One year after forming, Revitalize Dumont is already seeing tangible progress in its effort to restore the former Dumont school building — thanks in large part to community support.
Revitalize Dumont President Roger Kregel tells RadioOnTheGo News the progress the group made in its first year exceeded expectations.
“We really did not know what to expect,” Kregel says. “We knew this was going to be a long-term process and a lot of work, but we did have some great donations and if anybody would have told me that at the end of 2025 we would have the money in the bank that we had, and some of the cleanup (and other) work done that we got done, I would have been very surprised if that happened. But the community really came together in 2025 and made some things happen.”
That support has translated into nearly $300,000 raised between 2025 and early 2026, allowing the group to begin major infrastructure improvements.
When the organization took ownership of the building, it had been completely stripped of usable utilities, with no functioning plumbing or electrical systems. Since then, the group has installed three-phase power, a roughly $40,000 investment. A major next step is already on the calendar, a $178,000 project to replace the gymnasium roof is expected to begin this month.
Kregel says the project has also sparked renewed connections across the community, with former students, administrators and residents expressing interest in getting involved.
“It’s really fascinating to see as Laura’s (Sauls) posting the graduating classes online and then you see people responding and the distant family members are starting to communicate and they comment and that’s really neat to see and we are gathering momentum and gaining a list of people that are wanting to be involved. I just opened an email from Chuck Bonjour that was a former principal at the school building years ago. And I know anybody that’s listening to this, they remember that name. He was very influential in the school district and community involved. We’re making those types of relationships happen again and they’re interested in getting part of the process.”
Kregel says Revitalize Dumont is looking to build on that momentum with a full slate of events in 2026. A Spring Poker Run is scheduled for Saturday, April 25 at the former school building. Registration will take place from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m., with a $20 entry fee. A free-will donation meal will be served at 6 p.m., followed by the announcement of poker hand winners.
More information on the poker run below
Interview with Kregel below
