NEW GLARUS - The Chalet of the Golden Fleece marked its 60th anniversary as a New Glarus and Green County landmark and as a visitor attraction by becoming listed on the Wisconsin State Register of Historic Places.
It now awaits its official placement on the National Register in September.
Once the private home of Edwin Barlow, the museum is a noted example of a Swiss Bernese mountain chalet, built in 1937.
Barlow donated the Chalet of the Golden Fleece and its collection to the village of New Glarus in 1955.
The Friends of the Chalet are beginning an effort to raise donations though letter-writing campaigns, publicity and special events to help restore the museum, staff the facility and care for its collection. Tax-deductible donations can be sent to The Chalet Fund c/o Village of New Glarus, PO Box 399, New Glarus, WI 53574.
Friends of the Chalet have a 5-year plan that includes revenue and expense estimates, fundraising goals and anticipated staffing needs, which was presented to the New Glarus Parks and Recreation Committee in April. At the same meeting, the Park and Recreation Committee recommended the village, owner of the building and custodian of the collection, solicit bids to replace the building's roof.
Also in April, the New Glarus Finance and Personnel Committee approved up to $3,500 from general fund surplus for a professional inventory of the Chalet's collection to be completed this summer. An up-to-date inventory will more accurately reflect the collection for insurance purposes as well as safeguard it, according to village staff. Friends of the Chalet volunteers have committed to assisting with the inventory, greatly reducing the cost typical with this type of project.
The Friends' plan not only identifies goals and a work plan, but also improves the chances of receiving grants, according to Sandy Blum, chairman of the Friends of the Chalet. The plan will be refined as more recommendations come and as more fund-raising goals are identified. Ultimately, village board members would like to see the museum able to grow its revenues enough to offset its operational expenses.
While the village is owner of the museum and its collection, the focus of the Friends of the Chalet is to provide additional funds and volunteers for staffing, operating and marketing the museum and the unusual collection Barlow created through his world travel. Since its inception in late 2012, the Friends have recruited and trained new volunteer tour guides and expanded the days of operation for the museum.
The Friends of the Chalet is seeking new members and guides so it can set regular hours of operation for the museum and to reach new supporters and new visitors. The Friends meet from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month in the New Glarus Village Hall Board Room.
For more information about the Chalet of the Golden Fleece, 618 Second St., and Friends of the Chalet, to make a donation or to volunteer, contact GGoldenfleece@gmail.com; Sandy Blum at 608-938-4561; or the Village of New Glarus administrator at 608-527-5971.
It now awaits its official placement on the National Register in September.
Once the private home of Edwin Barlow, the museum is a noted example of a Swiss Bernese mountain chalet, built in 1937.
Barlow donated the Chalet of the Golden Fleece and its collection to the village of New Glarus in 1955.
The Friends of the Chalet are beginning an effort to raise donations though letter-writing campaigns, publicity and special events to help restore the museum, staff the facility and care for its collection. Tax-deductible donations can be sent to The Chalet Fund c/o Village of New Glarus, PO Box 399, New Glarus, WI 53574.
Friends of the Chalet have a 5-year plan that includes revenue and expense estimates, fundraising goals and anticipated staffing needs, which was presented to the New Glarus Parks and Recreation Committee in April. At the same meeting, the Park and Recreation Committee recommended the village, owner of the building and custodian of the collection, solicit bids to replace the building's roof.
Also in April, the New Glarus Finance and Personnel Committee approved up to $3,500 from general fund surplus for a professional inventory of the Chalet's collection to be completed this summer. An up-to-date inventory will more accurately reflect the collection for insurance purposes as well as safeguard it, according to village staff. Friends of the Chalet volunteers have committed to assisting with the inventory, greatly reducing the cost typical with this type of project.
The Friends' plan not only identifies goals and a work plan, but also improves the chances of receiving grants, according to Sandy Blum, chairman of the Friends of the Chalet. The plan will be refined as more recommendations come and as more fund-raising goals are identified. Ultimately, village board members would like to see the museum able to grow its revenues enough to offset its operational expenses.
While the village is owner of the museum and its collection, the focus of the Friends of the Chalet is to provide additional funds and volunteers for staffing, operating and marketing the museum and the unusual collection Barlow created through his world travel. Since its inception in late 2012, the Friends have recruited and trained new volunteer tour guides and expanded the days of operation for the museum.
The Friends of the Chalet is seeking new members and guides so it can set regular hours of operation for the museum and to reach new supporters and new visitors. The Friends meet from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month in the New Glarus Village Hall Board Room.
For more information about the Chalet of the Golden Fleece, 618 Second St., and Friends of the Chalet, to make a donation or to volunteer, contact GGoldenfleece@gmail.com; Sandy Blum at 608-938-4561; or the Village of New Glarus administrator at 608-527-5971.
