NEW GLARUS - Two years ago, the Chalet of Golden Fleece Museum in New Glarus was in financial trouble and on the verge of shutting down.
It's still struggling today, but it has seen some rescue efforts that have helped, according to Sandy Blum, president of the Friends of the Chalet of the Golden Fleece.
The Chalet of the Golden Fleece Museum holds three full floors of unique antiques and treasures collected by the Edwin Barlow, founder of the Wilhelm Tell drama in New Glarus and a world traveler. The Chalet, an authentic copy of a Swiss Bernese mountain chalet built in 1937 near downtown New Glarus, was his private residence. Barlow died in 1957.
Last year, the New Glarus Brewery Company donated an undisclosed amount of funding to help keep the Chalet open; most of that money was to pay tour staff.
"We are on our own now," Blum said Friday, July 27.
The Friends are also intent on getting the word out about the Chalet - contacting bus companies, the county department of tourism and local businesses.
"We are trying to keep it open as much as possible and increase awareness," Blum said.
High school students came before the summer tourism season started and did spring lawn maintenance. The Friends organization has been able to staff the museum on weekends since Memorial Day "through volunteer efforts," Blum added. The museum was open during the village's large festivals weekends, including the Polka fest and Heidi fest, and was open every Saturday in July.
"We are working to fill volunteers for every Saturday in August," Blum added. "We're not quite there yet, but we're getting there."
The Chalet used to be open from Memorial Day through the end of October, but this year, the last open days for 2013 may be during The Wilhelm Tell Fest on Labor Day weekend.
As much as the museum needs volunteers, there's always a need for pure cash.
"We are doing more fund-raising campaigns" for the house maintenance, Blum said, "and we lobbied and won one paid staff position (in the village budget).
"It's late in the season," Blum added, "but what that tells us is that they (village board members) want to see the Chalet back on track and are willing to get her there."
It's still struggling today, but it has seen some rescue efforts that have helped, according to Sandy Blum, president of the Friends of the Chalet of the Golden Fleece.
The Chalet of the Golden Fleece Museum holds three full floors of unique antiques and treasures collected by the Edwin Barlow, founder of the Wilhelm Tell drama in New Glarus and a world traveler. The Chalet, an authentic copy of a Swiss Bernese mountain chalet built in 1937 near downtown New Glarus, was his private residence. Barlow died in 1957.
Last year, the New Glarus Brewery Company donated an undisclosed amount of funding to help keep the Chalet open; most of that money was to pay tour staff.
"We are on our own now," Blum said Friday, July 27.
The Friends are also intent on getting the word out about the Chalet - contacting bus companies, the county department of tourism and local businesses.
"We are trying to keep it open as much as possible and increase awareness," Blum said.
High school students came before the summer tourism season started and did spring lawn maintenance. The Friends organization has been able to staff the museum on weekends since Memorial Day "through volunteer efforts," Blum added. The museum was open during the village's large festivals weekends, including the Polka fest and Heidi fest, and was open every Saturday in July.
"We are working to fill volunteers for every Saturday in August," Blum added. "We're not quite there yet, but we're getting there."
The Chalet used to be open from Memorial Day through the end of October, but this year, the last open days for 2013 may be during The Wilhelm Tell Fest on Labor Day weekend.
As much as the museum needs volunteers, there's always a need for pure cash.
"We are doing more fund-raising campaigns" for the house maintenance, Blum said, "and we lobbied and won one paid staff position (in the village budget).
"It's late in the season," Blum added, "but what that tells us is that they (village board members) want to see the Chalet back on track and are willing to get her there."