After months of work by a group of community volunteers, renovations at Edgewater Cottage are nearing completion.

On Tuesday, a handful of residents finished painting the exterior of the building, and organizer Bob Goldman anticipated there would be a rededication ceremony by mid-October.

“We’re so very close to using it again,” Goldman said. “The hard stuff is done.”

Still to be completed are sheetrock and woodwork repairs on the interior, along with painting, Goldman said. The floors may be done in the spring.

Work has been finished on the basement, the roof and the footings, among others. New windows have been installed.

He said volunteers raised about $40,000 in donations for the project, and there has been an additional $50,000 from in-kind donations. The city oversaw solving a water runoff problem at the site, which Goldman estimated was $6,000 to $7,000.

Numerous businesses have also contributed, he said. Work was being done through the Cloverleaf Lions, but volunteers were from all over the community.

 

Goldman said organizers are looking for lightweight circular tables that will seat eight to use inside the building, while the old picnic tables will be used outside.

According to historical records, Edgewater Cottage originated as a farmhouse.

Freeborn County Historical Museum records indicate at one point the owner of the house operated a nearby pigeon farm or squab ranch. The cottage later became the home for Louis Kroessin, a harness maker and poultry farmer, and then was owned by Samuel Sorenson.

In 1925 or 1926, the city acquired the farm.

The upper story of the house was removed and the lower part was converted into the present Edgewater Cottage. At one point, it even sold concessions, including ice cream.

A deck with a view of Edgewater Bay was added after 1975.