Historical Society begins property and restoration projects at Chippewa City Church

The Cook County Historical Society is preparing for a busy spring and summer, with several restoration and other projects underway.

This year, the Cook County Historical Society (CCHS) is focusing on one of the leading restoration projects, the Chippewa City Church, to help ensure its legacy for the next 100 years. 

As part of the process, CCHS is working with MacDonald & Mack Architects on the final Historic Structure Report (HSR) that will help honor the building’s legacy. In the coming months, the CCHS will outline priorities, project phasing, and cost estimates based on the HSR treatment recommendations, the existing conditions, and CCHS’s long-term goals.

A portion of the Chippewa City Church restoration process began this week. The CCHS hired Wes and Paul Higgins to thin trees and vegetation surrounding the Church. The tree and vegetation clearing is a preventative measure to reduce potential risks such as fire, damage to falling trees due to a storm, or dying trees due to spruce budworm. 

Recently, CCHS met with a representative from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forestry Division and a Grand Marais Fire Department (GMFD) member, who provided input about proactive measures to protect the Church. 

A few things identified as potential threats include:

• The proximity of some of the trees to the Church structure caused concerns about potential damage through the threat of wildfire and falling trees.
• Spruce budworm was identified in the surrounding spruce trees. 
•  A large collection of balsam fir, which is one of the main host trees for spruce budworm larvae, has shaded out other native trees and plants. 
• A large collection of vegetation in the understory of the surrounding woods could be a potential fire danger. 

Wes and Paul Higgins are currently on site clearing sections of the property. As work began, crews discovered that many of the trees were not as viable as originally thought, and more of the property was cleared. 

In addition to the restoration work at the Chippewa City Church, the CCHS is working on bringing the electrical code up to date at the Bally Blacksmith Shops in Grand Marais. 

Over at the Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery, work is underway to finish updating HVAC work and prepping to install a new lighting system to replace the current obsolete fixtures. Window upgrades and an ADA door are also being considered. The CCHS is looking forward to adding a new sculpture created by artist Sam Gathje to the front yard this summer. 

Over at the History Museum, work this summer will focus on finding a remedy for the persistent water issues in the basement, which have led to an ongoing shortage of storage space for the collections. The CCHS has cleaned out areas and reorganized the basement storage to accommodate more shelving wherever possible. 

The CCHS said an additional SHPO project is currently in the review stages. This project would add a small staircase to the back deck to create more accessible access to the museum from the east. If approved, this project will also help with hosting the Minnesota Children’s Press Letteracy Deck project on our deck this summer.

Across the harbor, in the Grand Marais Recreation Area, the 1935 Nee-Gee fishing tug and replica 1930s Fish House await the next steps. The Grand Marais Park Board’s master plan will help determine how long these can stay in their present location. The Nee-Gee boat has recently undergone several assessments in consideration of future restoration efforts. 

Local experienced boat builders determined that almost every piece of the boat would need to be replaced – making it a rebuild instead of a restoration. For now, the CCHS plans to focus on preservation and taking the lines off the boat so they are recorded. 

The CCHS said they want to expand the boat’s shelter to protect it from the elements, build a longer viewing deck with an ADA ramp, and add additional interpretation through signage. In addition, the Fish House will either need repairs to the rock cribs under the dock or be moved farther away from the shore to avoid further issues.

Kalli Hawkins April 10, 2024