McCook, Nebraska · Tuesday, February 9, 2010
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New status may help refurbish Norris Park bandshell

Friday, November 14, 2008
Lorri Sughroue
(Photo)
An old photo of the Norris Park bandshell indicates it was dedicated in 1917.
(File photo)
The Norris Park Bandshell has been determined to be eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

The designation by the Nebraska State Historical Society was revealed Thursday in McCook at the quarterly meeting of Heritage Nebraska.

The designation means the bandshell can qualify for tax credits for renovation work, said J. L. Schmidt of Heritage Nebraska.

Schmidt toured the bandshell Thursday, along with Michael Smith of the Nebraska State Historical Society, members of the Nebraska Main Street and Heritage Nebraska, city staff and other McCook citizens.

Schmidt said the structure is significant, as it is part of the historical legacy of the area, with Norris Park, the Sen. George Norris Home and Sen. Ben Nelson's home.

Similar bandshells across the nation are undergoing renovation work. Elizabeth Chase, director of the Nebraska Main Street, said private donations matched by city funds restored a bandshell and the surrounding park in Iowa , for about $1.7 million, over the course of several years.

The McCook bandshell was built in 1917 and city staff has identified serious internal and external damage. A former McCook resident, who wishes to stay anonymous, has donated funds for an architectural analysis of the structure. The study will be done by an architectural firm in Lincoln that specializes in historical pres-ervation.

Heritage Nebraska is an expansion of the Nebaska Main Street program. Partnering with the state and local chapters of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, its goal is to save historic buildings and neighborhoods in Nebraska along with educating citizens on the value of preservation.

© Copyright 2008 McCook Daily Gazette

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It is great to see donations and being qualified for the National Register of Historic Places.

Instead of spending lots of money to rebuild, could there be people who donate their time to rebuild the structure??? Could this be handled like the "Habitat Housing" places in the city?? Seems like people donate time and efforts to causes like that. It would be nice to see local contractors "pitch in" and help the community.

-- Posted by edbru on Sun, Nov 16, 2008, at 11:40 AM

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