Greenwood Preservation Society

Goal: $37,200.00

Specific Need

The Greenwood Preservation Society is working with the city of Eureka to preserve Eureka's historic Memorial Hall, built in 1924. Restoration is underway to create an entertainment venue. A new roof was completed in 2021, and now the highest priority is to repair and preserve the original steel-framed windows that are leaking moisture and causing interior damage. Thanks to a Heritage Trust Fund grant from the Kansas State Historical Society, the north side and a section of windows on the front of the building are now being restored. 

The funds raised by the GWPS with the Emporia Community Foundation match will go a long way toward completing the remaining portion of the window restoration, and ensuring Memorial Hall's re-emergence as an entertainment venue  that will strengthen travel and tourism in the southern Flint Hills area.

Mission

The mission of The Greenwood Preservation Society (GWPS) is to better the community and surrounding area historically, economically and visually through acquired funds. The GWPS was organized in 2001 and formed as a not-for-profit corporation in 2005. Its purpose is to address the long-term preservation of historical buildings located in and around Greenwood County, Kansas.

Profile

The GWPS has a strong reputation in the community and state-wide for fundraising to carry out large projects, and has been the leader in Eureka and Greenwood County in changing the mentality from "tear it down" to "bring that back for a useful purpose."

The GWPS played a key role in turning the corner toward revitalization of the city of Eureka and the surrounding area with the $1.3 million restoration of the Greenwood Hotel. Opened in 2011, the Greenwood Hotel Event Center in Eureka is available for the public to rent at a reasonable fee and also has four tenant store fronts. The organization's follow-up projects include commissioning a survey of downtown buildings which led to the creation of Eureka's Downtown Historic District, plus the recent acquisition of the "Red Owl" property on Main Street, with future plans to renovate the building for community space.

The City of Eureka is working with the GWPS to acquire funds to complete window restoration at the Historic Memorial Hall.