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New space for old stuff

Subhead
History Center on Main Street ready to accept artifacts from museum this fall
Lead Summary
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By
Jason Berghorst

Work on the interior of the new History Center in Luverne is essentially complete.
Members of the Rock County Historical Society were invited for a final walk-through on Monday, and only a few incidental items remain to be completed.
Now, the move from the current museum on Freeman Avenue to the new center on Main Street has begun.
According to Rock County Historical Society President Betty Mann, work on the outside of the building will continue for a couple more months.
“There will be new stucco on the exterior of the entire building and the parking lot will be completely redone,” Mann said.
The building will have new color, lighting and some public art added to the exterior.
Mann said the move is expected to take weeks and will be done room by room with all volunteer labor.
“It’s not going to be a big mass move,” she explained. “We have to do it carefully, one step at a time.”
Not all items accumulated at the museum will make the move to the new location, however.
“After we do a lot sorting at the museum, duplicate items and things that can not be displayed will be considered for auctioning off,” Mann said.
Information about the auction, including the items available for sale, will be shared with the public in advance of the event.
“We’re hoping we can raise some more funds and allow people to purchase items from our collection that may be important to them,” Mann said.
When the move is complete sometime this fall, the History Center will host a grand opening celebration.
Features in the new center that will open this fall include a meeting room with projection technology, a research room, reception area and the front showroom area most visible from Main Street.
“The front showroom will open with a display from the Luverne Automobile Company,” Mann said.
“Later we will display all industries from Rock County’s history.”
A permanent display of nutcrackers donated by Mann will also open this fall.
The west portion of the building, formerly used as repair bays by Herman Motors, will open with rotating displays sometime next year.
“We need to do a little more work and possibly a little more fundraising to have that west part ready,” Mann said.
As the Historical Society begins its big move to the new History Center, Mann focuses on all that has been accomplished thus far.
“We just have so much appreciation for all the expert local help we’ve received in getting this project completed.”
Greg Burger, who chairs the fundraising efforts for the new center, echoes Mann’s comments.
“The community has responded extremely well to the fundraising effort,” Burger said.
“Traditionally Luverne has been a great community for supporting projects like this,” he added.
Mann lists the Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership, Rock-Nobles Community Corrections, the Luverne Chamber of Commerce, the Luverne Area Community Foundation, the Historical Society board and City of Luverne and Rock County staff as being especially helpful to the project.
“We also thank all who have donated funds or the many hours of volunteer work,” Mann said.
Fundraising to complete and enhance the new History Center continues.
According to Mann, the benefactor who is matching all funds donated to the project will continue to do so until Jan. 1.
“Any money donated now until the end of the year will be matched dollar for dollar,” Mann said.

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