Historical Society moves

Historical society purchases city hall

It will house a resource center, exhibition space and more, reps say

by Kellen Olshefski

CORRESPONDENT

The Elkhorn Common Council voted unanimously in favor of selling Elkhorn City Hall to the Walworth County Historical Society last spring.

A subcommittee of the Walworth County Historical Society Board of Directors – including WCHS President Jim Boardman, Lisa Brellenthin and Pat Blackmer – said they had been working with Walworth County Administrator Mark Luberda in trying to build a 2,500foot expansion onto the Doris M. Reinke Resource Center. However, a little known state law that would prevent them from donating the addition back to Walworth County ultimately brought that project to a halt.

Blackmer said they learned soon after Elkhorn City Hall would be available for purchase.

With little to no interest from other parties, Blackmer said the society determined that building could be a good fit for the historical society.

Entered into the National Registry in 2012, she said construction of the art deco building began in 1931.

“If we acquired it, it would be our largest artifact,” Blackmer said. “It’s basically a fortress, and while it does need some restoration and renovation, it will be a perfect fit for the historical society.”

After learning the city hall building would allow the society to nearly quadruple the floor space it would have gained with its earlier proposed expansion project, Blackmer said they reached out to Elkhorn City Administrator James Heilman.

“He was very proactive in assisting us in securing the building. He did a lot of background work for us,” she said.

Blackmer said throughout the process, the historical society has been working with Danielle Benden of Driftless Pathways in Lodi.

Dan Richardson of the WCHS, said Benden is a museum specialist, focusing on designing museums and museum spaces, helping local historical societies with those types of projects and helping with things like exhibitions, equipment and how to handle curation and collection the proper way.

Blackmer said the historical society is elated and thrilled with the approval of the purchase.

“There couldn’t actually be a better venue for us. We’re right downtown, high visibility and we’ll certainly bring a lot of traffic to the downtown area,” she said.

“And a lot of space,” Richardson added.

Boardman agreed.

“We’re going to have a lot more room, we’re going to restore it and it’s going to be a vital part of the downtown,” he said.

Last year, the Elkhorn Common Council voted unanimously in favor of selling the Elkhorn City Hall building, at 9 S. Broad Street, to the Walworth County Historical Society for $1. It will nearly quadruple the floor space compared to what the WCHS currently has available. The move, which will happen in several phases, was set to begin in the fall following the Sept. 1 closing date.