By John Weiss
Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN
RUSHFORD — The snow predicted for today makes a certain amount of sense to Jeanne Feldmeier because, to her, today is Christmas.
Feldmeier manages Rushford’s branch of Associated Bank where August’s flood left about 2 feet of water in the bank’s main level. About two weeks later, the bank reopened in its small drive-up building across Minnesota Highway 42 from the century-old main building and workers began to tear apart the insides of the main building to rebuild it.
On Friday, it will open to the public for the first time since the flood.
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"This is like Christmas for us," she said. "We’re walking around with smiles on our faces." The grand opening week will be April 21-25 and the bank will celebrate with a donation of $1,000 to the Rushford food shelf.
Customers will notice a radically different look. It’s more modern, with a handicapped-accessible teller counter and new flooring, walls and colors, Feldmeier said. The bank had planned on redecorating this summer but what happened over winter is much more than redecorating, it’s a completely new inside.
The bank, which reopens next to Rushford State Bank, which has already moved back into its main office, is another sign Rushford is mending, she said. She estimates 60 percent of businesses have now reopened. The local lefse business is back, car dealers are in operation and the clinic is planning to expand into a larger business.
"They want to get back and get going again," Feldmeier said.
