For Immediate Release:
Contact: Cherie Downey
614-299-5522
1-800-666-7445
cdowney@durablerestoration.com
www.durablerestoration.com

“Bully” Project Awarded to The Durable Restoration Company

Columbus, Ohio, May 22, 2007.

Former Rough Rider and 26th president of the United States, Teddy Roosevelt rode and hunted in the badlands of North Dakota during the 1880’s and 1890’s.  Now, over a century later, The Durable Restoration Company has the honor of undertaking structural stabilization of an historic structure at Peaceful Valley Ranch in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, located near Medora, North Dakota.

The building, both sections of which were constructed during the 1880’s, served as a lodge for wealthy tourists who went to experience the great Wild West at the turn of the century.  It is now on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Theodore Roosevelt’s connection with the house is sketchy, but it is likely that he went there during his travels while he spent considerable time in the area as a young man.  Roosevelt obviously valued his time in the badlands as he declared, “I never would have been President if it had not been for my experiences in North Dakota."

Durable Restoration, an award-winning historic restoration company, with corporate offices in Columbus, Ohio, welcomes the opportunity to handle the structural stabilization and maintenance of this historic structure. 

“Partnering with the National Park Service on this project is an exciting opportunity for us,” said Gary Howes, executive vice president of The Durable Restoration Company.  “The NPS is responsible for a lot of historic buildings, and Durable Restoration is known for its expertise and extreme care in the restoration and maintenance of our historic architectural treasures.  This is exactly the type of project we enjoy because we know we are doing our part to preserve our nation’s history.  We are looking forward to contributing to the preservation of other NPS properties in the future.” 

The building is to be shored up while excavation is done for installation of steel reinforced footers and pouring a new foundation.  New floor joists and beams will further strengthen and stabilize the building.  The finish wood flooring of the interior spaces will be marked and removed during the stabilization.  After a new sub-floor is installed each piece of salvaged flooring will be reinstalled in the exact same location. 

Peaceful Valley ranch played a role in its early history as a working ranch, then as a dude ranch, and later in the 1930’s as the headquarters for the Civil Conservation Corps groups in that area. 

Trail rides are now offered at Peaceful Valley Ranch, a destination where visitors can experience the same contact with the rugged outdoors and a variety of wildlife which drew Roosevelt to the area and moved him to declare, "I grow very fond of this place, and it certainly has a desolate, grim beauty of its own that has a curious fascination for me."

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