As the Le Sueur County Historical Society (LCHS) celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, the group looks to the future of preserving local history.
Part of the preservation is in the Elysian School project, which is moving on to its second phase this year.
“We’re right on schedule,” reported Dr. Ruth Collins, LCHS board member.
The school building has been part of the LCHS for much of the group’s history. It was obtained in 1967 and converted into a museum. In 1969, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Disrepair ultimately caused the building to close to the public in 2010.
The grant for the first phase of the project closed in January. The first phase involved roof and bell tower repairs, along with the restoration of rain gutters and soffits.
With that phase complete, LCHS is looking at grants for the foundation and windows.
Beginning with the foundation, Collins said she had the LCHS’s architectural engineer and Vetter Stone inspect the foundation to make sure the structure was still sound.
“You can’t fix windows if you have something going on in the foundation,” Collins said.
The inspection found that only minor repairs were needed, and the overall foundation was in great shape.
Part of the foundation grant will replace the rounded steps on the southwest corner of the building. The old steps broke apart as part of a stress test of their durability.
“We just looked at (the steps) and said, ‘What is it made of?’ And it started showing us what it was made of. They were very easily pulled apart.”
To see more on this story pick up the July 17, 2025 print edition of the LifeEnterprise.