HAGERTY, Duane P.

Being researched.

Photo courtesy: Dubuque Today

HAGERTY, Duane P. (Dubuque, IA, June 5, 1966--Dubuque, IA, Dec. 28, 2024) Duane was born to Patrick and Judith (Kronlage) Hagerty. Raised on his family’s farm near Bankston, Duane attended Farley-Bankston Catholic School before continuing his education at Western Dubuque High School, where he graduated with the Class of 1984.

Duane continued his education at the University of Northern Iowa. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, in 1988. He then attended the University of Minnesota Law School, where he earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, in 1991. He practiced real estate law in Des Moines and Chicago. (1)

In 2010, Duane chose to follow his passion for history and architecture and changed his career focus to historic property redevelopment. He earned a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Following his graduation, he formed Hagerty Heritage Planning, a historic preservation firm located in Chicago, Illinois. He became actively involved in Dubuque architecture with work redeveloping the St. Mary's parish into STEEPLE SQUARE. (2) Since 2015, he was the President and CEO of Heritage Works, a nonprofit preservation organization based in Dubuque.

Duane's background in law and his drive for historic preservation left a profound impact benefiting the entire Tri-State area. Duane helped to save such landmarks as ST. RAPHAEL'S CATHEDRAL, the UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH, and FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST. (4)

Led by Hagerty, Heritage Works inspired others to recognize their architectural heritage. Heritage Works officially began its work in June, 2015 with a presentation of architectural designs used by Alfred CALDWELL to design EAGLE POINT PARK. (5) In October 2015 buoyed by the presence of a king's ransom of stained glass in Dubuque, he organized and led a tour of stained glass belonging to local churches. In an article published at the time, he remarked that the aim of Heritage Works was to educate residents about Dubuque's historic resources and assist in preservation of those resources. Restoration stained glass played a recurrent theme in his work in Dubuque. In 2017 Heritage Works were deeply involved with the care of stained glass windows at the conversion of St. Mary's church into Steeple Square. The windows were placed in the church in 1916. Over time, dirt and soot had accumulated which needed removal. Each window was carefully freed of its frame, soaked, cleaned, repaired and polished. Three of the workers had no prior experience in this work and were trained in the necessary skills. As Hagerty stated in a Telegraph Herald editorial:

                The veil of blight was lifted from buildings like the
                Town Clock Building, the Julien Hotel, the Grand Opera
                House and the former Walsh stores. (6)

Hagerty believed that historic preservation was a tool for economic development. In 2017 he assisted the staff of LORAS COLLEGE with an application to be listed on the NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. Hagerty noted at the time that gaining such a distinction would assist the college in marketing itself and receiving grants and tax credits for qualifying buildings. (7)

Not all of Hagerty's work was large scale. In 2016 he hosted a "Lunch 'n Learn: Efficiency in Historic Homes" to teach homeowners the restoration of historic wood windows. (8)

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Source:

1.

2. "Evening Architecture Presentation," Telegraph Herald, March 30, 2014, p. 9

3.

4. Lyon, Randolph W., member of the congregation at First Congregational United Church of Christ

5. Frenzel, Anthony, "History and Heritage," Telegraph Herald, October 17, 2015, p. 12

6. Hagerty, Duane, "Historic Activation Catalyzes Local Economic Development," Telegraph Herald, November 17, 2022, p. 4

7. Hinga, Allie, "Loras Still Aiming for Register," Telegraph Herald, October 31, 2017, p. 3

8. Dubuque Architecture Days, Telegraph Herald, April 6, 2016, p. 20

"Duane P. Hagerty," Dubuque Today, Online.