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State Historical Society awards historic preservation grants

PIERRE, S.D. -- Historic preservation projects in Hot Springs, Menno, Rapid City, Sioux Falls and the Stockholm vicinity recently received matching grants from the South Dakota State Historical Society, as announced by Jay D. Vogt, director of the Society.

“This is the 16th year for this historic preservation grants program,” Vogt said. “In 2012 we awarded over $106,700 between 12 projects, which will result in a total public-private investment of over $233,500. This program is designed to encourage restoration or rehabilitation of historic properties and is one more way we can promote and protect our history and culture.”

The grants are awarded through the State Historical Society’s Deadwood Fund grant program. Funding for the program is from Deadwood gaming revenue earmarked by state law for historic preservation projects throughout the state. The program is administered by the State Historic Preservation Office at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre.

The following projects were the most recent to receive grants:
Hot Springs: Historic Sandstone School House and Pioneer Museum, $15,000 for repointing the stone;
Menno vicinity: Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, $10,000 for replacement of roof and flashing;
Rapid City: Faith Temple, $10,000 for repointing the masonry;
Sioux Falls: Avery House, $10,000 for repointing the masonry and porch reconstruction;
Sioux Falls: Hollister-Sharp House, $9,000 for replacement of the gutter system, repoint the chimney, and repair/replace woodwork;
Stockholm vicinity: Brown Earth Church, $3,125 for window and log rehabilitation.

Deadwood Fund grants are awarded twice a year with grant application deadlines of Feb. 1 and Oct. 1. They are reviewed at the spring and winter meetings of the State Historical Society’s board of trustees. For more information on the Deadwood Fund grant program, contact the State Historic Preservation Office at the Cultural Heritage Center, 900 Governors Drive, Pierre, SD 57501-2217; telephone (605) 773-3458; or website history.sd.gov/Preservation.

The South Dakota State Historical Society is a division of the Department of Tourism. The Department of Tourism is comprised of Tourism, the South Dakota Arts Council, and the State Historical Society. The Department is led by Secretary James D. Hagen. The State Historical Society, an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is headquartered at the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre. The center houses the society’s world-class museum, the archives, and the historic preservation, publishing and administrative/development offices. Call (605) 773-3458 or visit history.sd.gov for more information. The society also has an archaeology office in Rapid City; call (605) 394-1936 for more information.