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By Tom Hintgen

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Scofield Memorial Building commemorates 75 years

Published 1:53pm Tuesday, June 23, 2009

In 1929 the village of Elbow Lake received $20,000 from the estate of lawyer E. J. Scofield, half of which was to be used for constructing a building to honor his wife, Anna, who died in 1922. What became known as the Anna J. Scofield Memorial Building was completed in 1934.

Today, 75 years after the building was dedicated, Elbow Lake will have a commemoration as part of the annual Flekkefest that takes place in early August 2009. Today the building houses city offices, the public library and auditorium.

“Over the years this facility has been used for many purposes,” said Public Library Director Gail Hedstrom. “The building has been used as a theater, school, library, city hall, senior center and even for an Army Reserve shooting range.”

She said this year’s commemoration is a way to remind area residents about the many uses of the Anna J. Scofield Memorial Building the past 75 years.

“Over the years many individuals and groups have come forward to help with various renovations of this facility,” said Hedstrom. “An example is here, at the public library, where people donated money and installed new windows.”

Many people from Elbow Lake and the surrounding area have given financial support and volunteer assistance over the years, said Hedstrom.

A committee for the 75th anniversary of the community building is working on plans for the festivities, which so far include tours of the building, speakers, recognition of the families for which the rooms in the newly configured building are named, a scavenger hunt for kids, music and other activities.

The 75th anniversary will celebrate the entire building and its history. The planning committee plans publications that highlight the personal remembrances from former and present citizens of Elbow Lake and the surrounding area.

People who have stories to tell about their recollections and uses of the Scofield Memorial Building are asked to contact Hedstrom at the public library or Patty Benson at the county museum in Elbow Lake. They’ll be glad to either interview you or help you write your remembrance.

The Scofield home still stands at 12 2nd Ave. S.E., in Elbow Lake.

For several years Elbow Lake collected a special tax levy of $500 per year for a community building fund. By 1933 this fund had grown to $5,582 which was added to the bequests. However, after bids were taken for the building totaling $35,629, Elbow Lake saw it still didn’t have enough money.

Enter the Federal Public Works Administration, a Depression-era program to employ the unemployed. Elbow Lake was awarded $8,000 to hire local workers for the project and it went ahead full speed. Ground was broken on Sept. 27, 1933, and the cornerstone laid on Dec. 1.

Architect James C. Niemeyer of St. Paul was selected to design the building, which was to have five main purposes — an auditorium, city library, a dining hall for community gatherings, committee rooms for smaller meetings and public rest rooms.

“It’s good that we’re taking time this year, on the 75th anniversary, to not only remember the many uses of the building over the years, but also the people who have worked to enhance this facility,” said Hedstrom.