Hello All,
As we approach the one-year mark of when our lives changed forever due to COVID-19, I wanted to write to you and give you updates on the Southwest Sites. So much has changed since March of 2020. While there are many silver linings and for the most part our year-round staff has stayed safe and healthy, we miss all of you!
2021 brings more change to our beloved sites. First Captiol, Pendarvis, Stonefield and Villa Louis will continue to pause public operations for the entire year, joining Wade House, H.H. Bennett Studios, Madeline Island Museum, and Reed School in remaining paused for the 2021 season. Unfortunately, we know that this is a huge impact to you and our communities, so we are doing what we can to use this year as wisely as possible. While we will not open for tours, we are staying very busy with many huge projects in the works. We are also preparing for the 2022 season, writing business and staffing plans to address the unique challenge of reopening after two very uncertain years.
Many of the year-round staff at Southwest Sites are currently reassigned on either a part-time or full-time basis to the Department of Health Services. For example, I am reassigned part-time to the Customer Outreach Team of the COVID-19 Testing Task Force at DHS. We facilitate the delivery of state-provided COVID-19 test supplies to communal living facilities throughout the state, ensuring facility testing plans align with state and federal regulations. Samantha Matern is also on my team, while Peg Rewey and Bonnie White are working on other teams dedicated to testing coordination and outreach. Bethany Brander also spent several months with DHS before heading back to the Southwest Sites full-time to ensure the completion of several major projects. All of our work at DHS is so important to help fight the spread of COVID-19, but it does make work a bit more challenging as we juggle multiple jobs and schedules.
In spite of the uncertainty of the past 12 months, a lot has been accomplished at our sites, and we are doing our best to achieve as much as possible this upcoming year. Here are just some of the things going on:
Pendarvis:
- Our National Register of Historic Places nomination has been updated in order to: expand the era of significance to include the Bob Neal and Edgar Hellum era of 1935-1970; include the rest of the historic structures on site in addition to Pendarvis, Trelawny, and Polperro; and correct historical errors in the first edition. - The first draft of Historic Structures Report has been completed, with a final report completion date of March 31st. This report with inform the best pathway towards a phased restoration of all historic structures on site (does not include the Mine Hill). - Mike Brunton, Jake Koresh, and Dale Moore have cleared away massive amounts of brush from the Mine Hill in order to expand trails and uncover and preserve historic landscape features.
- We celebrated the 50th anniversary of the final meal served in Pendarvis House restaurant (November 1, 2020) and the 50th anniversary of the site added to the National Register of Historic Places (January 25, 2021). We will celebrate 50 years as a historic site on May 15, 2021. - We participated in a city-wide celebration of 50 years of the Historic District listing on that National Register of Historic Places (July 31, 2021), led by the Mineral Point Library Archives. - We are in the final steps of creating interpretive panels for the Mine Hill trails. - We have also continued to organize and research the Pendarvis Archives.
First Capitol:
- A project has been submitted for exterior painting in the spring. - We continue to work on new interpretive panels for the kiosk at First Capitol. Like many things, these are very delayed due to COVID-19!
Villa Louis:
- Phase 1 of the Villa Louis Walkway Project will continue beginning around April 1. This includes laying new and salvaged limestone around the east and north sides of the mansion as well as replacing the brick pathway to the front entrance. The contractor hopes to have this phase completed by the beginning of July. Being able to do this without traffic from tours should actually make the process much smoother. - Phase 2 of the Villa Louis Walkway Project kicks off its first meeting next week. This is a massive undertaking and much more extensive than Phase 1. We are in the very early stages of this project, and last month we selected the Architect/Engineer who will lead the design. We are happy that the project went to Vierbrecher and Associates, the same firm that led the design of Phase 1. Since this project is larger in scope, it will need to go before the WI State Building Commission— hopefully this fall. - At the beginning of April, the Mansion Kitchen floor will be replaced. The kitchen floor was in constant need of repainting and did have minor structural flaws. You may not know that there are actually two kitchen floors, and issues with the sub floor is what led to constant issues with the floor you see. The new floor will be stained rather than painted, making cleanup and maintenance much easier. - We received flood insurance funds from the flood of 2019. Repairs to the Fernette Building, Laundry Building floor, and Preserve House Bathroom doors will also start this spring. - Unfortunately, we have had to work on removing many trees up and around the Mansion due to both the condition of some of the trees and the damage their root systems were causing. We have some funds to replant and replace trees on the site. We are also hoping to work on the hedge. - The objects in the house have been “put to bed;” packed away inside the rooms to protect them during the pause, allowing for a very thorough deep-cleaning of the mansion. - The Brisbois house is also receiving some attention as a large collection of documents from Judith Dousman Matthews (Louis de Vierville’s daughter) once housed in that building is being cataloged and preserved. - The curatorial team in Madison has done some work to help us prepare for future high-water events at both Villa and Stonefield, and will be working with us to manage some of the larger objects currently in storage. This will free up a great deal of space to be used for future programming. - We are also celebrating the 150th anniversary of the construction of the mansion the best we are able – with virtual content planned throughout the year on Facebook as well as two articles written by Mary Antoine about the Villa and Dousmans planned for the Wisconsin Magazine of History. - We recently submitted a request to work on restoration of the 1st Fort Crawford Block House. - A project is underway to update the security system as well as the internet connectivity throughout the site.
Stonefield:
- In the 1901 Village, Dubuque Glass Co. assisted with a window repair on the Stonefield Gazette Print Shop. Facilities manager Dale Moore also repaired water damage to the floor and plaster walls. Now when guests enter the print shop, they will see the Monona Leverless Press patented in 1898 and manufactured in Madison. This particular press was used by the Cashton Record newspaper until 1964. - The School House received major repairs as well, with brand new windows and a fresh coat of paint. Other repairs and updates to the village include attention to the caboose, drug factory, and fire station. - Dale has also been busy repairing and replacing fencing at the 1901 Farmstead. Soon, the pen will house sheep, a guest favorite when visiting the site! The hog house will also receive a new roof and fresh paint. - Stonefield is now the proud owner of a 1956 Ford 960 tractor thanks to a very generous donor. We will use this tractor to give rides in our tractor-pulled omnibus as well as for tilling the gardens and sorghum fields. - In the State Agricultural Museum, progress continues on the exhibit space with painted trim, updated text, additional lighting, painted exhibit cases, and newly designed panels to enhance the guest entrance experience. - We will soon begin the process of acquiring a new security system for the whole site. - The Dewey House is currently receiving some much-needed attention with a new ventilation system and climate control as well as repairs to brick work, windows, shingles, and gutters. - The facilities team has received training to get into state project software. This training has led to locating some unused funds from projects. This is great news as leftover funds from the Print Shop Roof will eventually lead to restoration of the Gazebo!
As you can see, we are very busy! I am sure this letter brings you mixed emotions—so many positives but also sadness to not be sharing these sites great stories in 2021. I am sure this also might leave you with questions. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. The best way is through my email: [email protected]
Sincerely,
Susan Caya-Slusser Southwest Sites Regional Director