What's the next step for museum's study hall?

A look through the door frames of the study hall/library on the fourth floor of the Plymouth County Historical Museum gives a glimpse of what was once a grand room where students gathered to study. The windows to the west have been restored and the subflooring stablized following water damage. [Click to enlarge]

Now attention is turning to the fourth floor study hall/library, a large room with windows and at one time, skylights.

With Le Mars Community Schools alumni planning another all-school reunion 2010, and the death of 1923 graduate and "museum cheerleader" Laura Lauters, some alumni and Lauters family members are wondering what the plans are for the study hall.

A group of approximately 20 alumni and community members met in late November to hear about progress already made on the room's renovation.

After hearing about work already done to the study hall, the alumni and friends asked the question: How should the room best be renovated? Should the room be restored as a study hall, or is there a way to make the room more useful to the museum and the community?

Among the suggestions during the "brainstorming" session were: use as a larger meeting room for various groups, space for museum programs and traveling displays and other types of functions.

Carolyn Vance, director of the LCS Alumni Association, told those present about plans for the 2010 All-School Reunion, planned for July 2-4. She anticipates a number of classes from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s will want to meet at the museum at some point, as the building was their high school.

With the all-school reunion for Le Mars Community Schools approaching, museum administrator Judy Bowman said, "It seems now is the time to resume discussions for the use of that potentially grand room."

In 2000, following the LCS Decades of Excellence All-School Reunion, the alumni association gave $20,000, a portion of their remaining funds, to the museum for renovation of the study hall. Soon after, the museum board named the room "Alumni Hall."

Wayne Marty, who has served as renovation project manager for the museum, said the money was used to repair windows on the west side of the room, securing the room from weather elements.

A safety issue with the floor, which had sustained water damage before the museum purchased the building, has also been repaired with subflooring put down.

Access to the room is also easier with the elevator that was installed, Marty told the group.

Lauters herself gave $10,000 to spark contributions toward to the renovation project. Memorials in her name have also been designated to the cause.

This year the LCS class of '53 also made a donation specifically to the study hall renovation.

One of the biggest challenges for the room, according to Marty, is an efficient heating and cooling system. "We need to be very energy conscious," he said, adding that technology advances may offer some possibilities.

In early 2008, a group of home-schooled students, The Lightsavers, took on a project to analyze energy needs for the museum as part of its studies.

Their research looked into heating and cooling systems, including solar and geothermal; insulation; window treatments such as film for heating and cooling; various types of lighting and even a wind turbine. The research project and robot built from LegosŪ took grand champion honors in the Iowa FIRST Lego League competition.

Those attending the meeting agreed they need a clear sense of direction from the museum board on what it sees for the study hall's future and what role the alumni could play in the project. They also are interested in hearing ideas from alumni and community members.

Anyone with comments may contact the museum at (712)-546-7002.

The museum board's next meeting is Dec. 11.