Workshop scheduled for downtown Decorah historic volunteers

The Decorah Historic Preservation Commission has announced its plans for a workshop for downtown Decorah researchers

The consultant for the Decorah Historic Preservation Commission's effort to place the Decorah commercial district on the National Register of Historic Places will present a workshop for researchers 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon next Friday, September 25th, in the public meeting room on the lower level of the Decorah Public Library.  The workshop's purpose is to prepare local volunteers for the research required for the National Register nomination.

Research by volunteers will provide Decorah's required in-kind match for a $25,000 state of Iowa Historic Resource Development Program grant.  Most of the grant funding will go towards consultant's fees and direct research costs like photocopying and printing.

Researchers will study each individual downtown Decorah building, focusing on dates of construction and renovation and building use. Of particular importance are historic photographs that document building changes.  (In response to a decorahnews.com reader's question, the Decorah Historic Preservation Commission is familiar with Gillmer and Eleanor Seegmiller's 1998 hardbound book "Decorah, City of Springs," and will be using it extensively.)

In order to plan for the September 25th event, the Commission asks that people who plan to attend the workshop notify one of the Commission's research coordinators, either Jody Holland at hollandjl@msn.com or (515) 344-0538 or Diane Scholl at schollde@luther.edu or (563) 382-4802)