[Winona Online Democracy] Winona County Historical Society 160 Johnson Street Winona, Mn 55987 "The Courthouse: How Winona's Landmark was saved" by Dr. Greg Gaut, Associate Professor of History, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, will be presented Wednesday November 29. 2000 at 12:05 p.m. at the Mae Murray Education Center, Winona County Historical Society, 160 Johnson Street, Winona, MN Gaut began his study of Winona's historic courthouse over two years ago. He will present the results of his preliminary research on the long battle to save the Winona County Courthouse which began in 1958 when the County Commissioners first put a bond referendum for a new courthouse on the ballot. Although the local newspaper and various business groups supported the commissioners' plan, the voters defeated it. The County Commissioners put two additional bond referendums on the ballot in 1960 and 1967, which were also rejected, even though supporters mounted a vigorous campaign for a "yes" vote. In 1970, the County Commissioners conceived a plan for building a new courthouse in three stages, thereby avoiding another referendum. Although an organized citizens' group opposed to a new courthouse had been active earlier, now a larger, more activist group appeared, using a variety of tactics to bloc the county plan, including the successful attempt to have the courthouse listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Eventually the County Commissioners backed down, and developed a plan for the remodeling the courthouse. Bond funding for this plan passed easily in 1971, and work began on interior remodeling and exterior restoration. In 1974, the county rededicated the courthouse to great fanfare. Gaut will present a chronology and a narrative of the battle, as well as a small packet of sources, mostly from the newspaper, to give a feel for the controversy. He will also play the song "Save the Lady" which preservation leader Greg Bambenek recorded (on 45 RPM record) to further the movement in 1970 This presentation is a work in progress. Working with Marsha Neff, Gaut plans to interview a number of people on both sides of the issue. Their goal is to tell this remarkable story, and also to come to some conclusions about why county leaders, and the daily newspaper, dedicated so much time and energy to replacing the courthouse with a modern building, and why so many citizens in the community fought so hard to preserve the nineteenth century courthouse. Greg Gaut is Associate Professor of History at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. Where he in his seventh year of teaching. He received his Ph.D. in History from the University of Minnesota in 1992. In addition to his interest in Winona history and historic preservation, he teaches Modern European and Russian history and has published several articles on Russian and Soviet history. The public is invited to bring their lunch or to order a Blue Heron Coffee House box lunch through the society. Call 454-2723 before Noon Tuesday November 28 for selections and prices. For further information contact: Dr. William L. Crozier, Museum Educator 507-454-2723 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] William L. Crozier, Ph.D. professor of history emeritus Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 700 Terrace Heights #54 Winona, MN 55987 phone: 507-452-9690 ---------------- This message was posted to the Winona Online Democracy Project. Please visit http://onlinedemocracy.winona.org to subscribe or unsubscribe. Please sign all messages posted to this list with your actual name. Posting of commercial solicitations is not allowed on this list. Report problems to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
