By JANE UTECHT, Staff Reporter, Madison Daily Leader 10/3/13

Representatives of the Madison Area Retired Teachers Association (MARTA) presented a check to Prairie Village Manager Stan Rauch and Board President George Lee. The ladies held a quilt raffle this summer and the $1,300 in proceeds went to the historic village for repairs to the library. MARTA members present were Carol White, DeAnna Molskness and Treasurer Bonnie Nelson.

A stitch in time saves nine, but a bunch of stiches can save a library.

This summer the Madison Area Retired Teachers Association (MARTA) held a quilt raffle to help pay for the updates on the library at Prairie Village. New siding had been planned for the building, said Prairie Village Board President George Lee, but that work was delayed a year when it was discovered the building’s foundation needed some work.

With a grant from the Mary Chilton DAR Foundation, the library is now sporting new red siding to go along with the repaired foundation and new windows. MARTA held the quilt raffle to continue to help the building, which was the first chartered library in South Dakota in 1886. The $1,300 check may go toward a new roof on the structure.

The quilt, throw and a quilted wall hanging were made by MARTA members Barb Hoff and Mona Reisig. The drawing was held at the Steam Threshing Jamboree, and the winners were Tammy Stockland of Centerville, Judy Harwig of Sioux Falls and Rita Brown of Chester.