Franklin County Historic Preservation Society receives grant for R.E.A. Plant designation

A piece of national history in Franklin County recently received a major push towards increased preservation.

The Franklin County Historic Preservation Society on July 14 was awarded a $17,085 grant through the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs’ annual grant program to award money to projects that invest in art, history, quality of life and economic growth. The grant will be used to apply for a National Historical Landmark designation for the R.E.A. Power Plant Museum south of Hampton.

The R.E.A. Power Plant, established in 1938, was the first farmer-owned Rural Electric Cooperative west of the Mississippi River to deliver electricity to farmers. The building has since been converted to a museum and shows the evolution of farm life with the introduction of electricity.

The grant, with $12,000 in donations from Corn Belt Power, Basin Electric and Cooperative Bank to meet the $10,000 match requirement for the grant, satisfied the cost for the application for the designation.

Rick Whalen, historical society member who oversees the R.E.A. project, said the next step is to sign a contract with AKAY Consulting’s Alexa McDowell to fill out the application. McDowell is no stranger to North Iowa history, as she helped the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake achieve the same designation. Once the contract is signed, the application process will begin. Whalen said the application will take up to two years to be finalized and approved.

Whalen said the National Historical Landmark designation is important to the R.E.A. Plant because it will allow the Franklin Historical Preservation Society to apply for additional grants and tax advantages towards the plant.

“This is extremely important,” he said of the grant. “It’s a landmark, it’s the beginning of the R.E.A. in the United States.

Whalen added that he’s pleased with the support towards the grant given by cooperatives and encourages others to follow suit as the dedication of the R.E.A. continues.

“All the co-ops can trace their roots back to the R.E.A. Plant,” he said. “It was the first one west of the Mississippi and is the last one around.”

The R.E.A. Power Plant Museum is located four miles south of Hampton on 110th Street and is open for tours via appointment.