Morris' own Brian Williams has referred to the historic Morris High School in several of the articles he has written on his ilovemorris73.blogspot.com site.
On January 17, 2012, Brian wrote: "The old school needn't have been discarded like an old shoe. It is a rebuff to the long-ago visionaries of the community."
That comment and others in his January 17 article indirectly refer to the Morris City Council's recent 3-0 vote - one member abstained and another was absent - to go ahead with plans for possible demolition by moving ahead with the Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) process.
Certain community, state and Federal requirements must be fulfilled if permission is to be granted upon completion of the EAW process to allow demolition of the school. This process is necessary because the historic school is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Why has there been no public outcry or media blast promoting reuse and preservation of our historic school, perhaps similar to the one waged in 2002 before the vote on construction of a new school?
Are there not others of you out there that feel that Sixth Street will seem forlorn with its educational historic marker and monumental entrance to the school demolished? Or have we just been hushed and/or shamed into silence by those with louder voices?
But, you say, the looming obstacle is money. So let's talk for a moment about that major obstacle for renovation/rehabilitation and preservation of at least the most structurally sound and historically significant parts of the school: the 1914 original Morris High School, the 1930 art deco auditorium/gymnasium, and the 1949 classroom/cafeteria addition.
(And, let's not forget that in order to accomplish demolition and landfill requirements of the entire school building complex, the City of Morris would have to somehow come up with around $800,000 to $1.3 million.)
Many of the available grants for historic preservation projects require matching sums of money from community or community-raised sources. Couldn't a group of us organize and raise some money? Maybe we could accumulate stories and pictures from former students and staff and compile a book or video that could be sold to generate more funds.
Do we really want the building and grounds destroyed without even a collection of data to verify that part of Morris' history?
Although the economy is not rosy, there are some financial perks now that were not available a few years ago. Maybe there is a developer or community member willing to look into using the State of Minnesota's new 20 percent rehab tax credits for historic properties. The Legacy Amendment has also provided a relatively new source of grant money, although it is shared by other entities.
The Preservation Alliance of Minnesota (PAM) and other preservation agencies are committed to helping Morris and others with National Register properties use these and existing Federal resources in renovation efforts and reuse.
PAM, the Minnesota Historical Society and the National Trust for Historic Preservation have sent representatives to Morris numerous times, and are standing by to help us.
What reuses might be possible in a town such as Morris? It is another good question to ask. Some ideas were suggested even before our historic school was vacated, but there are some new possibilities as well.
Here is a combined list of some of those options:
1) Condominiums for people of all ages with a gymnasium/auditorium facility,
2) Artist studios and exhibit space for the many talented and creative people in our community,
3) Senior citizen facility with exercise and food preparation and serving capabilities,
4) Additional community theater and showroom space,
5) Housing for a community church with room for auxiliary classrooms and events,
6) Outdoor swimming pool with plenty of parking availability,
7) Regional Fitness Center expansion,
8) City office relocation and/or extension,
9) Community Education classes and activities, and. . .
10) One of the newest ideas: short-term or long-term hotel accommodations with restaurant, banquet, gift shop and exercise potential.
Some of you probably have other ideas which would just add to the desirability of the property. The problem is that the above list has barely been investigated, explored or advertised for any actual reuse.
Much time, however, was spent in only one arena: development of green housing.
The studies and grants related to a "green" housing development for the property were touted as a way to put the land back on the tax rolls. However, this property has never been on the tax rolls. In fact, the benefactor who donated the land a century ago specified that this land was always to be used for educational purposes.
As Williams asserted in an earlier April 7, 2010, blogpost, he "just can't believe there is a substantial need for new housing in this community."
Even if there were, he pointed out in that article, "the residents. . .would probably just be transplants from other parts of town and not newcomers."
In other words, there would be no real additions to the tax rolls. Besides, a housing project there would cost the City considerable dollars in infrastructure for a new building site, even if potential homeowners would foot part of the bill in increased property taxes.
By completing any one of the ten reuses above, it would help revitalize Morris as well as bring in local revenue. In addition, Morris would keep its historic school and site functioning, hopefully incorporating some educational purpose(s) as well as contributing to the aesthetic and cultural aspects of our town.
Brian Williams went so far as to liken the former school with its playgrounds, parking areas and football field to a "town square." Could it once again have such a distinction?
Any takers? If you have questions or are interested in being on a committee to look into reuse, rehabilitation and preservation of this extremely important Morris landmark, please contact Laura Carrington by phone: 320-589-1999. By mail: 29841 U.S. Hwy 59, Morris MN 56267. Or by email: laurac@fedtel.net
Action needs to start now, and a meeting will be scheduled soon.
(Laura Carrington is a Morris Area school board member and long-time acquaintance of mine. - BW)
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