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MidwestOne Bank donates $10K to Fairfield’s Carnegie Museum
FAIRFIELD — MidwestOne Bank’s foundation has made a $10,000 donation to the Carnegie Historical Museum in Fairfield.
The bank announced this week that the money will go toward the museum’s foundation and offset the cost of improvement projects at the museum.
“The aging building is in the midst of a multiphase improvement project and this contribution will be used for foundation repairs,” stated a news release from MidwestOne Bank.
Ron Haines, Market President at MidwestOne Bank in Fairfield, said the bank is happy to contribute this money toward preserving an important part of Fairfield’s history.
Gloria Countryman, president of the museum’s foundation, put in a grant request through MidwestOne Bank’s foundation, which was approved by the board of directors.
“We’re all about being a community-minded bank, and it makes sense to support this long-standing structure in a community we’re fully vested in,” Haines said.
Dave Neff, president of the Carnegie Historical Museum Board of Directors, said the money will go toward masonry work on the southwest corner of the museum and repairs to the foundation.
The museum’s foundation is in the midst of a three-phase renovation of the building. The first phase was replacing the steps on the east side of the building. The second phase involves tuck pointing bricks and replacing any that are damaged. The third phase involves rehabilitating the southwest corner of the building.
In addition to this recent grant from MidwestOne Bank’s foundation, the museum foundation has been paying for these repairs from its own reserves, plus money from local option sales taxes and a grant from the Greater Jefferson County Foundation. The three projects combined are expected to cost between $800,000 and $900,000.
The museum is one of the treasures of Fairfield and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1892, the building was the first Carnegie library west of the Mississippi River.
Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com
MidwestOne Bank’s Market President Ron Haines, left, and the bank’s commercial ag lender Shawn Lisk, right, present a check for $10,000 to members of the Carnegie Historical Museum Foundation: Joe Hunt, second from left, and Gloria Countryman. (Photo submitted)
The Carnegie Historical Museum in Fairfield needs a few upgrades, and its foundation board has begun gathering funds for them. The upgrades needed include repairs to the east exterior steps, masonry work, and reinforcing the southwest corner of the building.
