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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage Preservation & Historical Society- 04/17/2025 - Joint MeetingUNAPPROVED MINUTES JOINT MEETING BETWEEN THE EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION AND THE EDEN PRAIRIE HISTORICAL SOCIETY THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 2025 7:00 P.M. Meeting Heritage Rooms, City Hall HPC COMMISSION MEMBERS: Steve Schumacher (Chair); Paul Thorp (Vice-Chair); Rod Fisher; George Maxwell; Robert Bowes; Andy Ludowese; Catherine Lau, Prima Sisinni, Lisa Rude HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEMBERS: Kathie Case-Pres., Paul Thorp-Vice Pres., Chris Honaas Wildfang Treasurer, Tom Achartz-Museum Curator, Mary Meier- Secretary, Kelley Regan-CPG House Chair and Directors: Bob Bowes, Devyn Stanton, Bob Prince, Duane Hookom, Suzanne Berg COMMISSION STAFF: Beth Novak-Krebs, Staff Liaison Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary STUDENT MEMBERS: Nico Allen, Kadie Crider, Jacob Holje, Hardhik Kommalapati, Amuktha Pothamsetti, Annika Rice I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Schumacher called the meeting to order at 6:11. The commission members of both commissions introduced themselves. HPC Commissioner Lau was absent. II. NEW BUSINESS A. HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION UPDATES Case stated she was on the first HPC back in 1989. The Historical Society was designated to care for collections by then-Mayor Osterholt in 1969. The Heritage Preservation Committee was under the umbrella of the City Council. She gave an overview of the significance of the Historical Society’s partnership with the HPC. Paul Maravelas was involved with the HPC in the early years; then John Gertz, historian, was the staff liaison. The City’s sense of value of history has improved since then. She described how the Cummins Phipps Grill House was almost lost to a ballfield. EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION April 17, 2025 Page 2 Schumacher commended the Mayor’s and City Council’s dedication to history. He summarized the HPC’s efforts to preserve history in Eden Prairie. Fisher gave an overview of his work with indigenous and pre-settler history. He wished to find a way to tell history that was less documented. Not much progress was made in talks with the Shakopee nation, but the HPC realized it had some documented pre-settler history and managed to put together a report and book proposal to be written by Paul Maravelas and Zach Mohlis. This was a year-and-a-half timeline, with research being compiled into a manuscript, which would become a book and an online report and bibliography. Schumacher summarized the grants and other funding sources for the book proposal. Achartz asked since the historical role of the HPC was to preserve buildings, how this work blended into Historical Society’s sphere of influence, and how this aligned with the intent of the commission. Thorp stated his role was to give Maravelas the research, and he was a joint member of the HPC and the Historical Society. Case stated the HPC received the structural grants, whereas the Historical Society received smaller grants. The Historical Society also returned half the money raised from activities such as Santa to the Cummins Phipps Grill House. In her opinion the two organizations complemented each other. She gave an overview of the restoration of the House. Maxwell stated once the book was written people will know what is in the Historical Society’s collection. Schumacher added the specific mission was to 1. safeguard the heritage of the City by preserving its sites and structures, to 2. promote the preservation and continued use of the historical sites and structures for the education and general welfare of the people of the City, and 3. fostering civic pride in the beautiful and noble accomplishments of the past. Novak-Krebs stated education had been a particular focus lately. Case emphasized the two organizations did not do the same thing. Case spoke of the commission’s emphasis on adaptive reuse and Schumacher explained the student project video. Case added the Historical Society was a resource for information not in the files. Novak-Krebs announced the interpretive panels for Flying Red Horse arrived and were ready to be installed. There would be a conversation Monday on the timing for construction of the plaza, installing the panels and a community event and a ribbon-cutting. Regarding the development on the site of Marshall Farm, the development agreement was being finalized. Once that was done, there would be no demolition until the HPC completed photo documentation of the structures and property. Thorp explained the upcoming events at the Dorenkemper House, and Novak-Krebs explained the City was still working on adaptive reuse of the house, which included adding restrooms. Case stated in June there would be an event with food trucks, and Picnic on the Farm would be held July 16, at 6:00 p.m. EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION April 17, 2025 Page 3 Thorp stated that they could use some help when they do tours of the house to monitor the kids that go through. There would be a bluegrass music band. Schumacher asked for large Historical Society projects the HPC could help with. Case’s suggestions included a trolley tour, the Calico Ball held at Steve Schussler’s barn, with square dancing and hay bales in a Green Acres theme. On May 9 and 10 the Prop Shop would be held, which had raised $4000 in two days last fall. Santa brought in 4,000 people every year, and this year his visit would start two weeks before Thanksgiving. Case invited the HPC to hold events and have meetings in the house. She described the cessation of the tree selling due to their small size and described the Sharing Tree event. Schumacher suggested also working with the Human Rights and Diversity Commission. Other suggestions were an Amazing Race idea with a stamped passbook/Past Port concept. Sisinni suggested an accompanying app, and Lisa Rude suggested a digital photo plus the physical Past Port stamp. Case suggested Peoplefest and stated Katie Qualey wanted a scarecrow contest. Case suggested a Founding Day event collaboration and lamented that despite Eden Prairie being a river town, one could not access the river. Also, one could not drive to see the Flying Red Horse, and she emphasized the need to have some kind of river destination. Discussion followed on RT Anderson park. Fisher asked the parameters of “historical.” Achartz asked which demographics groups were missing. Discussion followed on the difficulty of starting the conversation, valuing the history of others as advocates for history. Fisher stated he lives on Duck Lake with Gordon Stodola had asked him for photos. Case suggested gathering Peoplefest information to create a file: when did new residents come, why, and from where? There was no historian on staff at Eden Prairie, but Thorp stated a clipping file was being built. Stanton offered to take new photos and videos and create short records. Achartz noted it could be difficult to collect history, especially in the digital age. Schumacher added more photos were fake today. Cheryl Ahlcrona stated she was a member of the Lake Minnetonka-Excelsior Historical Society and described the “waiting to die” group of longtime members. Case announced the Annual Meeting on May 15 at 6:00 p.m. and invited all present to attend. She also invited them to become members. Schumacher asked for and received confirmation a report from the HPC was on the Historical Society agenda, and a report from the Historical Society was on the HPC agenda. III. OLD BUSINESS EDEN PRAIRIE HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION April 17, 2025 Page 4 IV. NEXT MEETING The next HPC meeting will be held on Monday, April 21, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. at the Heritage Rooms, City Hall. The next Historical Society meeting will be held on May 15, 2025. V. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Maxwell moved, seconded by Fisher to adjourn. Motion carried 8-0. The meeting was adjourned at 7:09 p.m.