Request for Proposal

Request for Proposal Structural, Cultural Landscape, and Community History — Shaw Point, Sand Island Apostle Islands Historic Preservation Conservancy PO Box 88 Bayfield, WI 54814 Closing Date: August 31, 2013 I. Calendar of Events Issuance of Request for Proposals (RFP) July 31, 2013 Proposal Due Date August 31, 2013 Contractor Selection October 1, 2013 II. General Information A. The Apostle Islands Historic Preservation Conservancy The Apostle Islands Historic Preservation Conservancy (AIHPC or the Conservancy) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2006 that has as its mission enhancing the preservation, appreciation and interpretation of the cultural and historical resources of the Apostle Islands region of northern Wisconsin. The Conservancy is run by a diverse Board of Directors consisting of 21 members drawn from the community within the Apostle Islands region. The Conservancy engages in a wide array of activities, including hands-on restoration of historic structures, public education on area history, and issuance of grants to other nonprofit groups, local governments, and tribal entities. Over the course of its seven-year history, the Conservancy has awarded grants for regional history purposes to over 20 different parties. Most of the Conservancy's projects involve activities in the mainland area of the Apostle Islands region. The Conservancy also has a strong interest in the preservation and public appreciation of the historic resources of the Apostle Islands themselves. Some members of the Conservancy hold life estates to historic structures on the Islands, for which fee title is owned by the National Park Service (NPS). These families are, in some cases, the historic families who were the original owners of the properties over 100 years ago. The Conservancy has a strong interest in ensuring the development of written histories of these properties. For example, the Conservancy completed a history of the West Bay Club on Sand Island, that is now being used through NPS as the basis for a National Register nomination for this property, previously determined to be eligible for that purpose based on NPS research. B. Background on Shaw Point Located in Lake Superior approximately two miles from the northern Wisconsin mainland, Sand Island lies at the western edge of the Apostle Islands group. The 2859-acre island is noteworthy as one of only two islands in the archipelago that was home to a year-round community. Settlement began shortly after the Civil War, and by the time of World War I reached a peak population variously estimated as 75 to 100. At its height, the community featured a post office, a public school, and a small general store. The majority of residents were Norwegian-American, following a fishing/farming lifestyle brought over from the home country. The island was also home to Camp Stella, one of northern Wisconsin’s first resort complexes, established in 1887. After the turn of the twentieth century, summer residents added to the island mix. The population dwindled with the Depression and changing times, and the last year-round residents left Sand Island in 1944. However, summer use of the island and a strong community of the historic families, has continued to the present. The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore was established in 1970 by Congress as a unit of the National Park System including all of Sand Island. At that time several Sand Island families negotiated use-and-occupancy agreements with the Federal government and continue to occupy their cabins and cottages to this day. Some of these properties are clustered in the Shaw Point area at the Island’s southeast corner, including several individual structures currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The area, encompassing roughly 40 acres, contains on the order of 30 structures and a variety of landscape features. Historic individuals associated with the properties include Sam Fifield, former Lt. Governor of Wisconsin and proprietor of Camp Stella; Samuel Campbell, Indian Agent in charge of the LaPointe Agency at a crucial time in the history of the Ojibwe and former Major in the Civil War serving as a Commander for the 109th Regiment, Company I, United States Colored Troops; and Gertrude Wellisch, a single woman who defied conventions and played an important and, until recently, under-appreciated role in the preservation of the Sand Island Lighthouse. C. The Shaw Point History Project The Conservancy would now like to prepare a history and historic property physical inventory, analysis, evaluation, and description for the Shaw Point area of Sand Island. A description of the history of the Shaw Point area and general research recommendations for undertaking this project is set forth in the enclosed Scoping Report, which is attached to this RFP for background purposes. While the historical report and historic property analysis prepared in response to this RFP might eventually be used as a basis for a National Register eligibility finding or nominations for individual Shaw Point buildings or for a historic district nomination the report’s primary purpose is to research, document, and present a comprehensive history of this unique collection of properties and some of the key historical people who have resided there. Having said that, the final report must be developed, researched, organized, and delivered as if it were a Determination of Eligibility (DOE) for listing on the National Register, using the specific and official regulatory and administrative criteria and procedures established by the National Park Service and the Wisconsin State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) for that purpose. Whether the DOE would be submitted, even if the report determines that the area qualifies, would depend upon future action by the Conservancy, in accordance with its bylaws, the historic use families, the National Park Service, the Wisconsin Historical Society, and other relevant parties. Finally, the contractor would make a recommendation as to whether a DOE is appropriate as a district or, if the standards are not met for a district, for any of the individual properties. If a DOE is ultimately made by the SHPO, the Conservancy may seek additional assistance in a future project to prepare the National Register nomination itself. That project is not within the scope of this RFP. The core area to be evaluated in the report will cover the property from the Campbell/Jensch boathouse in the west to the Shaw Farm buildings in the east, including about 30 structures. Consideration also should be given to whether any eligible district should include the site where the Herman and Betty Jensch cabins used to be and now a dock remnant remains, to the west of the core area, and the Plenty Charm cottage formerly owned by Gert Wellisch, located between Shaw Point and East Bay. - 2 - III. Desired Scope of Services The Conservancy seeks assistance for researching, writing, and coordinating with various parties in the preparation of this report. The process of writing the report will require conducting research in several different venues. A vast and deep history exists for the Shaw Point area, and much of the relevant primary research already has been collected. The attached scoping report discusses the likely sources of this information and the potential area to be covered by the report. (Attachment 1). In addition, the Bayfield Heritage Association currently maintains a comprehensive exhibit on Sand Island, including Shaw Point, entitled Sand Island by Sand Islanders. This exhibit includes an extensive body of historical information that is expected to greatly facilitate gathering the documentation needed for the report. (Attachment 2). Due to the ready availability of source and reference material, the AIHPC does not expect that much original research will be needed. Instead, the historical research aspect of the work should focus more heavily on collecting, evaluating, and reporting on existing records and information. Because of the extensive nature of the research data base, the contractor will need to coordinate with several parties, including representatives of historic use families, former residents and visitors, local, state, and federal government entities, media outlets, historical societies, and other contacts. Most of the individuals to be contacted, and resources used, are in the Apostle Islands area. As the report may eventually serve as the basis for a DOE submission, the report should be prepared so it can be used for that purpose with consideration given to the historical context (e.g., regional, state, national) for Shaw Point and the significance and integrity of these properties for that context. In the interest of efficiency and possible future application for this purpose, the contractor will prepare a physical description of the structures and landscapes within the Shaw Point area, as described in the background Scoping Report, in accordance with standards for a DOE. Transportation to Sand Island would be provided from Little Sand Bay. Access is seasonal during the summer. The AIHPC has set a target date of August 1, 2014 for a status report on the research and January 15, 2015 for the competition of the draft report. The final report, after receiving comments from all relevant parties, would be due by July 31, 2015. IV. Proposal Requirements The following is a list of the information to be provided by the applicant. A proposal that does not include all the information required below shall be deemed non-responsive and subject to rejection. The proposal must respond to all the areas listed below, in the order listed. - 3 - Any questions concerning this RFP shall be forwarded, in writing, by e-mail, or mail, as follows: AIHPC P.O. Box 88 Bayfield, WI 54814 or [email protected] Respondents are required to limit their submissions to 10 single-sided 8 1/2 x 11-inch pages and address the following: 1. Provide the name, title, address, telephone/fax numbers and e-mail address of the individual the AIHPC should contact with respect to your proposal.

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