Galena
A working partnership between the City of Galena and the Galena Foundation brought about the revitalization of Galena’s treasured Turner Hall. Built as a community center in 1874 (and reconstructed after a fire in 1927), the community for years found it challenging to fully utilize and maintain the building. It was not until the Turner Hall Committee was established by the mayor of Galena in 2013 that a plan for long-term stewardship and preservation was initiated. At this point, rehabilitation, maintenance and extensive restoration began. The project included restoring exterior stonework and using historically accurate paint, stain and fixtures inside to replicate its original appearance. Turner Hall was also made into a rental venue, with the City of Galena also hiring a facilities manager to oversee bookings for the community. Turner Hall has become a highly popular and used community space, with 70% of all rentals being for community events.