By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Ellis County Historical Society received a $35,000 grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce on Thursday for the renovation of a portion of St. John's Place in Victoria.
The historical society is renovating space in the former nursing home as a satellite campus.
Amanda Rupp, historical society executive director, said the second floor of the society's space is complete and is already being used to store collection items. More items from the collection will be moved to that space this summer.
The lower floor has been gutted, the roof repaired and gas lines installed. Asbestos has also been removed from the building.
The society plans to use the grant funds to install a new HVAC system, install new floor coverings and restrooms. Rupp said she hopes the society can have at least this much of the renovations complete by next summer, when Ellis County will celebrate the 150th anniversary of Volga Germans first settling in the area.
One of the rooms in the Victoria location will be dedicated to the Volga German settlement of Ellis County.
Rupp, a descendant of those Volga Germans, said, "I look forward to telling that story to people who don't know and to people walking into the front entrance and realizing that America was this great place to come to."
Plaques commemorating the first settlers of Ellis County are being reserved by donation, with the proceeds supporting the renovations at the St. John's location.
Eleven large plaques, which will be installed in the new space, have already been sold. Twenty smaller plaques are in the works, some of which are still available for a donation of $5,000 each. If you are interested in reserving a plaque for your family, contact Cynthia Stone at 785-893-1431.
Each plaque will list the first generation of settlers in Ellis County, along with family history submitted by the families. The society has the last say on the content of the plaques to reduce replication, Rupp said.
The satellite location will also include:
• Children's discovery center
• Space for traveling exhibits
• Gift shop featuring Kansas-made products
• Room dedicated to the county's military history, including Walker Army Airfield
• Room dedicated to the oil and agriculture industries in Ellis County. This will include a section dedicated to the introduction of Angus cattle in the U.S. by Ellis County settler George Grant in 1873. The Grant homestead, which is in Ellis County, is a National Historic Site.
Rupp said a garden outside of the building will highlight life in the Volga region of Russia. Then, when visitors enter the building, they will learn about the Volga Germans' life and settlement in America.
The Volga German exhibit will highlight the various cities in the area founded by Volga Germans, as well as the beautiful churches they built.
The society is also in talks with the county library board to establish a branch library at the location. Victoria does not have a public library at this time.
Timing for completion of the rest of the renovations depends on fundraising, Rupp said.
Rupp said the society is accepting donations and is applying for grants.
The Victoria Community Coalition owns the property. The Ellis County Historical Society pays no rent as long as it pays its utilities and maintains insurance and upkeep on its portion of the building.
You can also follow the society of Facebook.
The coalition has just finished moderate-income apartments for seniors on the other side of the building. See more on that project in the Hays Post next week.
The coalition has plans to also renovate part of the former nursing home for use as a child care and a community center.