Grant will support pool building application to National Register
Kyrl Henderson of the Decorah Historic Preservation showed CLG Coordinator for the State Historical Society of Iowa Paula Mohr the Decorah Municipal Pool building in April.
By Sarah Strandberg
The Decorah Historic Preservation Commission has received funding to help place the Decorah Municipal Pool building on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Commission was recently awarded a $3,995 certified local government (CLG) grant from the State Historical Society of Iowa to help pay for research, documentation and photographs necessary for a National Register application.
"It is so gratifying to have the historical significance of this building acknowledged at the highest level of the state. I am so grateful to (CLG Coordinator for the State Historical Society of Iowa) Paula Mohr and (Decorah Historic Preservation Commission Chair) Lyle Otte for their help and guidance in writing the grant application. This is another feather in Decorah's cap that we can all share. Now the real work begins," said Kyrl Henderson, assistant Commission chair.
Henderson authored the CLG grant application with feedback from Otte and Mohr.
The Commission has raised the matching funds for the grant that will pay someone to complete the National Register application. Henderson, a professional photographer, is providing an "in-kind" match by donating his photography services, and the Commission has received other donations, including a "significant" one from the Oneota Historic Future Alliance, Henderson said.
Henderson said the National Historic Register application is similar to writing a short book, and the total budget for the project is $6,670.
Since spring of 1937
The Decorah Municipal Pool building has been in continuous use since it opened in the spring of 1937.
According to the Commission, the building design is "an architectural specimen of an advanced contemporary style of its day."
"It is a vision of both the art moderne and the international styles of architecture, as designed by Edward Novak, who worked at the well known Charles Altfillisch architectural firm in Decorah," the CLG application stated.
The pool building construction has additional historical importance because it was a partnership project between the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the city of Decorah during the Great Depression, the grant application said. Carlson Construction was supervisor of the project and local unemployed men were hired as laborers.
Mohr and other state officials toured the pool building in April and recommended the Commission pursue a listing on the National Register.
Reader Comments
Posted: Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Article comment by:
robert saxvik
It is amazing to see the Decorah Pool qualifying for National Historic status! Kudos to those that worked for its designation. Is this the first municipal pool to be so designated in the USA? Of course, us Big Canoe residents were relegated a few dips in Bear Creek near Highlandville. It was only later as a student at DHS that was able to enjoy such an amazing facility. It is appropriate that it is recognized as WPA project of those depression years. It's close to my memories that my father, Gilbert, a farmer, worked in WPA quarry near our farm(now owned by the Wilbur Stoen family. As a former radio announcer @ manager.."thanks for listening!".
