PEMBERTON — Because Doug Baer and like-minded preservationists stayed true to their school, Pemberton boasts a new multi-purpose municipal facility.
“We’re all excited about it. It’s kind of fun to see kids there again,” said Lu Guse, who operates a fitness center in the town of 300 residents.
Finishing touches are being placed on the 17,000-square-foot building, which includes city offices, a library, kitchen, gymnasium, community room and day-care center.
City councilman Baer said the renovation challenge was daunting when he and others began planning about three years ago.
The facility closed as a school 15 years ago and sat vacant for the next 12.
“We had to do something with the building after we bought it from the (Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton) school district for $1,” Baer said.
But despite what some people in town may have felt, buying the building for a buck didn’t mean it could be left alone as a nostalgia piece.
For complete story, see the Monday, March 3, 2008, print edition of The Free Press or sign onto our e-edition.
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