Daniel C. Gainey home receives 2008 Preservation Award
The Daniel C. Gainey home recently was awarded the 2008 Preservation Award by the Steele County Historical Society. The award recognizes efforts taken to preserve the county's history, arts and culture throughout the years.
The society's board recognizes the University of St. Thomas' efforts to maintain the historic integrity of the impressive Gainey home, while also using the home as part of the Gainey Conference Center facilities.
A reception was held on May 1 in recognition of National History Month and National Preservation Week.
The Gainey home and estate, located in Owatonna, Minn., was once owned by Daniel C. Gainey, president of Jostens. He bequeathed the ranch to the University of St. Thomas in 1979 for use as a conference center and an educational resource. The conference center now adjoining Gainey's historic Normandy French-style country chateau home, was built by the university in 1982.
The center is a meeting place for companies and organizations to host retreats, strategic planning sessions, training and other events; additionally, the original stables (now called "The Mews") that housed Gainey Arabians has been renovated into classrooms that are used for the University of St. Thomas' evening MBA program and other day meetings.
