Eagan Receives $100,000 Gift for New Plaza

The city of Eagan has received a $100,000 gift from a Saint Paul philanthropist and businessman to accomplish two objectives. John Nasseff was a senior executive at West Publishing when decisions were made to relocate company operations out of Saint Paul to Eagan.

Eagan’s city administrator at that time, Tom Hedges, had a lot to do with fostering the relationship to make that move happen, says Nasseff.

Nasseff, 92, and his wife Helene Houle, wanted to honor Hedges, who retired in 2013, but they also wanted to assist Eagan’s 1914 town hall in recovering from a heartbreaking arson fire more than three years ago. The solution: the Tom Hedges Plaza outside the old Town Hall with money enough left over to help with displays inside the newly repaired structure.

“Eagan is what it is today, in large part, because of Tom Hedges,” Nasseff said in a statement. “Tom’s leadership, work ethic and can-do approach is why West Publishing (now part of Thomson Reuters) came here, and it’s why Helene and I wanted to honor Tom with a plaza in his name, while at the same time helping Town Hall continue to recover from the fire with new displays,” Nasseff added.

The Eagan City Council formally received the donation Tuesday night, and both Mayor Mike Maguire and former Administrator Hedges were greatly appreciative, according to a news release.

“I am extremely humbled and we are honored as a family to accept this recognition. I didn’t expect this,” Hedges said. “I am excited about the history and how this benefits telling Eagan’s story inside Town Hall,” he said afterward, echoing remarks Hedges made to the City Council.

Back in December John Nasseff and Helene Houle toured the proposed plaza site with Tom and Debbie Hedges and they presented their donation inside the repaired old Town Hall. Mayor Maguire expressed his appreciation, and Tuesday night the City Council praised the role Nasseff and Hedges both played in bringing West Publishing to Eagan and how that has helped drive the growth of Eagan overall.

West Publishing began moving portions of its manufacturing and distribution operations to Eagan in the late 1970s. By 1992 their office operations were fully relocated to the growing suburb. Shortly thereafter, John Nasseff retired from West Publishing as the business was acquired by The Thomson Corporation.

Design will be completed on the Tom Hedges Plaza over the course of the winter with anticipated installation beginning later this spring.

“The wonderful generosity of this gift will continue to live and grow for years,” says Mary Ellen Voracek, Chair of the Eagan Historical Society. “We will be able to expand our displays, continuing to educate future generations,” Voracek added.

She noted the symmetry between honoring Tom Hedges’ leadership which helped Eagan grow and the gift’s influence on growing the collection, preservation and presentation of Eagan’s history.

Image via City of Eagan