Preservation commission celebrates work to register Donaldson Hall

Press release

The Havre/Hill County Historic Preservation Commission is celebrating May Preservation Month with competition of Donaldson Hall National Historic Register listing.

The commisison recently announced the Donaldson Hall National Register Listing has been approved at both the State and National levels. Completed as a collaboration between the local Havre/Hill Count Historic Preservation Commission and Montana State University-Northern, the National Register listing documents Donaldson Hall's colorful past and significant contribution to Northern and the community.

"This project represents the fulfillment of one of the (Commission'a) strategic goals to get a facility on the MSUN campus listed, and is the culmination of countless hours of research by local and state historians. While the (historic preservation commission) uses its (certified local government funds) and local funds to maintain programs such as the annual commemorative Christmas ornament, preservation wwards, historic murals, and various stabilization projects, it is rewarding to partner with a local organization to complete a larger project like the Donaldson Hall (national registry)."

Former Historic Preservation Officer Becki Miller was instrumental in providing the catalyst to begin gathering and entering information into Property Record forms for facilities on the MSU Northern Campus as well as coordinating that work with Montana State University architecture and engineering staff.

The recent partnership between MSUN and the Havre/Hill County Historic Preservation Commission is a great example of how collaboration can have a successful outcome," Miller said. "This project was years in the making, and I am grateful for all those who contributed."

Miller approached Chancellor Greg Kegel in the fall of 2022 concerning the partnership to formally recognize the important architectural contribution Donaldson Hall has made to both the university and the community.

Member and Havre/Hill County Historic Preservation Commssion Chair Jillian Allen had gathered information on the former residence hall during her undergraduate program and was able to offer that research to Kelsey Doncaster, who was contracted to complete the National Register of Historic Places application. Allen shared a phrase from architect Mary DeNadai, "Old buildings are like memories you can touch." Donaldson Hall is one of those shared memories for the people of the greater Havre community.

Continuing the coverage of Local Preservation Month activities, next Thursday Kelsey Doncaster of Doncaster Consulting will provide detail into the nomination process as well as some of the more interesting details that he discovered while completing the process.

The Havre/Hill County Historic Preservation Commission meets the Third Wednesday of each month at 5 p.m. in the lobby of the Havre Historic Post Office. Current commission members are Jillian Allen, David Brewer, Wade Bitz, Erica Farmer, Carol Reifschneider and Debbie Vandeberg.