DELMONT, S.D. (AP) - Repairs are underway on the onion-shaped dome of a historic Delmont building that was damaged in a tornado almost two years ago.
The Onion House’s dome has been wrapped in plastic since the May 2015 tornado while plans were made for its repair, the Yankton Press & Dakotan (https://bit.ly/2nNtPb1) reported. The tornado destroyed a third of Delmont’s homes.
Delmont resident Leo Holzbauer bought the Onion House to save it from being demolished when the out-of-state owners didn’t want responsibility for the landmark after the tornado. Holzbauer donated the house to the Historical Society of Delmont.
“I did not want to see the Onion House disappear, since I had fond boyhood memories of seeing it on the Main Street of Delmont,” he said.
The house has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1987. It started as a private residence in 1902. It’s since served as a hospital, clinic, beauty shop and clothing store, then back to a private residence.
“This was something we had wanted for years,” Historical Society President Earla Strid said. “We are grateful for the gift and look forward to opening it up for viewing in the future.”
Strid said renovations on the dome have already begun and are going to cost nearly $50,000, so “we are reaching out to the public for assistance.” The society has so far received a $20,000 matching grant from the Deadwood Fund. The group has about $10,000 to match so far.
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Information from: Yankton Press and Dakotan, https://www.yankton.net/
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