Museum locks down major grant

FREMONT — The Jeffris Family Foundation recently awarded the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums site in Fremont a major grant to help fund a $2.2 million restoration of the historic Hayes Home. The Wisconsin-based foundation will invest $708,000, or one-third, of the cost of a historic project, and Hayes Presidential must raise the remaining $1.47 million, or two-thirds. The foundation feels very strongly that the small communities of the Midwest that have nationally known projects deserve our attention," foundation president Tom Jeffris said. "We picked the Hayes Presidential Library & Museums because we've heard great things about the organization from other projects that we've done. I think that has been verified by the site's performance to date." The home, which was built from 1859 through 1863 and added onto in 1880 and 1881 and 1889, was the beloved summer and later retirement home of 19th U.S. President Rutherford and First Lady Lucy Hayes. Portions of the home were restored from 2009 through 2012. This project would focus on areas of the home that were not part of that 2009 to 2012 work — such as foundation, mechanical, electrical and plumbing work — as well as restoring additional interior rooms and exterior architectural features that have been removed from the home over the years. "It's a thrill seeing people experience the Hayes Home," said Christie Weininger, executive director of Hayes Presidential Library & Museums. "People are often 'oohing' and 'ahhing' all the way through. It'll be wonderful to restore more of the home and possibly open up some new spaces that previously have been closed to tours." There is enough evidence to restore the upstairs bedroom of Fanny Hayes, Rutherford and Lucy's only daughter, to the era when Fanny lived in the home. Other second-floor rooms do not have as much historical evidence. Hayes Presidential continues to review options and determine an overall plan for the project. Descendants of Rutherford and Lucy lived in the home until 1965, and the second floor of the home reflects their time and shows the full scope of the family living in the house. The work must be done by 2030, according to the terms of the contract agreement with the foundation. Hayes Presidential, meanwhile, has three years to raise its portion of the funds. The foundation approached Hayes Presidential about working together on a project. Through a past grant, the Jeffris Foundation helped Hayes Presidential fund a recently completed Historic Structure Report, which will be the basis for determining which areas of the home will be restored in the future project. Hayes Presidential worked with Neal Vogel of Restoric, a restoration contracting and consulting firm that specializes in historic structures, and Laura McCoy, whose design firm creates replica historic wallpaper. During Vogel's research, he uncovered numerous interesting aspects of the home, from outdoor architectural features to original wallpaper in the dining room to evidence confirming that an upstairs closet served as a photography dark room. Bio blast The Jeffris Family Foundation was established in 1979 by Bruce and Eleanor Jeffris and their son, Tom. The foundation first focused on the rich architectural heritage of Wisconsin's small towns and cities. In 2009, the foundation expanded its reach to small towns and cities in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and Ohio. Its mission is to preserve the cultural history and heritage of the Midwest through the preservation of regionally and nationally important historic buildings and decorative arts projects. For instance, it has been involved in the restoration of President Warren G. Harding's home in Marion, Ohio.