FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Jan. 13, 2014

CONTACT:  Jeff Mammenga, Media Coordinator, (605) 773-6000, Jeff.Mammenga@state.sd.us

State Historical Society Awards Deadwood Fund Preservation Grants

PIERRE, S.D. -- Historic preservation projects in Aberdeen, Iroquois, Sioux Falls and the Woonsocket vicinity recently received matching grants from the South Dakota State Historical Society.

“This was the 16th year for this historic preservation grants program,” said Jay D. Vogt, society director. “In 2013 we awarded more than $126,700 between 11 projects which will result in a total public-private investment of more than $253,400. 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 awarded Deadwood Fund Grants:

n  Aberdeen: Brown County Courthouse, $16,000 to supplement stained glass window repair;

n  Iroquois: Bank of Iroquois Building, $16,000 to supplement roof replacement, window restoration and re-pointing;

n  Sioux Falls: Quartzite Paver Alley, $16,000 to supplement removing the paving stones, laying a concrete subsurface, and relaying the pavers; and

n  Woonsocket vicinity: L.P. Nielson Barn, $16,000 to supplement repairs to and reinforcement of the stone foundation and in-kind roof replacement.

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.

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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.