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Wells group gets $125,000 grant

Historical Society will use the funds to rebuild ‘The Lunchroom’

By Kevin Mertens - Staff Writer | Nov 27, 2022

Carmen Meyer, Betsy Hermanson and Kathy Ayers, left to right, volunteer for the Wells Historical Society.

It has been said it takes a village to raise a child. It might also be said that it takes a village of volunteers to ensure the history of our area communities is kept alive for others to see.

In the case of the Wells Historical Society, three of those volunteers are Carmen Meyer, Betsy Hermanson and Kathy Ayers. Although, they would be the first ones to mention there are many others who are integral to the success of the historical society.

“We are very fortunate to have nine dedicated people on our society board,” Hermanson says. “But, more than that, the community as a whole is very supportive of the work we do.”

One of the latest projects being undertaken by the Wells Historical Society is the restoration of the former Lunchroom building located next to the Wells Depot Museum.

“The Lunchroom was constructed in 1903, the same year as the depot,” Meyer, who is the president of the Wells Historical Society, explains. “However, it was not built by the railroad.”

The Lunchroom Restoration Project received a major boost last week when the local historical society learned they had been awarded a $125,000 grant on behalf of the Blandin Foundation to be used for the restoration.

“It is actually called the Blandin Foundation Leadership Boost Grant,” Hermanson, the director of the museum, comments.

According to the Blandin Foundation, the Boost Grants were launched to encourage Minnesotans living in rural and Tribal communities to be visionary and creative as they move their communities forward after two years of snowballing challenges (because of COVID).

Meyer, Hermanson and Ayers serve on the museum committee of the Wells Historical Society and worked on the application for the grant.

“The city of Wells has a little bit of history with the Blandin Foundation,” Hermanson points out. “They started working with the city in 2009 and over the course of two years the Blandin Foundation offered leadership courses to the people who were leaders in our town.”

That connection seemed to have helped, and when the people from the Blandin Foundation contacted the Wells Historical Society to see if they wanted to participate in the Leadership Boost Program, the answer was a resounding yes.

“We know that the response by organizations looking for help with funding was overwhelming,” Hermanson says. “Originally, $1 million was set aside for the program. But, that amount increased to $5 million after more than 300 letters were submitted asking for funding.”

Part of the additional funds, $1.5 million, was secured from the Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies.

With the funds secured, Ayers, the vice president of the Wells Historical Society, shares the next step is to have plans drawn up for the restoration.

“We told the Blandin Foundation we planned on beginning work on May 1, 2023 with the goal to be done on Nov. 1 of next year,” Ayers mentions.

One of the requirements of the grant is that the money is spent before the end of 2023.

“Over the years, in addition to being The Lunchroom, it was also a cafe, a house and most recently housed a dog grooming business,” Hermanson explains. “There is a lot of work to be done to restore the building to its original state.”

Interior walls, which were constructed when the structure was used for a house, will have to be removed.

“There is also a deck to remove and windows which have to be restored to their original places,” Hermanson adds. “There is a doorway which has to be moved back to its original location and the roofline needs to be restored to how it was when it was built.”

The committee had hoped to receive a grant from the Minnesota Historical Society which they had planned to use for the exterior restoration of the building.

“Since we did not receive that grant, we will use the money from the Blandin Grant to do the exterior work,” Hermanson comments. “We have been told we should have a good chance of receiving the grant from the Minnesota Historical Society next year.”

Hermanson notes the local group will be in contact with the state historical society during the Lunchroom Restoration Project to make sure the renovation meets the Minnesota State Historical guidelines.

While some funds are raised through the sale of a variety of items on display at the Wells Depot Museum, Hermanson notes the generosity of the community has been amazing.

“We receive donations from service clubs and from many individuals living in the community,” she comments. “We are very thankful for the support and for all of the help people give us.”