Volunteers hope to raise $340,000 to complete a $1.8 million capital fund expansion plan for the Hormel Historic Home.

Already, the Hormel Foundation has donated $500,000 to the project. Another $460,000 has been raised from the greater Austin community.

When another $40,000 is raised from the community and the $460,000 total grows to $500,000, the Hormel Foundation has pledged a second $500,000 gift.

Obviously, the capital campaign chairs and their committee volunteers are excited.

“We’re very excited about this gift from the Hormel Foundation,” said Randy Kramer, HHH board of trustees chair; “Our goal is to keep the Hormel Historic Home serving the community in perpetuity.”

“The expansion is a big step in that direction, and we are thrilled to have the Hormel Foundation invest in the future of the organization,” Kramer said.

Bonnie Besse Rietz and Mahlon Schneider, co-chairs of the capital campaign, announced the fundraising plans at a press conference Wednesday morning in the former home of Geo. A. and Lillian Hormel.

Joining them were Kramer, Belita Schindler, volunteer design consultant, Rod Nordeng, representing Austin Medical Center – Mayo Health System and Pat Ray, chair of the Restoration and Rejuvenation committee, spearheading the project and Laura Helle, HHH executive director.

Rietz, former Austin mayor, welcomed guests and Schneider detailed some of the history of the landmark residence.

Built in 1871, the home was occupied by Geo. A. and Lillian Hormel and their only son Jay Catherwood Hormel from 1901 to 1927.

Geo. A. Hormel retired from the meatpacking company he founded and with his wife, Lillian, known in Austin high society as “Belle,” to California.

Their son, Jay Catherwood, took over the reins of the Austin-based company.

Before becoming a tourist attraction, the home was the Austin YWCA.

It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“We’re confident the people of Austin will be excited to support our unique historical project,” Rietz said.

Repeatedly, the co-chairs and others told how expanding the home will be, in part, fulfillment of the Hormel family’s wishes that it could be accessed by as many people as possible in the community.

One venture sure to do that is the new Historic Hormel Home University summer program for children, beginning next year.

According to Ray, HHHU is the result of a brain-storming session by eight retired teachers, who have prepared a summer-long curriculum for children in grades kindergarten through fifth that will turn HHH into a summertime classroom

The home is located at 208 Fourth Ave. Northwest.

Rietz said HHH executive director Helle must turn down many requests to use the home’s facilities for large gatherings because of a lack of meeting space.

The expansion will allow individual private meeting rooms with a maximum capacity for 300 people, according to Rietz.

Although now prohibited by building code restrictions from cooking food on-site, a new kitchen is also part of the expansion plans.

The 7,000 square foot expansion will be built directly east of HHH and west of the Carriage House addition.

AMC-Mayo donated a parcel of land behind the Austin Eye Clinic and west of Donut Connection to make the expansion possible.

According to Helle, the Peace Garden will not be disturbed.

Donors are invited to mail gifts to: Hormel Historic Home, 208 4th Ave. Northwest, Austin, MN 55912.

Online donations can be made via the HHH web site www.hormelhistorichome.org

Already 96 gifts to the capital campaign have been made, according to the campaign co-chairs.

For more information, call Helle at 507 433-4243.