Preserving History: Crow Wing County Historical Museum and Research Library Phase II

The grant rehabilitated the historic property and to upgraded the HVAC systems in order to improve the conservation of artifacts and the visitors' experience.

The Crow Wing County Historical Society Museum and Research Library are housed in the former Crow Wing County Jail and Sheriff's Residence built in 1916. The property, along with the Crow Wing County Courthouse, is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Roof work consisted of repairs to the east side roof valley and a small area on the west side. Clay tiles were carefully removed to expose the damaged areas. The roof structure was reinforced and the original clay tiles were put back in place. A few broken tiles in different areas across the roof were replaced as needed. The majority of existing tiles were salvaged and reused, no new tiles were purchased for these repairs. 
Tuckpointing and concrete repairs were completed on the building. Crumbled mortar and any broken brick were carefully removed and replaced. With the number of original stock bricks onsite, no new bricks were purchased to make these repairs. 
The brown aluminum windows that were installed in 1980 were removed and replaced with a white double hung window, bringing the building back to its original look.

Accessibility improvements on the interior of the building consisted of reconstructing the existing AV room to create accessible access between the archive room and the gallery, remodeling the lower level restroom, removing partitions and adding grab bars to create single-use accessible public restrooms, adding handrails in the identified locations and updating door hardware where needed. In the attic space, a new opening and ramp were successfully created and the original brick was salvaged and reused. 

Other interior works consisted of gypsum board replacement in areas that had water damage and spindles were added in the gallery area to comply with the building code.

In regards to the mechanical updates to the HVAC system, air conditioning units, two new fan coil units and a new air handling unit with automated controls were successfully installed. The HVAC system has been tested and balanced and is controlled by the campus automation system.

With the building deficiencies addressed and the envelope of the building secured, they can ensure the protection of the artifacts and preservation of this 100+-year-old historic structure. Repairs to the roof, drainage system and exterior brick will prevent further deterioration of the building and maximize its life expectancy. Rehabilitation of the wood windows will extend the efficiency and lifespan by as many years as new aluminum windows would provide. Updating the mechanical equipment and automated controls will prove to be most valuable to the care and extended life of the irreplaceable artifact housed in the building. The Crow Wing County Historical Museum and Research Library will continue to be a place all ages can enjoy, learn and experience pieces of Crow Wing County history.