Clay County Projects


County Reconnaissance Survey:
The Iowa Lakes Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) office in Spencer recently received a Clay County Community Foundation grant to conduct a reconnaissance survey of Clay County’s historic resources. 

The grant will involve two phases. Phase one will involve surveying the communities in Palo Alto County; phase two the agricultural and rural properties.  A partnership has been established to complete this component.  Partners include: Iowa Lakes RC&D and Iowa State University Clay County Extension.

Upon completion, the information will enable a better understanding of current historic resources in Clay County. 

If you are a farm owner click here to download the National Barn Alliance Survey Form and Letter.

If you are interested in volunteering for the community survey component, please contact Sheriffa Jones.

Spencer, Old High School, 1914 & Auditorium, 1937:  This project is one of the largest to date that RPP is working on.  In May of 2007, RPP was asked to come to the table and assist on a reuse proposal for the Spencer Community School Board.  In August, Community Housing Initiatives (CHI), was brought in as a potential housing developer for the academic wing (1914) and Friends of the Old Spencer High School Auditorium was formed to assist the school district with the rehabilitation of the auditorium (1937).  Photo taken c. 1914 upon completion of the school.

The building has been determined eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places based on Criteria A.  In March 2008, CHI will be notified on whether or not the project will receive tax credits. 

Rural Preservation Partners has been responsible for bringing in CHI as well as working with the Spencer School Board, architects, and researching the potential for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.  RPP filed a site inventory form with the State Historic Preservation Office in October of 2007, which enabled a "eligible" determination-allowing CHI to submit the necessary forms for  tax credits.