Photo

Staff photo Brian Larsen

On Monday, September 12, Ann Sullivan (right) presented a picture of the Coast Guard Station painted by the late Lyle Sathre to the Cook County Historical Society. An anonymous donor gave the gift to the CCHS. Accepting the painting was Cook County Historical Society President Marja Erickson. Last year the U.S. Coast Guard announced that operations would end in Grand Marais on Labor Day and the station would be closed. When that decision came to light, the Cook County Historical Society began thinking of ways to repurpose the building and discussing ways to have the Coast Guard station conveyed to the CCHS. Said Sullivan, “Now that the Coast Guard Station has seen its final day of operation on Labor Day, the donor hopes it (the painting) can be used to push for appropriate preservation/development of the facility once the U.S. Coast Guard conveys the property.” Sullivan noted that it could take five years or so for the deal to get done, enough time hopefully for a host of fundraisers and grants solicited to afford to rehab and operate the facility.