Faribault Wants to Add More Properties on National Register

Faribault Mayor Kevin Voracek told KDHL listeners Wednesday the City Council approved sending a letter of support for National Register Nomination for the Faribault Commercial Historic District.

Rice County Historical Society Executive Director Susan Garwood says approval is not automatic but gives the community an excellent shot of seeing the designation approved.

Garwood points out currently only the 200 block of Central Avenue is on the National Register of Historic Places while the entire downtown district is designated by the local Heritage Preservation Commission as historically significant.

Garwood told KDHL AM Minnesota listeners Thursday, "The actual National Register District added to the register in 1982 is one block."  I asked if that was the only block nominated and it was, "all they nominated in 1982."

It was approved March 2, 1982.  Garwood is unsure why only one block was nominated but with this letter the city hopes to add the 100 block, 300 block, 400 block and 500 blocks to the National Register of Historic Places.

If approved Garwood says 83 buildings would be added from Faribault which already has the second most buildings on the National Register in the state.  Only St. Paul has more buildings honored that way.

Faribault has 43 buildings currently listed on the National Register, St. Paul 112.  If the latest designation request is granted then Faribault would surpass the St. Paul total.

Rice County has 75 buildings which ranks 4th in the state behind Hennepin (177), St Louis 130 and Ramsey County (122).

There are a total of 1,720 Minnesota properties on the National Register of Historic Places.

All 87 counties have at least two.  There are 22 National Historic Landmarks in the Land of 10,000 lakes.

Below is a list of area counties and the number of buildings they have on the National Register of Historic Places.

• Dakota     37
• Goodhue  63
• Steele      13
• Waseca    12
• LeSueur    26
• Scott         18
• Olmsted    25
• Dodge       11

Garwood says among the benefits of being on the National Register is a tax break for the owner or owners of such a designated building surrounding any preservation needed for the building.  Possible grants are also available to the owners of such structures.

I know it's hard to believe but Jerry Groskreutz is not on this list.