Fort Ridgely

accord

signed

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

FORT RIDGELY -- John Fritsche smiled Thursday afternoon as he signed a contract to manage Fort Ridgely for a year.

Fritsche's group, the Friends of Fort Ridgely, assumed responsibilities for the daily operation of the 1850s military outpost on the same day the contract was signed.

The agreement was struck two days after Fort Ridgely's northwestern counterpart, the Lower Sioux Agency site, was closed.

The sites played key roles in the Dakota Conflict of 1862. The first Dakota attack of the conflict happened at the Lower Sioux Agency. Later attacks came at Fort Ridgely. Both attacks were instrumental in the U.S. government's implementation of its Indian policies during that period.

The Fort Ridgely historical site is within Fort Ridgely State Park, which is several miles south of Fairfax in Nicollet County. The group will manage the historical site from July 1, through June 30, 2005. The group will be responsible for the daily operation of the historical site, including fund-raising, hiring staff, maintenance of the grounds and an interpretive program and promotion of Fort Ridgely.

"We talked about this move a year ago and there were some hesitations," said Friends of Fort Ridgely Chair Fritsche. "We want to keep it open, because to us, it's a very important site."

Friends of Fort Ridgely will be able to charge admission, but not without approval of Minnesota Historical Society. Any income from admission fees will likely go back into keeping the site open. Likewise, any profits from the site's gift shop will help support the fort. Under the agreement, Friends of Fort Ridgely will be entitled to MHS funding. According to the historic site management agreement, the society will pay a total of $45,950 as well as the balance of any donations and resale funds as of Thursday. Those funds can be used for Fort Ridgely only.

Tom Ellig of the Minnesota Historical Society said Fort Ridgely will be treated as an MHS site. Ellig said MHS already has a number of management agreements with other historical sites in the area, including the Harkin Store and the W. W. Mayo House. He said most of the sites that were on the society's closure list have been supported by cities through donations and will remain open at least for another year.

The Friends of Fort Ridgely approached the society this past winter and decided to enter into a management agreement. The group raised $20,000 to keep the fort open last year. The society is going to be responsible for cost of the maintenance and security.

Fritsche and Ellig said the agreement is strictly for management of the 11-acre historical site; it does not apply to the state park that includes the site. The park is managed by the DNR.

Fritsche said Friends of Fort Ridgely doesn't plan to make any changes to the programming at the fort or change when it is open.

"It feels good because we're accomplishing something of great benefit not only for people in the area but also to the people of Minnesota," Ellig said. "It's important to people to give them a sense of history."

The fort's hours are Friday through Sunday and holiday Mondays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday hours are noon to 5 p.m.