Historic PowerStation Cleanup

Since 1930, the Historic PowerStation (a.k.a. Genuine Parts building) has been an iconic fixture along the banks of the Sheyenne River in Harvey, ND.  From 1930 to 1941 it was known as the Central Light and Power Company.  It was purchased by Otter Tail power company May 31st, 1941 and served as a source of power for Harvey and the surrounding region until 1954 when the new power plants closer to the coalfields made it obsolete. It was then purchased by the Genuine Parts company and used for that purpose until the early 1980s.  For the most part, the building was not in use for any business purpose since that time.  It did serve as a storage facility and skate park until weather and wildlife took its toll on the roof and windows.

 Jon and Nicole Franklin, both Harvey natives and graduates of Harvey High School, returned to Harvey in the spring of 2018 to bring mental health resources to an area that has long been underserved. They quickly realized they would need to build a team of professionals in order to reach the thousands of people in the region who are in desperate need of mental health services. Jon and Nicole decided to make it their personal mission to transform Harvey and the surrounding areas from a mental health desert to an oasis.

In September of 2019, Hippocampus Holdings, LLC, the business arm of this vision, took possession of the historic PowerStation building.  The intent is to make the PowerStation a physical symbol and metaphor of what they hope to accomplish in the mental and emotional arena. This building has been cast aside and abandoned. It is perceived as not having value. It stands at the gateway of the city as a reminder of the unfinished work the community has before them. By restoring this building, the Franklins hope to not only provide a facility for many more mental health providers to practice, but to restore the hope in the region for those who may have felt cast aside, abandoned, and run-down.

 Many people have already caught this vision and have recognized the epidemic we are facing. As a result, the first phase of the project (the purchase and design phase) has been completely funded!  Several volunteers have offered to help with the next stage (demo and clean-up). However, the current state of the building is not safe for the general public. This is where you come in. This fundraiser is a request to raise money to hire a professional demo/cleaning crew to prepare the building for renovations.  It is easier to get a crew for this in the winter than in the summer.  We are trying to save the funds we have for this project for obtaining the construction loan.  If we wait until we have the loan to do the cleanup, we will have lost valuable time on the project.  If you have a passion to see the town of Harvey and surrounding areas transformed, donate to this GoFundMe and stay tuned for the progress and updates! In the future, there will be opportunities for volunteers to work on various projects in and outside of the building.