This is the present configuration of our main museum. At present, there's not quite enough room for the themes we are trying to depict. The Protar material is squinched into a corner, for example, as is the music display, and we are not able to expand the Then & Now or the agricultural exhibits. The Strang and Native American Rooms are also crowded. There are some interesting stories to tell in these areas, with amply implications for our current era, but we need more space to bring out these themes. In the spring of 1998, we considered what to do about the rot that has gradually consumed the lower parts of the kitchen addition's walls. A conservator had warned us that repairs would be expensive. When we focused on the limitations of our available space, we realized that the best course of action would be to replace it with a larger structure. Laurie Dickens pointed out that any new structure should be architecturally faithful to the original motifs. We agree. Our approach to getting to the point where we should consider motifs is to proceed functionally, to consider just what needs we are trying to fill. Consequently we invite our members to tell us: what aspects of Beaver Island's long and variegated history do you think we should plan to include in the new addition, or in the space created by moving the office upstairs?
First rough draft of the new Kitchen Addition
The proper way to proceed in the design of this facility is to consider our needs, and then to create appropriate space to meet those needs. But what do we need? Sometimes it helps to look at the available space. This drawing shows a new Kitchen Addition measuring 28' wide and 42' deep. This still leaves us with a "rear yard" of 25'. What would such a structure cost? We will have to move all the artifacts out of the existing kitchen addition and the back attic, demolish it, probably install a new well and relocate the septic field. Because the new construction will not involve a lot of rooms, we might figure $100/ft2. This comes to $235,000, plus moving and demolition. While we're at it, we should add heat and dehumidification to the Print Shop as well.
Financing the New Kitchen Addition
By the time we're ready to build, costs will have increased, and we're bound to think of additional things to include. So it's likely that this project will cost almost $300,000 by then. So how are we going to raise this money? The short answer is, we don't know. At present we have $2,800 in the building fund started by Henry Hill's generous donation last January. But we might have to spend some or all of that to address the problem of the Print Shop's south wall. We have applied for a grant to replace the vertical siding covering the logs, but we may not get it. We have many other projects requiring time and money as well, but we have decided to focus on this one for the next five years. One reason is that having this new facility should make it easier for us to organize the work on our other projects. Another is that if we can succeed, it will do wonders for our self-confidence. We intend to explore every fund-raising option available to us. We'll apply for grants; we'll approach the businessses and foundations for help; we'll appeal for donations. If any of you have an idea, or would be willing to help us raise these funds, please let us know. In the meantime, you can check the progress of our fund-raising on the thermometer of the side of the Print Shop Museum every time you drive past.
