TOWER- The oldest public building north of Duluth is getting closer to once again becoming a vibrant part of Tower’s Main Street. The historic fire hall was purchased by the Tower-Soudan Historical Society in 2015, after being vacant for many years. The building originally housed the city hall, fire department, police department, and jail. In later years, it housed a youth/community center, video store, coffee shop, and was leased to many businesses, including the Timberjay. The building, constructed in 1895, was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
TSHS has successfully written grants and raised funds locally to restore the brick building for at least another century. Previous grants funded repairs to the roof, windows and doors, and to the building’s brick exterior and interior walls. This year, another three-quarters of a million dollars is being spent to repair and renovate the building’s interior, install ADA-compliant rest-rooms, new electric and plumbing, and other interior finishing work.
The final piece of interior work needed, according to historical society president Nancy Larson, is replacing the ceiling tiles. While the current grants were not enough to cover the estimated $10,000 – $12,000 cost, the TSHS has applied for a $10,000 grant from the Minnesota Historical Society to complete the ceiling. If this grant is successful, Larson said, they will be able to have the current general contractor finish that work this summer.
This year’s work is being funded with grants from the Minnesota Historical Society, IRRR, Mortenson Family Foundation, and private donations from the local area.
Right now, the general contractor, Norse Valley Construction, is working to gut and rebuild some of the interior rooms, making room for the new restrooms in the part of the building that used to house the city jail. The company specializes in historic renovation projects. The bathroom project was complicated, Larson said, because they had to change the location of the restrooms due to some plumbing complications, which required additional architectural work. Electrical work is also underway. The project also includes adding an audio-visual system.
Larson said most of the interior renovations should be completed this summer, which means the building will be ready to use this fall. The building will be used for historical exhibits, including display of the antique steam fire engine, as well as for hosting events.
The final phase of this multi-year renovation project is the repair and restoration of the building’s back/south wall. The historical society is hoping to receive another MHS grant for the final work as early as 2026.
Summer programs
The historical society will once again be sponsoring its popular history talks and train tales programs this summer. There are also a few special programs being organized, including a Lake Vermilion history trivia event at Gruben’s Marina on July 19, and a presentation on the history and Minnesota connections to Cream of Wheat on July 10 in the coach car. The 52 Club raffle will again help raise funds for projects, and a new capital fundraising campaign will kick off this summer.
The historical society also maintains the old Tower Depot and Museum building and trains. Volunteers staff the museum and trains on weekends in the summer. The coach car is available to rent to the public for events and parties.
“This project was made possible in part by the people of Minnesota through a grant funded by an
appropriation to the Minnesota Historical Society from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.”