The historic Bessesen Building in downtown Albert Lea, known to many as the home of the Albert Lea Art Center, was named Thursday night as one of the state’s 10 Most Endangered Historic Places by the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota.

The list, which is the 17th annual compilation the nonprofit organization has released, profiles historic sites that are most in need of public support and advocacy.

The selection was made from 19 nominations submitted by citizens and groups from around the state.

“It’s an honor to have the attention from the Minnesota Preservation Alliance,” said Susanne Crane, owner of the Bessesen Building, 224 S. Broadway Ave. “It’s a bittersweet competition because it does mean there’s a pretty serious issue here, but I’m hopeful this will bring attention to the building and help me save it.”

She said she has been advocating for the building for almost five years and she thinks “this is a chance to save something grand for generations to come.”

She called the building “a rare and beautiful example of turn of the century architecture, with a fine romantic back story.”

Albert Lea buildings that have made the list in the past include the Freeborn National Bank and Jacobson Apartments Building, the Western Grocer Co. Building and the “Cap” Emmons Auditorium.

Of those buildings, the Freeborn National Bank Building and Jacobson Apartments Building have been saved, while the Western Grocer Co. Building and the “Cap” Emmons Auditorium have been demolished.

The history of the Bessesen Building

The Bessesen Building was built in 1916 by a young doctor for his wife, Beatrice Bessesen, an internationally famous opera singer, who was the belle of the royal German Opera Co. in Berlin and performed at Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Opera, among others.

There are several buildings in downtown Albert Lea that somehow involve her or the name of Bessesen.

For several years, Bessesen gave recitals, hosted concerts and provided music and acting lessons in the building, which grew to become a center for Albert Lea cultural life — gaining the nickname of “Art Mecca on the Prairie,” according to a Preservation Alliance news release.

In 2006, after the building had fallen into disrepair, Crane bought it and attempted to start its renovation.

Since, tensions have ensued between the Albert Lea Art Center, who are the primary occupants of the building, and Crane.

Crane said these tensions have made it more difficult to continue with the renovation efforts.

She said within the last year she has since completely paid off the building, but right around that same time or a short while before, the Albert Lea Art Center filed a lawsuit to get the building back.

Regardless of this situation, about $100,000 is needed to stabilize the building and perform needed roofing, window and masonry repairs, she noted. The roof and window-related damage has been a problem for many years and is at a “critical” point.

There are also large areas that have been unheated since at least the 1980s, she said.

The rest of the list

Other sites to make the 10 Most Endangered Historic Places for 2010 include the following:

Minnesota’s Oldest Dairy Queen, Roseville

Dodd Ford Bridge, Amboy

Garrison Concourse, Garrison

Todd County Courthouse, Long Prairie

Wesley United Methodist Church, Minneapolis

Great Northern Railway Depot, Princeton

Jackson County Resource Center, Jackson

Samuel J. Hewson House, Minneapolis

Southeast St. Cloud Neighborhood, St. Cloud

The list was selected by a jury made up of preservation professionals and volunteers from Preservation Alliance of Minensota, the State Historic Preservation Office of the Minnesota Historical Society, the Minnesota Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians, the American Institute of Architects, Preserve Minneapolis and the University of Minneapolis.

After its selection, the Preservation Alliance pledges to work with all parties that have an interest in a listed property to alleviate the threat to the historic resource, according to the organization’s release.

A photo exhibit featuring the 10 Most Endangered Historic Places for 2010 will be displayed at museums, libraries and other public places statewide throughout the year.

The endangered buildings are also included in a feature in the June 2010 edition of Minnesota Monthly magazine.

In addition, Preservation Alliance publishes The Preservationist magazine, hosts events and lobbies for the cause of saving the state’s architectural history, Crane said.

Of the nearly 140 places on the Most Endangered Historic Places list since its inception, two-thirds have been saved in part through the awareness generated by their listing.

Success stories include Midtown Exchange and the Ivy Tower in Minneapolis, the Stillwater Lift Bridge, the former Red Wing High School, the Litchfield Opera House, the St. Louis County Jail in Duluth and the Big Fish in Bena, among others.

More about the Preservation Alliance can be found at www.mnpreservation.org.