Kronau museum schoolhouse project gets big donation

A big donation this week is helping Kronau’s heritage museum on its way to completely restoring a two-room schoolhouse.

The group’s 1926 Saar school project was given $15,000 by the Richardson Pioneer Foundation.

“(The money) is going to make a huge impact for us, to be able to do some substantial work this year,” said Rhonda Lamb, board chair for the museum.

Since the museum moved the schoolhouse to the museum grounds, they’ve been working on restoring it. They’ve managed to deal with the outside already.

“The building looks, now, structurally sound, and the building looks great, but the inside needs a lot of work,” said Lamb.

The group wants to restore it to keep the feel of a schoolhouse.

Lamb said they’ve been working on it bit by bit as the group has gotten money to do it. She said the first things they’ll be doing with this money is insulating the basement and installing heating.

Once the schoolhouse is finished, Lamb said it will double their space, allow them to have more display and research areas, and, since this building can be changed appropriately, to be wheelchair accessible.

“It’s going to allow us to really enhance the programming that we offer, as well as the exhibits.”

The museum is still going to need help in finishing, they’re about halfway done, but Lamb said they think the entire restoration is going to cost about $250,000.