After decades of operation in the Masonic Temple, the Rock County Historical Society has officially moved out of the North Freeman building and into its new space in the History Center on East Main Street, Luverne.
The society purchased the building from the Masons in 1996 for $1, with the agreement that the civic organization could continue holding its meetings there.
On Friday, Historical Society volunteers turned over their key for the building to the Masons, who in turn paid $1 to get their building back.
According to Bryce Stoltenberg, leader of the local Ben Franklin Lodge, the group hopes to open the building up to the public as a shared community space.
“We have couches and comfortable furniture in there, and we’re hoping to get a TV and some gaming stations to create a more social space that multiple organizations can share,” he said.
“What I remember about this building is that no one came and went from it; it was this big looming building on the corner.”
He said he’s hoping the social atmosphere will encourage users to reconnect and socialize.
“It can be a meeting space, but maybe people will want to hang out awhile after their meetings are over, instead of heading for home right away,” Stoltenberg said.
Groups interested in using the Masonic Lodge can reach him at 283-4999.
Historical Society auction set for Saturday, Oct. 8
For Historical Society President Betty Mann, turning over the key to the Masonic Lodge means the new History Center on Main Street is one step closer to opening.
“I’m very excited to see this,” Mann said Tuesday.
The society purchased the former Ford dealership building last year and volunteers have been fundraising to cover purchase and renovation costs.
More funds are needed to complete the project, and proceeds from Friday’s auction will help that cause.
“Through the years we’ve acquired duplicates of some items and other items we aren’t able to display,” Mann told the Star Herald in a Sept. 1 report.
“And we’re finding some things that were acquired 20-some years ago from the Hinkly House that we didn’t know we had.”
Saturday’s auction will likely help in the sorting process in addition to raising money for the Historical Society.
Items — including existing inventory and donated pieces — will be auctioned in the bay area of the History Center (formerly the Ford Motor dealership).
Mann said the auction will be a unique opportunity for the community members to donate items of value they no longer need while at the same time supporting a good cause.
“We’re not looking for rummage sale items,” Mann said, struggling to find the right way to describe the auction.
“For example, one family has contacted me about donating an antique roll-top desk from their estate.”
“If you have something of value that you would consider donating, we’re interested in having it,” Mann said.
Of interest to bidders might be bookcases, glass cabinets and display pieces that were used at the museum but are not needed at the new location. Also, office divider walls that separated displays in the museum will be offered for sale.
To donate to the auction, contact Mann at 507-283-2913 or email mannmade@iw.net.
Volunteers will be at the History Center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday to accept donations. The phone number is 507-283-2122 and the email address is rcmuseum@gmail.com.
Mann said if there were ever a time to support the History Center, it’s now, because the matching funds offered from an anonymous donor will end Jan. 1.
Items not sold will be donated to charity or disposed of. “We can’t keep storing stuff that we know will never be used,” Mann said.
“Through the years, people have donated boxes of stuff, and we may have displayed eight or 10 pieces, but were asked to take the whole box.”
Among those miscellaneous boxes are likely some valuable antiques that could draw bids from interested collectors. “We’re discovering all these things we didn’t know we had,” Mann said.
She repeated her appreciation for all the volunteer labor and donations to the project.
“Sometimes I wonder if this is a dream of mine, individually, but this shows me there are so many people who are interested in it and are truly anxious to see it open,” Mann said. “That, to me, is gratifying.”
She admits the History Center has been her dream, but she’s clear about the fact that it’s been a team effort of the Historical Society board, the Housing Partnership specialists, city and county leaders and donors and volunteers.
“So many people have done so much and given so much to help us get this far,” Mann said.
Finish line is in sight
The interior work at the History Center is nearly complete, but Mann said an official grand opening will be announced when the exterior is nearly done.
Since the project must meet handicap accessibility and historical standards, Mann said there are considerable hoops to jump through to meet those requirements.
“I would like to set a grand opening date, but we can’t do that yet,” she said.
“We’ll be able to open two sections this fall, but the displays in the bay area we’ll be working on all winter.”
Luverne’s 150th anniversary celebration is next summer, and Mann said the History Center grand opening may be tied to those events.
Meanwhile, Mann said she’s looking forward to the day she can turn her attention to documenting history.
“My term (as Historical Society president) expired in January, but I told them I’d stay on until this is done, and then I’ll step down,” she said.
“If I died tomorrow, somebody would get it done; I’m replaceable. But I have all this research done that I’d like to get written down. It’s not that someone else couldn’t do the research and find what I’ve found. But I don’t want all my footwork to be lost.”