on scanning photos for Dakota County Historical Society. He noted Burnsville is working hard
trying to document more recent history. He also made note that as Burnsville does not have a museum
space, their Society is working to create an extensive and complete Burnsville history online site.
TOWN HALL & EVENT UPDATES
Foote reminded the group about the Open House on Sunday, October 22 from 11 am. to 2 p.m. and
asked which volunteers planned to run the event. Foote noted the Rotary Meeting at Town Hall is on
Thursday, November 3 at 7:00 a.m., and will cover an overview of Town Hall and general Eagan history
with Ted Ringberg (similar to what they presented at Lion’s Club. She asked for someone to speak about
the Lone Oak Tree history.
COLLECTION MANAGEMENT
Foote thanked Tripp for all of her hard work in the basement office space. All of the documents have
been processed/filed/labeled and sorted. All items with the exception of a few remaining have been
moved to the new space. It is an amazing effort she has led.
Tripp noted she and others have gone through all items from the table and files. There are thousands of
photos she is working to identify. The file cabinets have been moved. There are many items to go to
maintenance for storage or disposal. More file drawers are needed. Several boxes were filled with bugs
and junk and have been processed, dumped or salvaged. We have a lot of maps, and she is sorting
through to store chronologically. She is trying to label photos as she goes through; some will be labeled
as scanned.
The Lost Spur sign – she would like to take photos and get rid of the sign (can we get it scanned and
output onto something portable or otherwise?) The group agreed to take photos and destroy. The Lone
Oak Tree pieces were dumped, keeping only a few. Blomquist noted she has a picture of the Lone Oak
Tree that will come to the Historical Society upon her death. She also has a clock.
Tripp asked if we can check to find information about where the District 4 was as there are files from
this school district (it doesn’t match known Eagan district numbers), Reid will look into this.
Foote updated on the Potato Harvester. She noted that Holz Friends of the Farm have been contacted
and also have interest in salvaging the farm implement. If acquired the item it could be stored at Holz
Farm until restoration occurs and then utilized by one or both groups as deemed feasible.
Foote noted she also spoke with Dakota County Historical Society regarding their process/bylaws on
acceptance physical donations and indicated a desire to follow their practice.
• When possible, items are be accepted as donation rather than loan so there is no expectation
for an eventual return
• The item becomes Historical Society property (DCHS can dispose if it becomes necessary)
• Items requiring restoration are accepted on the condition that if restoration cannot be acquired
through donation, the item can be disposed)
Foote then asked for specific action from the members:
• Should the Eagan Historical Society work to acquire the farm implement?
o A majority of members voted in favor
• Should it be stored to Holz Farm until it is determined if restoration can be found?
o A majority of members voted in favor
o Members voiced agreement that sharing opportunities for this item should be explored
o Opinions varied on whether it needs to be restored to be valuable to the Historical
Society or Friends of the Farm. Determination will need to be made at a later date if we
want it restored to look new(er) or kept as something that was used/weathered on a
farm.
• The Group liked the idea of it being portable (i.e. on the trailer).
Foote noted she will work with Geagan to acquire.
Collection Next Steps
Tripp noted she is working to get things organized before the remodeling begins. Once everything has
been sorted we can scan and identifying duplicates. She noted newspapers need to be processed.
Foote noted the City Clerk is working to get a bid do document scanning and has/will include some of
the Historical Societies items within the bid. Foote and Tripp will discuss which items/drawers, etc.
should be prioritized to scan.
DCHS UPDATES & AFFILIATE NOTES
Oxley gave an update noting DCHS received $200,000 endowment from an estate. Lawshee Museum
still needs many upgrades for ADA. He noted the LeDuc House also needs both staff and upgrades.
OTHER
Volunteer to Visit Art Work Eagan (AWE) Space
Foote gave an overview of AWE noting they have purchased and moved into the former Fire
Administration site and are at the point where they are looking at partnerships. The upstairs area is an
open gallery and event/classroom space and could be a good place for us to consider holding events.
Foote is looking for a volunteer to reach out and take a look at the space to see if it would work for our
needs. We need to find out availability, pricing, table/chair options, etc. Ringberg volunteered to look at
the space and report back.
Foote noted that the group might want to consider doing a display or function at the Holz Farm Holiday
event next year, in lieu of attempting to do an independent event. Members will discuss options in
2018.
NEXT HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETING
The next regular meeting is scheduled for November 14, 2017 at 3:30 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.