Raising the roof

At the (Anti) Wrecking Ball, partygoers had a mission: to save historic buildings while raising the roof.

The Preservation Alliance of Minnesota announced its 17th annual list of the state's 10 most endangered historic places, and Ezra and the Pounders rocked the crowd at the Soap Factory in southeast Minneapolis last month.

"We save and support buildings around the state by empowering people with the tools they need," executive director Bonnie McDonald said, noting that the efforts are also eco-friendly. "It's the most sustainable thing to do, instead of wasting all that energy with new buildings."

For the first time, the 10 designated sites campaigned for partygoers' votes to vie for a $2,500 seed grant to help with preservation efforts. In the end, the Dodd Ford Bridge in Amboy, Minn., a steel suspension bridge in need of repair, beat out competitors, including the Great Northern Railway Depot in Princeton, Minn., Wesley United Methodist Church and Samuel J. Hewson House in Minneapolis and the state's oldest Dairy Queen, in Roseville.

Architect Rosemary McMonigal brought the potential demolition of the 1950s Dairy Queen to the attention of the community. Owners are planning to knock it down and build a DQ Grill and Chill. However, McMonigal believes that there is another way. "We're convinced we can make changes so it's more energy-efficient but keep all of the retro character," she said.

For McMonigal and the other building advocates, it was very constructive night out.

Sara Glassman • 612-673-7177