PIERRE — The First Congregational Church and the First Presbyterian Church in Huron have received Deadwood Fund matching grants from the South Dakota State Historical Society, as announced by Jay D. Vogt, director of the Society.
“This historic preservation grants program is designed to encourage restoration or rehabilitation of historic properties and is one more way we can promote and protect our history and culture,” said Vogt. “In 2018 we awarded $117,000 among 10 projects which had matching funds of $580,106. The resulting total public-private investment is $697,106.”
The grants are awarded through the State Historical Society’s Deadwood Fund grant program. Funding for the program is from Deadwood gaming revenue earmarked by state law for historic preservation projects throughout the state. The program is administered by the society’s State Historic Preservation Office at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre.
The First Congregational Church, located at 505 California Avenue SW, was awarded a $15,000 Deadwood Fund Grant to assist with stained-glass window restoration and storm window replacement. This will entail removing and re-leading 16 windows along with scraping, caulking, and painting the window frames. The rotten wood will be removed and then the frame and glass will be sealed.
Built in 1919, this two-story rectangular brick church building features Classical Revival style detailing. Ornate stained-glass windows with floral and geometric motifs adorn the building. The words “FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH” are carved into stone beneath the pediment on the front or east façade.

The First Presbyterian Church, located at 510 Dakota Avenue S, was awarded a $12,000 Deadwood Fund Grant to assist with stained-glass window restoration and storm window installation.
Built in 1915, this building is a two-story Classical Revival style rectangular brick church building. A cornerstone on the building reads “1880-1914 Presbyterian Church.”  
 Both churches were listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 as contributing to the Campbell Park Historic District.  
The following projects also recently received grants to supplement their work:
Fall River County, Hot Springs: Harlou Building, built in 1893; received $13,000 to assist with masonry repair and repointing on façade and side as well as repair of the side exterior stairs;
Hand County, Miller: Hand County Courthouse, built in 1924; received $14,476.30 to assist with skylight and stained-glass window restoration.
These new recipients represent a total award amount of $54,476. With their matching funds of $261,612, the total public-private investment is $316,088. 
Deadwood Fund grants are awarded twice a year, with grant application deadlines of Feb. 1 and Oct. 1. They are reviewed at the spring and winter meetings of the State Historical Society’s board of trustees.
For more information on the Deadwood Fund grant program, contact the State Historic Preservation Office at the Cultural Heritage Center, 900 Governors Drive, Pierre, SD 57501-2217; telephone (605) 773-3458; or website history.sd.gov/Preservation.