Preservation Commission celebrates National Preservation Month

May is National Preservation Month. Established in 1973 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, many events are planned by local preservation groups to promote historic places and to show the social and economic benefits of historic preservation.

The Havre/Hill County Historic Preservation Commission is celebrating National Preservation Month with some activities.

Becki Miller, historic preservation officer of the Havre/Hill County Historic Preservation Commission, said shadow boxes were built with original Fort Assinniboine windows, which are more than 100 years old.

The shadow boxes are on display at the Havre Historic Post Office and Montana State University-Northern's library. Various historical photos are placed in each shadow box.

"The MSU-N one has some college historic photos in it, the one downtown has downtown Havre photos in it," Miller said.

Miller said the shadow boxes are a way to remind people of the past and how there are some "great architectural buildings around town and throughout the community."

"I think it's important for people to realize how much preservation ties into our community," she added.

After the windows were taken from Fort Assinniboine, they were used in Pershing Hall at MSU-N. After Pershing Hall was remodeled, the windows were used for the shadow boxes.

"This is their third recycle in the sense that they were at the fort, then they went to the college and now we're using them as the shadow boxes," Miller said.

The preservation commission also has a special on a variety of ornaments.

"We're offering a sale on those during the month of May," Miller said.

People can buy two of the three of the following ornaments for $30: Hill County Courthouse, St. Mark's Episcopal Church or Donaldson Hall.

Ornaments can be purchased at the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce office, 130 5th Ave.