Celebrating a change of ownership and a new beginning were (L-R) North House Program Director Jessa Frost, Sue Hakes, North House Executive Director Greg Wright, North House Board Vice-President Nancy Burns.
Two parcels of property linked together for many years were tied together once again on March 1, 2016, when North House Folk School (NHFS) purchased a new building to enhance and improve its campus.
“It’s been great to work with our long-time neighbors to make this important step forward,” said Greg Wright, North House’s executive director. “Our goals are simple–an additional high quality classroom to accommodate our steady growth, improved office space for our staff and flexibility that will address our future needs. Having North Shore Title staying on in the west half of the building is a great fit in many ways.”
Located immediately across the highway from the North House campus, the structure was originally built as a U.S. Forest Service (USFS) administrative building. Its work was linked directly to the activities that also took place at the two historic warehouses across the street on the harbor. Built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the two timbered warehouses were used for 60 years by the USFS, until in the mid-1990s, when the Forest Service moved to their new facilities on the west end of Grand Marais.
Ownership of the property and buildings was transferred to the city of Grand Marais, and in 1997, the city leased the two buildings to North House for six months so it could host its first summer of 23 classes. The rest, as they say, is history.
Today the once all-white historic warehouses are known simply as the Red Building and the Blue Building, and during 2015 the campus hosted over 400 classes and welcomed students from 42 states and two foreign countries.
Sue Hakes and John Gorski are selling the building to North House, half of which has been their residence. “Living across the street from North House for nine years, I see how many people go to the folk school—visitors and many, many locals. I’m very excited about their growth.”
“It is hard to imagine a better addition to campus,” said Nancy Burns, NHFS board vice president. “Our long term planning efforts and facility studies all underscored our need for space. Keeping campus close together will make the school stronger on many levels. The extra room and future flexibility will both be of tremendous value as North House moves forward.”
“An investment like this is a major commitment for North House,” Wright said. “Between purchasing the building and remodeling, North House will invest over $600,000. Multiple generous donors enthusiastically stepped forward to fund the down payment— they understand what moves community nonprofits forward and believe both in North House’s educational mission and our local economic impact. In addition, we have a funding request into a key regional foundation to underwrite the remodeling.
“Just like any other nonprofit or local business, it is a balancing act figuring out how to move a project like this forward while keeping the organization strong,” said Wright.
Plans for the project include two phases. The first phase will add the new classroom and administrative offices in the old USFS administrative building. The second will move North House’s school store/ front office up into a modestly remodeled Yellow House on Highway 61, making it easier for campus visitors to get information and learn about the school’s year-round offerings. Moving the school store will also open up an additional classroom space in the Blue Building.
That extra classroom is sorely needed, as was evidenced by the immediate moving in of NHFS furnishings so a class could be held there immediately after the official closing. Carving the Swedish Shrink Box (Krympburkar) was held there that afternoon.
A ribbon cutting and dedication is planned for Wooden Boat Show & Summer Solstice Festival weekend, June 17-19, 2016.
Wright confirmed that like most nonprofits, North House qualifies for property tax exemption provided that the property is being used to support the school’s educational mission. Given this, North House will pay the full property tax on the half of the building that is leased to North Shore Title, and will submit paperwork so that the half used as a classroom and offices will become property tax exempt in 2017.
“Grand Marais’ unique character and the beauty of the harbor are key features our students truly value,” said Mary Anderson, NHFS board president. “North House works hard to make a positive impact in our community, and we want our steady evolution to be an asset. We feel fortunate to have so many partners and supporters who believe in us. There is something that rings true, knowing that making this strategic step forward for North House will also bring these historic buildings back together.”
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