Gardner museum public meeting yields ideas; decision on futureneeded by october by ferujkll sdff


Gardner museum public meeting yields ideas; decision on futureneeded by october by FERUJKLL SDFF
Article Posted: 12/28/2012
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Gardner museum public meeting yields ideas; decision on futureneeded by october

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By MATT HOPF Herald-Whig Staff Writer Numerous ideas, including a public-private partnership to increasedpromotions to expansion of the breadth of exhibits presented, werethrown around Thursday as ways the community can support theGardner Museum of Architecture and Design. But it was clear that a decision on the museum's future must bereached within months. The museum, on the southwest corner of Fourth and Maine, was closedin March because of a lack of financial support and was taken overby the Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County. Reg Ankrom, executive director of the historical society, said adecision needs to be made by October on the future of the building.The historical society is currently maintaining the museum andwants to save it, but it can not maintain it indefinitely.

"Our board has indicated that we will not risk the historicalsociety itself," Ankrom said. "So we need support from thecommunity. Does the community support sustaining a museum ofarchitecture and design? We certainly hope so. Or is there someoption that is part of that?" Operating costs of the museum run $35,000 annually, which doesn'tinclude capital expenses. Jim Mentesti, president of the Great River Economic Development Foundation n who is co-chairman of the 11-person committee exploring potentialuses for the historic building, said if the museum were run off anendowment, it would require $1 million just to raise the operatingfunds from the interest.

About 50 people attended the public meeting at the museum todiscuss its future. Bret Austin, co-owner of Austin Properties, suggested some sort ofpublic-private partnership where some gallery space would be savedand other space leased. Some space could be rented out for partiesor receptions, as well, Austin said. Kirby Eber, chairman of the Quincy Preservation Commission, saidthe space would be an excellent location for a Civil War museum,especially considering Lincoln heritage in the area.

The historicalsociety has many items that are of public interest, including thehoods worn by the Lincoln assassination conspirators and even thekey to the cell of one of the assassins, Mary Surratt. "I don't think, as hard as we try, 12th and State is the place thatreally draws people there," Eber said. "Therefore, I think thisbuilding downtown ... would be a wonderful place to hold a CivilWar museum." He also suggested that the Adams County Association of Museums lookat using the museum to host expanded events that they might not beable to host in their current locations.

It was even suggested that the Church of the Jesus Christ ofLatter-day Saints might be interested in renting some space in themuseum. Travis Brown, executive director of the Historic Quincy BusinessDistrict and co-chairman of the museum committee, said the panelhas had conversations with the church. "We are open to anything," Brown said. "We haven't even talkedabout what potential opportunities it could be." The Romanesque Revival-style building was built in 1888.

It wasdesigned by the Chicago architectural firm of Patton and Fisher andbuilt with limestone supplied by the Frederick W. Menke Stone Worksof Quincy. A stucco addition designed by Quincy architect ErnestWood was added to the back of the building in 1929. It is on theNational Register of Historic Places and has been designated as aQuincy landmark. The Gardner Museum was formerly home to the Quincy Public Library.In 1974, the library moved to its new building at 526 Jersey.

Theold library building was bought by John Willis Gardner with theintention of establishing an architectural museum. After adaptivereuse of the interior, the museum opened to the public. The J.W. Gardner II Foundation was a primary museum benefactor inrecent years, but that relationship ended in 2008.

Since then, themuseum has operated on reserves, fundraisers and donations. -- mhopf@whig.com/221-3391.

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