Historic Survey will focus on development in Mason City’s parks during the New Deal Era.
Mason City, IA – On Thursday, October 4, 2012, the City of Mason City’s Growth Development and Planning Department and architectural historians Barbara Kooiman and Carol Ahlgren will team up for a kick-off meeting to discuss the upcoming historic survey of Mason City’s park system, circa 1942. The meeting will be held in conjunction with the Historic Preservation Commission meeting in the 2nd floor Conference Room of City Hall and begins at 4:30 PM.
At the meeting, neighborhood residents will learn more about this project; the work plan for the survey and nomination and the National Register nomination process. This study focuses on the structures built in Mason City’s parks during the New Deal Era. Any residents who have memories or information to share about the parks are encouraged to attend. Photos are especially appreciated! Residents who are unable to attend the meeting but have historical resources such as photographs or documents that may contribute to this project should contact the Growth Development & Planning Department. Photos and documents will be copied and returned to their owners.
Barbara Kooiman holds a Master’s of Arts in Public History/Historic Preservation from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and currently works as a private historic preservation consultant and teaches at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. Kooiman has done considerable research on New Deal era development in the Midwest. Carol Ahlgren holds a Master’s of Arts in Landscape Architecture and Historic Preservation from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and currently works as a private historic preservation consultant. Her Master’s Thesis documented the Civilian Conservation Corps work in Wisconsin’s State Park system. Together Kooiman and Ahlgren have over 50 years in the field of historic preservation with a wide range of professional experience, much of it focused on the New Deal era and projects originating during the Great Depression. The City of Mason City is pleased to be working with them on this project. The New Deal Era study is part of the historical mitigation work associated with the City’s flood buyout project. The cost of the project is funded by FEMA.
