Historic Boscobel House needs public's help to stay in business, stay standing
The 200-year-old mansion-turned-museum in Garrison is back open after a 17-month break to repair ceilings that were collapsing all over the building.
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A 200-year-old mansion-turned-museum in Garrison is back open after a 17-month break to repair ceilings that were collapsing all over the building, though there is still much work left to do and not much money to fund it.
Anyone who goes on a tour of the Boscobel House will likely encounter several specialized contractors, including Mike Germain.
Germain is restoring the walls throughout the neo-classical style mansion that was once owned by British Loyalists and has generated much important history.
Germain, an expert in restoration of walls in historic buildings with high ceilings, said he is prepared to be a museum exhibit himself once the visitors start rolling through the mansion.
"It's like performance art," he said laughing. "I'm happy to answer some questions if people come by and want to talk to me."
News 12 reported on the ceiling collapse in the library this past summer that damaged or ruined several 200-year-old relics.
The mansion's caretakers thought the problem was isolated at first.
Then an inspection revealed the 3-ton ceilings in all 20 rooms were not properly supported and were close to failure.
It cost $1.2 million just to shore up the building so it could open on Labor Day weekend.
Insurance only covered so much, leaving the staff trying to come up with $500,000 for the completed ceiling repairs, and another $500,000 to restore walls, furniture and other relics.
"We're really borrowing from future Boscobel just to pay the essential bills and to keep the building safe," Boscobel House and Garden executive director Jenniger Carlquist said during a tour of the renovations. "What we're really hoping for is to be able to build a fundraising effort that makes Boscobel whole again."
As part of that effort, signs are posted around the mansion informing visitors of the costs associated with certain repairs.
"We want to make sure we're highlighting that for everyday visitors as well as, possibly, a donor who might help us out," Carlquist said.
Until then, the staff is looking at this moment as an opportunity to show heritage tourists the work required to preserve history.
The Boscobel House welcomes visitors for tours Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors under age 18 receive discounts on their passes, and those 4 or under get in free.
