PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — The historic core district at the University of South Dakota could be in line for a special honor, even though it’s something that USD officials prefer doesn’t happen.
The trustees on the South Dakota State Historical Society board want the area added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The 18.5-acre district includes 13 buildings, such as University Hall, also known as Old Main, that were constructed prior to 1955, as well as the connecting greenspace between them.
The nomination also has several objects, such as a birdbath and fountain from 1924.
The state trustees voted 7-0 on Friday to move forward with the nomination.
That came despite a carefully worded letter of opposition from Vermillion Mayor Jonathan Cole, who pointed out that USD “neither requested nor supports this designation.”
USD legal counsel A.J. Franken meanwhile objected during the teleconference discussion.
Among Franken’s points was that USD has limited financial resources and the situation could turn worse, because of Governor Kristi Noem’s proposal to cut $9 million from the maintenance and repair budgets of the six public universities and two special schools.
Franken also said that the future is uncertain for one of the buildings in the USD district, Charlotte Noteboom Hall, which was completed in 1954 to serve as a women’s dormitory but most recently has served as a flex space during renovations on other buildings.
Rebutting those arguments in person was Tim Schreiner, who chairs the Clay County Historic Preservation Commission.
“We see this as a positive all the way around,” Schreiner said.
State trustee John Fowler of Elk Point asked whether the USD alumni foundation had been contacted.
Liz Almlie, a historic preservation specialist for the society, said she sent letters to the state Board of Regents who governs the public universities, as well as the offices of USD President Sheila Gestring and USD provost Kurt Hackemer.
“I didn’t send anything directly to the university foundation, no,” she said.
State trustee Lura Roti of Sioux Falls supported the nomination. “It’s good to have examples of all types of buildings,” she said.
The trustees’ chair, Tom Hurlbert of Sioux Falls, asked a variety of questions about the process. After Almlie made clear that the national listing doesn’t prevent future changes, but there would need to be a public discussion, he said the designation didn’t seem like a very large hurdle.
“That does not seem like a burden to me,” Hurlbert said. “You can still tear it down, but we’re going to have a conversation.”
Trustee Robert Kolbe of Sioux Falls said he was a USD alumnus but he would support the nomination. “Maybe they’ll revoke my master’s degree, but that’s how I’m voting,” he said.
The decision came during the first public meeting in the new Arikara-style lodge that was added as part of the renovations that are still underway at the state Cultural Heritage Center.
State historian Ben Jones said the current timetable calls for center to reopen its archives to the public next April and the redesigned museum in December 2025.
