Restoration Project

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The Marathon County Historical Society's capital fund drive began in 2005 after receiving a $1 million challenge grand from the Jeffris Foundation for the complete restoration of the Yawkey House Museum.  After a few short months, the challenge grant was not only met, it was exceeded.  The additional funds were to be used towards an endowment for the Yawkey House Museum and much needed repairs and renovations at the Woodson History Center.   Armed with an extensive conditions report, and both the 1900/01 original blueprints and the 1907/08 remodeling plans, we were ready to begin the restoration project.  In the fall of 2006, Hase Building and Design was selected as the contractor for the project.   The work began on the second floor where the original bedrooms had been remodeled into an exhibit hall and theater by the Historical Society.  In a short time, the Historical Society's modifications were removed and the original features of the house were starting to appear.  The placement of the original walls could be determined by marks on the floor, notches in wood indicated the location of the original plumbing, original paint colors and stencil patterns were unveiled, and much more.    With this information along with the blueprints from the archives, the architects, contractors, interior designers and landscape deisgners worked together to recreate the Yawkey House Museum as it was in 1907/08.  The restoration project, including the house, carriage house and formal gardens, continued for nearly two years and was completed in May 2008.   We would like to thank all of those who were involved with the restoration of the Yawkey House Museum.  Due to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved, from the begining of the conditions study to end, we were able to complete the restoration on budget.