HISTORICAL TOWER-SOUDAN

Due to a rusted out Coal bin, our steam engine, 1218, was available to the public only for photos from a distances since being donated to the city of Tower in 1962.  This past summer, Ken Kube, one of the TSHS volunteers, constructed steps and a platform to provide visitors’ physical access to the interior of the Engine. Ken also constructed a see through barrier so that once in the engine area, visitors could safely view the coal bin. During the past season, we had 3600 visitors sign our museum register and many commented on the pleasure of being able to get up inside the engine. TSHS volunteers have noted that not a day goes by that we observe at least one visitor taking a picture of the steam engine.

Thanks to grant money received from the Iron Range Resources, Minnesota Power, Lake Country Power, and Cliff’s Natural Resources, we were able to hire a professional firm to remove lead based paint on the inside of the passenger car, Coach 81, and repaint.  Volunteers prepared the inside of the car for the workers, and removed the shades and brass fixtures for cleaning and polishing.  The bench seats in the Smokers Section were reupholstered and 8 small square tables and 20 chairs were purchased to make the space useful for birthday parties or meetings.  More than 30 local residents volunteered their time and expertise to this project this past year.

Again thanks to Ken Kube and his work crew, several of whom he paid to work with his own financial resources, the residing of the exterior of the caboose was completed.  They replaced the rotted overhead trim and the walkways on the top, replaced or repaired the rest of the broken windows and added decorative trim pieces to show off the 100-year-old caboose.  It was painted the classic DM&IR gold with maroon trim. 

In addition to the grant funds from the above sources, museum visitors donated cash and purchased brass memorial plaques to honor their loved ones.  Diane Powers, a Tower-Soudan high school graduate, donated generously and is challenging other Tower-Soudan graduates, attempting to get the classes to compete with each other.  To date that effort totals $1670.  The local Dream Quilters made and donated 3 quilts to the TSHS for a raffle; the project profited $1154. from the sale of these tickets.  A street collection by TSHS volunteers on the 4^th of July brought in over $700.  The Ely Area Community Foundation chose our train project for their annual award of $500.  A style show initiated by Tower women, the Greenwood Seniors and a fraternal group with St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Tower also made generous donations.  In total, these efforts brought in $5000. to the historical society just this summer! 

We have plans to finish the coach project next summer by getting the 2^nd set of windows functional and installing the window shades.  To create sources of revenue for the museum, we plan to rent the coach out for events and to use the interior walls and ticket clips to sell framed photos and art works.

There is some trim work left to complete on the caboose and we plan to letter both sides with Duluth Messabi & Iron Range Ry and the number, 73, next summer.  We also plan to work on the Man Car, rebuilding the interior walls, replacing the leather handles and rotted windows and putting a 2^nd coat of paint on the exterior.  We hope to use the refinished Man Car as an extension of the museum, possibly for railroad displays.

Eventually we hope to have the rusted exteriors of the engine and the coach car repaired and repainted.

Volunteers have recently started an effort to raise money through grant requests to improve electricity in and around the museum.  We are working with the City of Tower to upgrade electricity to the area to improve lighting at the museum and for special events.  We want to add track lighting and solar tubes inside the museum to highlight displays.  In addition, we want each train car to be electrically independent so that we can eliminate extension cords.  We also hope to have electricity extended to the grassy island located between the caboose and the Civic Center, an ideal location for bands and vendors when we have community festivals.