Secrets of a fortress: Inside Litchfield's GAR Hall

Yahoo

2 days ago

Jun. 5—, Minn. — Visitors to the Grand Army of the Republic Hall in this central Minnesota city are able to step back 140 years thanks to the decision of the Civil War veterans who built it.
The deed for the property, turned over to what was then the village of Litchfield, spelled out that the building was to be preserved and used in a manner that maintained its original purpose — to honor Civil War veterans and preserve their history.
"The building itself is the first GAR hall built in the state," Meeker County Museum Executive Director Danelle Erickson said in an interview for
in 2022. Other Grand Army of the Republic posts formed in the state of Minnesota had gathered in homes or other available spaces.
The Grand Army of the Republic was first organized by Union veterans of the Civil War in 1866 in Illinois. The
states that the organization's purpose was to "maintain fellowship for the men who fought to preserve the Union and to help widows, orphans, and handicapped veterans."
The Grand Army of the Republic conducted regular meetings and had thousands of posts throughout the United States, along with thousands and thousands of members, according to Erickson. There were close to 300 members of the Litchfield post throughout the years.
The first Grand Army of the Republic post in Litchfield was formed in 1874 but died out with the death of the founder two years later. Another was formed in 1883, and many of the first meetings were in the county courthouse, according to another
Members of Frank Daggett Post No. 35 decided in March 1885 that they needed their own building, and construction began in May of that year, using cream-colored brick from the local brickyard. The cornerstone was laid by Memorial Day, according to the online history.
The building is described
as "reminiscent of a small, medieval fortress" with features that include a central tower, turrets that project above the parapet wall and an inscribed stone with the raised letters "GAR" and the 1885 date.
"It's very memorable from the outside, that fortress look. It just kind of shows a lot about the men that were here at the time," Erickson said in the 2022 interview.
The bulk of the work was completed by October of 1885. One of the final things added was a "spectacular, 16-globe chandelier," according to another
Today, the Meeker County Historical Society is the caretaker of the GAR Hall. The Meeker County Museum, built in 1961, is attached to the back of the building.
Officially called "Meeker County Museum at the GAR Hall," it includes a pioneer cabin and exhibits that include artifacts relating to the history of the Dakota people, schools in Meeker County, Minnesotans serving in war, medicine and more.
The two-story museum also houses a research library for genealogy enthusiasts.
In the anteroom of the GAR Hall are Civil War artifacts, including cannons, literature and photos of important players in the war.
The old wooden chairs upon which veterans sat during meetings are set up in the main hall as if ready for a meeting. The altar stands at the front of the room for use by a veteran leading the meeting. Photos of members line the walls, and the decor is original to the time.
The Grand Army of the Republic Hall was added to the
on May 21, 1975. The areas of significance for the designation are architecture and social/humanitarian.
When Erickson became museum director, she learned that some local citizens were concerned the history of the GAR Hall was not being maintained in accordance with the deed. Historic documents, including the 1885 deed, were then reviewed to better understand the intentions of the original members who had deeded the building to the city.
Erickson said the goal of all parties involved was the same — preserving the history but just with some "different views on how that was done." The result of their work was the creation of a handbook detailing the proper care and upkeep of the facility.
The GAR Hall and museum, located at 308 N. Marshall Ave. in Litchfield, are open year-round for walk-in tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays.
GAR Hall programming includes
the second Thursday of every month, featuring various speakers throughout the year.
"The Civil War, especially for American history, is pretty much one of the most written about book-wise," Erickson said in 2022. "Each year there are thousands of books, hundreds at least, on the Civil War. It's very much a topic that people are interested in, and continue to be interested in."
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