Preservation success Kiwanis Chapel featured on ornament

The Havre/Hill County Historic Preservation Commission has released its latest Christmas ornament highlighting local history, with the featured building one of its successes.

The pewter ornament features the Kiwanis Chapel at Beaver Creek Park's Camp Kiwanis. The ornament was unveiled and released for sale during the Friends of Beaver Creek Park's 100th Birthday Party held for the park last Saturday, with the commission donating one of the 100 limited-edition ornaments for auction at the Friends fundraiser.

The park was created as a recreation area, called Beaver Creek Playground, in the same act signed into law in 1916 that created Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation that borders the park to the south and southwest.

The remaining ornaments are available for purchase at the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce Office at 130 Fifth Ave.

The commission also is offering a promotional special for previously issued ornaments. Previous years have featured the former Havre Post Office, Hill County Court House, Episcopal Church and Donaldson Hall at Montana State University-Northern. The Commission is offering a special price for the remaining ornaments: Buy two of the three - Courthouse, St, Mark's Episcopal Church or Donaldson - for $30.

The commission will use the proceeds from ornament sales for a preservation fund is is establishing to help pay for local preservation efforts.

The chapel is one of the local buildings the commission has helped to preserve.

The Havre/Hill County Historic Preservation Commission worked with the Hill County Park Board to list the Kiwanis Chapel on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008-09.

Once listed, a stimulus grant was obtained in 2010. The rehabilitation of the chapel, which was completed in 2011 included log replacement and staining, new chinking, reconstruction of the front porch, a new roof, historically appropriate lighting and the addition of a handicap ramp.

A sign provided by the Montana Historical Society gives a brief historical description and is now on display at the building. The park also made other contributions to the building including landscaping, a paved sidewalk and a concrete vault toilet.

The commission thanked the Hill County Park Board and the Friends of Beaver Creek Park for their preservation efforts in a release about the 2017 ornament.