Waterford Iron Bridge Awarded $95,000

This time, David muscled in on Goliath and grabbed a piece of the pie—the preservation pie, that is.

Facing groups with more people behind it than call Northfield home, it was announced Thursday that the small group of volunteers trying to had been awarded $95,000 in its quest—the third highest amount given.

The Waterford Iron Bridge, closed to vehicle traffic since 2009, was for part of the $1 million that Partners in Preservation intends to grant to Twin Cities historic sites for rehab work. It was announced that the Basilica of St. Mary in downtown Minneapolis had garnered the most votes via Facebook and was granted its requested $100,000.

The bridge, maintained by Waterford Township, was built in 1909. It is still used as a pedestrian bridge and wasn't damaged by last year's flood. The hope is to update the bridge so it can be used as a pedestrian and bike trail for years to come, connecting with area trails.

Liz Messner, a Waterford Township supervisor who wrote the grant request, asked for the maximum $125,000 to replace the bridge deck and a cracked abutment.

"We're the little guys with the iron bridge," Messner told Patch in September.

THE 13 SITES RECEIVING MONEY

• The Basilica of Saint Mary, Minneapolis:  $110,000 to repair the Narthex and the Sacristy of the Basilica, including the repair of decorative ceilings, limestone walls and damaged plaster and restoring the historic paint and gold leaf found throughout the structure.
• Emerge Career and Technology Center, Minneapolis: $110,000 to restore the library’s ornate interior, including surviving 1893 interior woodwork, flooring and plaster walls, along with its distinctive wood windows.
• Waterford Iron Bridge, Waterford Township: $95,000 to remove and replace the cracked southeast wing wall.
• American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis: $90,000 to restore the historic first floor kitchen, dry storage room and butler’s pantry to their original condition.
• Pilgrim Baptist Church, Saint Paul: $86,000 to repair heavily damaged sections of brick masonry on the exterior of the building.
• Harriet Tubman Center East, Maplewood: $84,000 to update the Center’s public restroom facilities at the first floor.
• C.S.P.S. Sokol Hall, Saint Paul:$80,000 to install an air conditioning system in the second floor auditorium, which will allow the space to be used for public events year-     round.
• Historic Pilot Knob, Mendota Heights: $75,000 to bury existing power lines that currently disrupt the natural landscape.
• The Soap Factory, Minneapolis:$70,000 toward the repair of the failing roof of the main building.
• Christ Lutheran Church on Capitol Hill, Saint Paul: $50,000 for brick masonry repair and the repair of the church’s prominent concrete columns that define the main entrance of the church.
• Fort Snelling Upper Post, Building 67, Hennepin County: $40,000 to restore the rare historic Seth Thomas/Hotchkiss model clock in the clock tower.
• Minnesota State Fair Grandstand, Saint Paul: $30,000 to achieve the original architectural vision for the historic ramp with the installation of tower lights and new fencing that is in character with the 1937 structure.
• Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery, Minneapolis: $20,000 toward the removal, cleaning, repair and reinstalling of the cemetery’s historic fence.

In addition, American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, who sponsored the competition, recognized the remaining 12 sites participating in the initiative by granting them each $5,000 in funding. The recipients include:

• Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts, Fridley
• Chaska Athletic Field, Chaska
• Episcopal Church of Transfiguration, Belle Plaine
• Fitzgerald Theater, Saint Paul
• Hennepin Center for the Arts,Minneapolis
• James J. Hill House, Saint Paul
• Landmark Center, Saint Paul
• Mill Ruins Park, Minneapolis
• Minnehaha Park, Minneapolis
• Minnesota Transportation Museum, Saint Paul
• Washington County Historic Courthouse, Stillwater
• Wayzata Depot, Wayzata

FOR MORE PHOTOS OF THE BRIDGE
Visit Locally Grown Northfield's Facebook page