FAIRBURY, NE — The Jefferson County Commissioners are pitching in to help finance needed repairs to a historic landmark in Fairbury. 

At a recent meeting, the commissioners approved giving $50,000 of its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds received from the federal government to the Jefferson County Historical Society. 

That money will go toward funding a repair of the roof of the Rock Island Depot in Fairbury. The train depot turned museum has suffered roof damage over the years in hail and wind storms and now has several leaks. 

A total cost of fixing the roof while keeping it historically accurate — and therefore maintaining its status as a historical building by Nebraska Historical Society standards — will cost about $375,000. 

Members from the Jefferson County Historical Society have indicated they've raised about $175,000 for the project before receiving the ARPA funds. That money will push the historical society past the $200,000 threshold, which they need to be able to make a downpayment and get materials ordered. 

There's still money to be raised, however. The historical society will still have to pay two instances of $87,500, once when materials arrive and before work will start and again upon the work's completion.