Heritage preservation part of home show

Police offer DNA

kits again

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Do you own an old building? Have a question like how to repair rotten wood, choose storm windows or have your property locally designated?

New Ulm Heritage Preservation Committee Commissioner Jim Bodine can help you at the 23rd annual Home and Self-Improvement Show through Sunday at Vogel Arena.

Bodine and Joan Krikava know about German craftsmanship traces like intricate masonry on buildings and homes in New Ulm. Their century-old, Queen Anne-style home at 308 S. Broadway has an unusual brick exterior patterned in two colors, which is what originally attracted them to it.

Bodine began restoring the home by peeling off seven layers of wallpaper to learn where the original walls were. He and Joan recreated walls that had been removed. They hired a carpenter to reproduce oak wainscoting, the coffered ceiling and the stairs and reception hall to the original 1900 design.

Scenes were painted on the home's plaster by children's book author Anton Gag. The couple produced a tracing and had a pattern cut to reproduce it where it originally was. They chose Victorian-era wallpaper patterns. A tin ceiling was made of stamped metal from turn-of-the-century dyes.

Bodine said homes with locally-produced Artstone Rainbow Block exteriors like George's Ballroom and Weeds 'n Reeds are examples.

The HPC is currently working on two state grants for the South Broadway Historical District. The Wanda Gag House Association is working on the kitchen of the home along with normal maintenance.

Historic landmarks must be important in one of seven areas:

* Significant cultural character or interest to the community.

* Located at a site of a significant event.

* Associated with an important person.

* Architectural significance.

* The work of a particular architect or master builder.

* Represent an architectural innovation.

* Represent a familiar visual feature to the neighborhood or community.

The City Council ultimately decides what is to be designated and what is not. It relies on HPC recommendations.

New Ulm landmarks include:

* Tauschek Grocery Store

* Defender's Monument

* Wanda Gag House

* Hermann Monument

* Martin Hose residence

* St. Mary's School and Convent, (soon to be demolished)

* John Lind House

* Frederick Kiesling House

* New Ulm Library and Museum

Among the 144 booths at the show is the New Ulm Police Department. As in past years, they are giving away DNA LifePrint DNA Management Kits designed to safeguard children.

The Saturday and Sunday show seminar schedule

Saturday, March 22

11 a.m., Design a Beautiful Perennial Garden, River Creek Nursery.

11:45 a.m., Adult, Child and Infant CPR Demos, Deb Huhn and New Ulm Police.

12:30 p.m., Easy Does it For Spring, Thimble Box.

1:15 p.m., Advanced Nutrition, Dr. Dave Altman.

2:15 p.m., Building with Amvic Insulated Concrete Forms, Central Concrete.

3 p.m., CPR demos, NUPD.

4:30 p.m., Massage & Alternate Ways to be Healthy, Beyond the Rainbow Message.

5:15 p.m., Fibromyalgia, The Chiropractic Approach, Dr. Parish Skrien.

Sunday, March 23

11 a.m., Easy Does it For Spring, Thimble Box.

11:45 a.m., Growing Shrub Roses in Minnesota, River Creek Nursery.

12:30 p.m., Building with Amvid Insulated Concrete forms, Central Concrete.

1:15 p.m., Massage & Alternate Ways to be Healthy, Beyond the Rainbow Message.

2 p.m., Choosing the Right Tree, Brown County Master Gardener.

3 p.m., Balancing Female Hormones, Dr. Dave Altman.