FORT MADISON – The Old Fort Madison Preservation effort kicked into full gear Friday night with a campaign kickoff to raise just over a million dollars in private donations to help restore the replica museum on the city’s riverfront.
The group welcomed the community to a campaign kickoff at the Fort Madison Pavilion where OFMP board member Becky Rump and Fundraising Co-Chair Chuck Osmanksi revved up attendees to be part of reforging the future of the Old Fort museum.
The Old Fort has gone through multiple transitions over the past decade, including the removal of several buildings that the city deemed unsafe for visitors. There was some effort to remove the structure completely if a community-based effort to restructure the organization and make operations profitable, as well as shore up safety, wasn't founded. The riverfront efforts have seen the additions of the Fort Madison Marina, Turnwater Bar and Grill, and a new playground and splash pad to bring additional visitors to the community.
When American Cruise Lines' boats were stopping in the area and bringing tourists into Fort Madison, the Old Fort was a popular stopping point for tourists on the boats, as were agriculture and retail tours through the city and surrounding communities.
Those excursions have been removed from the ACL itinerary and hopes are that the refurbished museum could bring those people back to the community.
The OFMP committee has already secured close to $2.5 million in pledges and contributions and have a total campaign goal of $3.5 million. A core group of pledges and donors of more than $5,000 came from 41 donors. Top donors include Coffie Investments, Connection Bank, Dana & Jim Rheinschmidt, City of Fort Madison, Meller Excavating & Asphalt, Kathleen & William Napier, and Greg & Ashley Shottenkirk, all of whom have pledged $100,000 or more to the renovation project. An additional 213 others have contributed up to $5,000 each to reach the $2.5 million already raised.
Anyone wishing to donate can contact the committee or simply donate through a link on the group’s website: https://historicoldfortmadison.org/.
“What a difference this is going to make for this community,” Dana Rheinschmidt said.
“Every contribution whether a donation, an hour of labor, or voice of advocacy has become part of this new frontier.”
She said when the construction is completed it will be more than just seven buildings. It will be a living history where children and adults alike can walk through the gates and feel the world of 1808 come alive.
“It will be a source of pride, humanity, and inspiration for this community. It will stand because you choose to make it stand,” she said.
Osmanski said if you look back just two years ago, the city almost lost the fort.
“That core group of people, that determination, that initiative they had to get that job done started this process,” he said.
Osmanski referenced Meller Excavating who came forward and donated all the work to get the site ready for the new construction and that helped get the campaign started along with some initial funding from the Coffie and Rheinschmidt families.
He said the City of Fort Madison's and Lee County Board of Supervisors' commitments have helped leverage other funding mechanisms, including a possible Destination Iowa grant.
“There’s so much to be taught and so much education to be taught right here. The excitement is here,” he said.
Osmanksi said Fort Madison is his home and his family decided to stay here after he retired as general manager of the Hy-Vee Food Store.
“What I’m asking from you is can you step up, will you step up? Let's get to $3.5 million,” he said.
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