(Atlantic) Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise President Steve Livengood says the Armory is endangered and needs the communities to support to save the National Historic building and center of community activities past, present, and future.
“We’ve done a tremendous amount of work on the armory, but we started at the bottom instead of the top,” explained Livengood. “When you walk into the building, it’s gorgeous-the Memorial Hall, the museums, and everywhere else. However, we probably should’ve started at the top. Nobody is going to see that, but it should have been down that way because we’re getting serious water infiltration.”
Steve Livengood says the weather played havoc with the structure built in 1929 as a memorial for veterans. Rain is leaking in; plaster has fallen in some places threatening to damage or destroy irreplaceable artifacts. “We need a new roof.”
Livengood says the cost to repair the large roof covering about one-quarter of an acre is around 65,000 dollars. “The public sees the $65,000 quote, and their reaction is that’s a lot of money to fix a roof,” said Livengood. “But this is an unconventional roof.”
Livengood says the local American Legion Post has kicked off a fundraising event by pledging to raise $10,000. Numerous business people and other individuals and organizations have donated up to $2,500, but the total is not nearly enough. “We need the money,” said Livengood. “People can send donations to ARISE P.O. Box 1; they can contact me by phone 243-5445 or mail a check.”
Donation checks, made payable to ARISE, may be mailed to P.O. Box 1, Atlantic, Iowa, 50022. ARISE is a 501 (c) (3) organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Donations may purchase a Dog Tag or add to an already existing Dog Tag.
Livengood, anyone wishing to tour the facility can contact him at 712-254-6123. More information and a video tour are available ariseAtlantic.org and on Facebook: Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise.
