County museum getting mortar on its walls repaired
People may not notice it at first glance but the Stutsman County Memorial Museum is currently undergoing a facelift. All of the mortar between the outside bricks is being reconstructed in a process called tuck pointing. Officials believe it’s the first time the whole building has undergone this type of renovation in the more than 100 years the building has existed.By: Ben Rodgers, The Jamestown Sun
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People may not notice it at first glance but the Stutsman County Memorial Museum is currently undergoing a facelift.
All of the mortar between the outside bricks is being reconstructed in a process called tuck pointing. Officials believe it’s the first time the whole building has undergone this type of renovation in the more than 100 years the building has existed.
“The mortar in between the bricks deteriorates over time and in some places the bricks were ready to fall out of the building,” said Alden Kollman, treasurer and historian of the Stutsman County Memorial Museum Board of Directors.
The museum is housed in what’s known as the Lutz Mansion, located at 321 Third St. SE. Built by German lumber baron George Lutz in 1907, every room is unique as Kollman called it a true mansion.
“It’s either repair them or wait until it falls down and rebuild it,” Kollman said.
With a lack of mortar, the elements are able to work in between the bricks and with freezing temperatures in the winter, water freezes into ice and expands.
“It’s just like a jack hammer pushing the bricks out,” said Harold Sahr, president of the Stutsman County Memorial Museum Board of Directors.
The repair is expected to cost between $42,000 and $44,000. Most of that will come from a grant facilitated by the Buffalo City Tourism Foundation.
The museum does, however, receive funds through donations and memberships. Kollman said 1,700 people typically donate each year.
“We’re not easy to find and we’re one of the best-kept secrets in Jamestown,” he said.
The museum is home to plethora of artifacts from the late 1800s to 1950.
As a way to get more people interested in local history the Stutsman County Memorial Museum will be holding front porch chats on Sunday afternoons this summer.
As the name implies it’s an informal discussion featuring community members talks about local history.
“It’s important to us because it draws people to the museum,” Kollman said. “It should be important to the community because this information will get lost if it’s not passed on.”
Chats in the future will include a profane grain dealer who paid for the stained glass windows in the St. James Basilica and an explorer of ill repute.
There is also an ice cream float event on July 8 and a sing-along ice cream social on Aug. 12. Both are free to the public.
The Stutsman County Memorial Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. There is no admission charge.
Sun reporter Ben Rodgers can be reached at 701-952-8455 or by email at brodgers@jamestownsun.com
Tags: local news, news, museum
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