MINNESOTA—Since 2015, Northern Bedrock Historic Preservation Corps has been a key partner to the Superior National Forest working to restore several historic buildings across the forest. Thanks to this partnership, forest employees and visitors can enjoy using these facilities, including the South Kawishiwi Pavilion and Chik Wauk Lodge Museum and Nature Center, for many years to come.

“I have been fortunate enough to work with Northern Bedrock Historic Preservation Corps crews on Superior projects since their pilot season in 2015. The organization has been instrumental in helping us address deferred maintenance and completing restoration projects on our historic buildings,” said Lee Johnson, Superior National Forest archaeologist. “A couple of the projects I have worked on with them have been career highlights for me.”

In 2022, Superior staff and corps members worked on the Wolf Island(John Jaeger) Cabin on LaCroix Ranger District. Designed by Minneapolis architect John Jaeger, the Wolf Island cabin was built on Lake Vermilion in 1929 by Finnish-American craftsmen from the Tower, Minnesota, area. The two-story cabin is a well-preserved example of an early 20th-century rustic recreational cabin in the Border Lake region. The cabin and island were acquired by the Forest Service from the McPeak family in 2015 through the Trust for Public Land. The Forest Service is currently working with architectural historians from the Regional Office to finish a National Register of Historic Places nomination for the cabin.

Superior staff and NBHPC crews also installed a new rolled asphalt roof, completed fuel reduction work to create defensible space, maintained the structure’s windows and cleaned the cabin exterior and interior.

“We have been successful in pairing the crews up with Forest Service technical experts and skilled volunteers to help teach log restoration techniques, reroofing, and window restoration,” said Johnson.

The other project tackled was the Sand Lake Guard Station warehouse on Laurentian Ranger District. This circa 1936 warehouse near Britt, Minnesota, was constructed by local Civilian Conservation Corps camp members during the Great Depression. Today, it continues to be used by Superior fire crews. NBHPC crews and Superior staff removed and replaced a failed structural beam, replaced and reglazed windowpanes, replaced siding, and scraped and washed the warehouse to prepare for painting.

“I felt very lucky to be a part of both projects for the Superior National Forest this year,” said Shankaron Hasson, NBHPC. “Both the Sand Lake Guard Station and the Wolf Island cabin presented a heap of learning experiences, some familiar and others challenging, as a first-time preservationist with NBHPC. I learned so much about the different trades, wildlife and ecology, local history, and the importance of keeping these buildings in good shape. They have a great partnership that hopefully goes into the future as the need to preserve historic spaces grows.”

The Superior and NBHPC will continue to plan future projects to restore and revive other historic structures on the forest. This partnership helps the forest while simultaneously teaching the young corps members building skills and historic preservation techniques. According to NBHPC, the group builds pathways to the preservation trades with a mission to, “develop enduring workforce and life skills through service learning in historic preservation and community stewardship.” They’re also exposed to the nuances of public land management and career opportunities with the Forest Service. Several NBHPC alum have gone on to pursue internships and professional careers with the USFS and historic preservation occupations outside the agency.