County notifies state it intends to seek bids for demo/repair of jail museum
By Valorie Brecht The future of a historic structure in Clark County is, as of yet, unclear. The Clark County Board, at its Feb. 20 meeting, passed a resolution approving the county to formally notify the State Historic Preservation Office of its intent to “seek cost estimates for the demolition and/or repair of the Clark County Jail Museum.” The board has not decided if it will raze the building, repair it, or sell it, but they first had to notify the state before taking any such action.
“It came to our attention that we really can’t do anything with the property until we notify the state first,” said county board chairman Tom Wilcox.
The board unanimously voted in favor of the resolution. The 1897 building is in need of extensive repairs beyond what the nonprofit that is currently leasing the building can pay for.
The county board was presented with information on at least one option that would prevent the museum from being destroyed, as included in the meeting packet was a commercial letter of intent from Neillsville residents Jon and Julie Counsell expressing their interest in purchasing the property for $15,000.
In their letter, the Counsells said the sale of the historic jail could be beneficial for a number of reasons, including making sure the building is preserved for future generations; preventing the cost of renovation or razing from being placed on county taxpayers; allowing money received for the jail to be used for other purposes, such as to purchase or improve other land for courthouse expansion; and “One of the most historic and recognizable County (and City of Neillsville) properties would be preserved. The County has already lost numerous historic properties. We should not lose another.”
The Counsells have experience with historic buildings. They purchased and successfully renovated the former
Please see Jail museum, page 7 Jail museum, »on.P.
Christian Science Church at 132 E. Fourth St., Neillsville, and the historic John Hein House at 824 Hewett St., Neillsville.
'Regardless of your view of our offer, we urge you to consider the option of selling the 1897 building as an alternative to renovation or razing of such a beautiful historic building,' Jon and Julie Counsell wrote. Background The building, at 215 E. Fifth St., Neillsville, served as the county jail and sheriff's residence from 1897 to 1978. Following the construction of the present jail and sheriff's office, Clark County ceased utilizing the building and began leasing it to the Clark County Historical Society (CCHS) in 1978 and later to the 1897 Clark County Jail Museum Inc., a nonprofit. CCHS members and volunteers made extensive repairs to the museum in or around 1980 to prevent the building's deterioration and keep it from being razed. However, the jail museum is once again in need of costly repairs, including the roof, and the 1897 Clark County Jail Museum Inc. has announced it intends to terminate its lease with the county effective July 1.
'The Jail Museum has spent thousands and thousands of dollars trying to keep the roof situation under control and tuckpointing, not to mention repairs, insurance, and utility costs for the last 20 years. There is a limit to how much a nonprofit can spend on a building it does not own,' Natalie Erpenbach of the Neillsville Historic Preservation Commission and the Jail Museum wrote in a Jan. 1 letter to the editor in the TRG.
She also noted that the photos, paper archives, books, and collectible items at the museum were being moved to The History Room at 442 Hewett St. in Neillsville to ensure they weren't ruined by the building's current condition and moisture levels.
The Clark County Public Property Committee has discussed what to do with the property and wants to explore options.
'Whereas, the Public Property Committee has expressed concern that the cost of maintenance and repairs needed to preserve the building are extensive and not in the best interests of the county;' the resolution states. 'Whereas, the Public Property Committee desires to obtain estimates regarding the cost of razing and/or repairing the building.'
The jail museum is registered with the Wisconsin Historical Society and has been registered with the U.S. Department of the Interior's National Register of Historical Places since 1978. It is significant as 'the sole pre-1900 public building of noteworthy architecture remaining in Clark County,' the museum's application for the National Register notes. Upcoming meeting The Public Property Committee plans to further discuss the future of the jail museum at its meeting next Wednesday, March 12, at 9:30 a.m. in the courthouse in Room 307. The meeting is open to the public.
Shown is the 1897 Clark County Jail Museum as viewed from the south on Neillsville’s Fifth Street.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
