One of the things I love most about living in Winterset is being surrounded by idealism. I thrive on the creation of ideas, dreaming up new ways of approaching old problems, or new and exciting things to try. As a Winterset Citizen, I’m not alone in that regard. Everywhere we turn, there are idealistic people dreaming up ways to continually improve our community, and the quality of life for its citizens.
One of those inspiring, forward-thinking projects is the Legacy in Stone Madison County Restoration Project. As a connected and informed Winterset Citizen, you’ve likely already heard of this effort, but perhaps I can tell you a little more of the story!
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Since 1876, the Madison County Courthouse has fulfilled its purpose as a beautiful public space dedicated to serving the common good through the court system, county government, and as a public meeting space. As an architectural metaphor, the courthouse is unparalleled. The local limestone from which it was hewn speaks of the strength and endurance of our community. The four classical porticos, which face north, south, east, and west, remind us of the courage, integrity, perseverance, and justice on which pioneers built their dream of a just society.
http://madisoncountyhistory.net/legacy-in-stone-courthouse-restoration-project/
These eloquent words are taken from the Madison County Historical Preservation Commission website on their page dedicated to the “Legacy in Stone” project. A multi-phase project, Legacy in Stone is being led by a citizen volunteer group known as Friends of the Madison County Courthouse. First a little background on the courthouse itself and the restoration efforts up to this point:
History & Background
The first courthouse was building in Madison County in 1868 but was destroyed by a fire just 7 years later. Construction on the second courthouse was completed in 1877 and the cupola replica was placed on the tower 78 years later, in 1955.
The 1970s brought about some changes and updates, as you can see in the timeline graphic at right, and in 1976, the year of the American bicentennial and 100 years after construction on the second structure began, the courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic places.
In the past 15 year, improvements have included boiler and mechanical upgrades, interior and exterior dome restoration and gable & roof repair.
In 2017-2018 the Jeffris Family Foundation helped fund a Historic Structures Report that detailed the history of the Madison County Courthouse and its current condition, and recommended a three-phase plan to begin needed rehabilitation. (The Jeffris Family Foundation, which was launched in 1979, and is headquartered in Janesville, Wisconsin, is dedicated to historic preservation of regionally and nationally significant historic buildings in the Midwest.)
Legacy in Stone is the name of the first of these three phases and will implement needed repairs to the 140-year-old structure, improve the building’s functionality, and preserve this regionally-significant building to continue to serve as the seat of justice in Madison County and the surrounding region.
Exterior rehabilitation to the Madison County Courthouse will include buttoning up the roofline to protect all that is inside. Repairs of the exterior stairs include the limestone, steps, handrails and easier opening doors. The aluminum windows will be exchanged for historically appropriate and energy-efficient replacements. The south side of the Courthouse will become an entry plaza with access compliant with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and will provide the backdrop for many future events.
The Importance of Restoration
Madison county is a place with a story to tell; part of that story is in our buildings. When we preserve those buildings, the stories come alive by connecting us to the past. We are emotionally attracted to places that offer us a sense of connection. People stay longer, come back more often, spend more money, and are more emotionally invested in places that attract their affection.
http://madisoncountyhistory.net/legacy-in-stone-courthouse-restoration-project/
I’m certain that everyone reading this has had some kind of interaction with the Madison County courthouse, and probably not even through the judicial system! We take pictures with it as our backdrop, we perform or enjoy music or oration from the steps, we sit and relax on the steps during summer afternoons or the covered bridge festival or just let the towering structure welcome us home after a journey. The courthouse also lends its beauty to entice travelers to visit our picturesque community.
Restoring the beauty of our courthouse will gain peoples respect for its contributions to the common good and to the position it retains as a beacon of justice. It will encourage a sense of pride by raising public awareness of the legacy contained within its limestone walls. In addition, it will stand as a shared community achievement because the restoration will be accomplished through public/private partnerships.
http://madisoncountyhistory.net/legacy-in-stone-courthouse-restoration-project/
“We Protect What We Prize”
It’s easy to agree that this is a worthwhile & important project, and that restoring the Madison County courthouse will have positive outcomes. I’m hopeful that many of you will join me in making a financial donation to the fundraising efforts that I’ll mention a little bit later on. For most of us, that’s as far as our involvement will go. However, it takes a lot of work from a few key players to even make this a possibility.
The Friends of the Madison County Courthouse Committee is made up of Joan Acela, Molly Clause, Brenda Hollingsworth, Jerry Oliver, Rana Scarlet, Helen Sellers and Amara Huffine, Executive Director of the Madison County Chamber of Commerce. Committee member Brenda Hollingsworth, and local historian Linda Smith, helped provide the information for my post today, and Brenda even let me pry into her personal motivations a little bit. As I mentioned before, I’m continually inspired by those citizens of our town and county who give of their time and talents for the betterment of our community, and I’m constantly looking for ways to inspire and motivate others to get involved. If Brenda Hollingsworth can’t provide us all with a little inspiration, then we’re a lost cause!
Megan: Why is a project like this important to our community, and to you personally, Brenda?
Brenda: We live in divisive times. I’m always looking for common ground. Historic landmarks, like the Madison County Courthouse, help anchor our memories, our sense of identity. We are drawn to them because they provide a sense of continuity that helps us feel more balanced, stable, and healthy. People feel the excitement of experiencing the place where something actually happened. “In learning about others from the past, we learn about ourselves.” Tom Mayes, Why Old Places Matter
This project is important to me because I’ve come to understand the courthouse as common ground. It was built in a time of sharply divided opinions. (We didn’t have insurance, and the farmers voted it down.) It’s a public meeting place that represents the best of who we are when we work together. I want future generations to have this same experience.
I also see the value in preserving existing buildings from an economic standpoint. It just makes good sense to steward irreplaceable resources. I hope for a world where we are more appreciative of the communities, buildings and things that already exist, and that we continue to use them, so that we’re not constantly tearing buildings down and throwing things away.
M: There are a lot of worthy causes to which people can give their money, what about this courthouse preservation makes it a worthy project in your minds?
B: In 2018-19 a group of volunteers created a survey based on a field-tested model. The purpose of the survey was to learn what was at the Heart & Soul of Madison County and each of the eight towns within the county. Based on the data, the group created Heart and Soul statements, identifying what matters most to the residents of Madison County.
We all have limited resources. When I give my time and money I want it to go where it will have the most positive impact. One easy way to measure impact is to look at the Heart & Soul Statements. If the project under consideration moves the County toward even one of the values identified in the Heart & Soul Statements, it’s worthy of consideration. The Legacy in Stone Courthouse Restoration Project contributes toward the advancement of eight of the twelve statements. I think this is a win-win. The Heart & Soul statements can be found at madisoncountyheartandsoul.org
M: What compels you to be involved in the community this way and share so much of your time and effort?
B: Love compels me to be involved in community this way. I’m interested in living out the kind of love that is committed to people and costs me something. I want to find a need and join my efforts to those who are already working on solutions. I believe this is how we make a difference.
In the eighties our three children were in elementary school and it was all I could do to keep up with family, farm and church. I distinctly remember driving by the courthouse on my way to the grocery store and wondering what went on inside those walls. I knew it was the seat of county government but had no idea who worked there or what they did. Over the years I’ve learned how to get involved by listening and volunteering in projects of interest. For me, old places, like our courthouse give us a place to focus community-building efforts.
A parent can help ground their children by teaching them to appreciate where they live. Winterset and Madison County have such wonderful places that support almost any family interest. For the Courthouse, take a family reunion photo on the steps, come to the Courthouse Square to Trick-or-Treat, and enjoy the holiday parade at Thanksgiving time.
Fundraising Efforts
The price tag for phase one is estimated at $2.9 million of which the Madison County Board of Supervisors has earmarked $2 million. The remaining $990,000 will be raised from grants and private donations.
In a bold effort to finalize fundraising for this first phase of the Madison County Courthouse exterior rehabilitation project, the Courthouse Restoration Committee has announced a public participation opportunity.
Madison County is pleased to announce it has received a challenge grant of $330,000 from the Jeffris Family Foundation toward that goal, leaving the local fund-raising goal at $660,000.
The Courthouse Restoration Committee has been working diligently on their responsibility to raise the necessary 2-to-1 match. Various grant applications are expected to gather $170,000 toward the $660,000 goal. In addition, a private donor has offered to match the first $100,000 contributed by businesses or private individuals. For example, if you give $250, then $500 will go toward funding the project. For your convenience, the amount you pledge by June 2022 can paid in installments until June, 2024.
To get involved in Legacy in Stone by making a financial contribution, download the PLEDGE FORM HERE. To learn more about the project, visit the Madison County Historical Preservation Commission website or contact a member of the Friends of the Madison county Courthouse committee: legacyinstone@madisoncoia.us. The committee is also available for presentations to clubs and civic organizations.
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This Weekend
Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser
Saturday • 3/27 • 7:00 – 10:30am
WHS Cafeteria, Winterset Dance Team
On Saturday morning, the Winterset High School Dance team will be serving up pancakes with toppings, eggs, & bacon, along with coffee, milk and orange juice. The hearty breakfast is available for a free will donation toward the team’s costs to travel and compete in nationals.
Three Amigos
Saturday • 3/27 • 7:00pm
The Iowa Theater
In a distant galaxy, planet Spaceball has depleted its air supply, leaving its citizens reliant on a product called “Perri-Air.” In desperation, Spaceball’s leader President Skroob (Mel Brooks) orders the evil Dark Helmet (Rick Moranis) to kidnap Princess Vespa (Daphne Zuniga) of oxygen-rich Druidia and hold her hostage in exchange for air. But help arrives for the Princess in the form of renegade space pilot Lone Starr (Bill Pullman) and his half-man, half-dog partner, Barf (John Candy). 1987, Rated PG; 1 hr 36 min
Puzzles & Pints
Sunday • March 28 • 1:30pm
The Drift
Gather your team of up to 4 puzzlers and join the Drift’s first puzzle tournament this Sunday! The fun starts at 1:30 and the first to complete the 300 piece puzzle wins a round of pints on the house! There are only 6 puzzles so make your reservation online now – $10 for a team of up to 4 (your team will receive a $10 Drift card upon check-in). When you and your team arrive for the event, simply check in with the bartender (disregard any reference to “scheduling a pickup time” while reserving your ticket).
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Coming Soon
Easter Egg Hunts
Saturday • April 3rd • 11:00am
Winterset City Park, hosted by WPRD and Madison County Realty
10,000 eggs will be hidden at City Park!
Saturday • April 3rd • 12:45 activities, 2:00 hunt
New Bridge Church
The activities at the New Bridge Easter Egg hunt include prizes, balloon animals, a petting zoo and more!
Virtual Variety Show Seeking Talent!
The Winterset Stage
At this time a year ago, the Winterset Stage was preparing to produce their first iteration of the event known as the Lions Show. The long-running community variety show had been a cornerstone of the spring entertainment calendar for seven decades, and the Winterset Lions Club was preparing to pass the torch to the Winterset Stage so that they could keep the event running for years to come.
Well, we all know what else happened about this time a year ago, and the variety show was cancelled along with so many other cultural and entertainment events in 2020. In the past year, though, the Winterset Stage has been exploring a variety of means by which they can still deliver theater and entertainment without needing to gather large groups in indoor spaces. In October, the community theater group hosted an outdoor spooky storytelling event, followed by a holiday radio show in December, and a virtual dinner theater production in February.
They now have their sights set on a virtual version of the “Magic of Madison County Variety Show.” The acts will be pre-recorded in a socially distanced setting, and edited together to form the actual show. And, through the magic of green screen technology, the performers will be entertaining the virtual audience from scenic locations around Madison County.
The show will air the first weekend of May and ticket information will be available soon. Right now, though, the Winterset Stage is on the hunt for local talent. The variety show has always featured an abundance of musical talent, and this year will be no exception. The group is looking for non-musical acts as well, to lend variety to the show. If you have a talent that you’d like to share (musical or otherwise), or know of a talented someone in Madison County, please contact the Winterset Stage at info@TheWintersetStage.org or 515-462-5156 right away!
Local Museum News
New Exhibit at the Iowa Quilt Museum
The Iowa Quilt Museum opened a new exhibit on Tuesday titled, A Quilted Garden. All of the pieces in this floral-themed exhibit are on loan to the IQM from the New England Quilt Museum in Lowell, MA. The exhibit will be on display through June 6th. The museum is open seven days a week and the admission charge for adults is just $6.
Groundbreaking at the John Wayne Birthplace Museum
Official groundbreaking for the $1.6 million expansion of the John Wayne Birthplace & Museum took place this morning, March 26th. Original board members did the honors. From left to right – Nancy Corkrean, Pat Corkrean, Dave Trask, John Reed. We can expect to see the ‘real’ work begin soon!
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American State Bank
Anchored Walls
Ben Franklin
Blanchard Family Dentistry
Covered Bridge Realty
Farmers & Merchants State Bank
Homefront Real Estate
The Iowa Theater
John Wayne Birthplace Museum
Lowe Chiropractic Clinic
Madison County Health Care System
Madison County Historical Society
McGowen Hurst Clark Smith
Medicap Pharmacy
Midwest Heritage Bank
Montross Pharmacy
State Farm, Charlotte Speer
The Drift
Union State Bank
Winterset Ballet & Dance Studio
Winterset Optimist Club
Winterset Parks & Recreation Department
