Mark Prairie Historical Society

Before february 2021, the organization's primary focus was maintaining the property and raising funds to accomplish a full historic restoration of the property for future use as a historic interpretation site and for community event use. In february 2021, an ice storm brought an oak tree on the mphs property down on a portion of the historic schoolhouse, crushing a portion of the building. Since that incident, the organization has collected an insurance settlement and is working with donors, the insurance company, and contractors to restore the property.

In 2022 and 2023, the organization hired a design team and a general contractor, obtained building permits, and was able to re-roof the building so the historic interior is no longer exposed to the elements. We have also continued work toward the complete restoration of the schoolhouse. The cost of the work exceeds our anticipated insurance pay out for the damage to the schoolhouse, and has necessitated seeking grant funding and increased fund raising activities. In 2024, mark prairie historical society continued work toward completing the restoration of the schoolhouse. We raised 200,000 in public grants and 1,250 in private grants to significantly advance the completion of the interior of the schoolhouse.