MONROE - A Monroe couple's significant gift has given the Monroe Arts Center a quarter-million dollar boost toward its goal of extensively remodeling its current home.
MAC has announced the donation of $250,000 from Charles and Christine Wellington for its "Building Monroe's Cultural Legacy: The Legacy Campaign." The campaign seeks to raise $3.5 million to rehabilitate the church and parsonage buildings - and to build a fully accessible addition.
MAC occupies the Old Methodist Church, built in 1869, and its parsonage, built in 1887, on 11th Street, two blocks from the Square. Both buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places. And both were designed by Edward Townsend Mix, a 19th-century Wisconsin architect of national prominence.
The project has been researched and planned over the past five years, according to Charles Wellington. The latest donation is dedicated to the new addition and the new elevator, he said.
"Making the Monroe Arts Center accessible to everyone in the community is extremely important to us, and the Legacy Campaign does just that," he said, in a statement from MAC.
"We began this campaign just before the economic downturn hit the country and it's been tough sledding," he said. "Chris and I feel strongly about this project so we wanted to give the campaign a boost. We are making the gift in honor of my parents and our son Jon, who were all very committed to the arts."
Chris Wellington said the project is near to the couple's heart for other reasons as well.
"The Monroe Arts Center was an important factor in our decision to move to Monroe and MAC has provided us with so many enjoyable experiences over the years, we wanted to show our gratitude to both MAC and Monroe," she said. "We love this community and we want to see it continue to prosper. The arts belong to everyone and MAC is an extremely important part of this community."
A number of restoration projects have already been completed at MAC. The ceiling and walls of the concert hall and vestibules in the church have been repaired and restored to their original colors. The recessed wall at the back of the stage has also been restored and wainscoting rebuilt, and the concert hall floor has been refinished.
Pews have been rebuilt and new cushions, which will extend seats about 3 inches, are expected. A lumbar will be installed on the back for some of the pews for added comfort.
Additionally, two staircases to the concert hall have been restored with new carpeting on the landings. Future plans includes refinishing wainscoting, banisters and railings and possibly adding period tiling at both entrances.
Last summer, a conservator researched the historical colors of the concert hall, and discovered two periods of stenciling: One from the 1880s when the then-sanctuary was completed, and another in the 1920s when the stained glass in the windows was changed and beams were added to the ceiling. MAC officials say there is a strong interest in recreating the stenciling.
"The current restoration work will provide a showcase for the Legacy Campaign, but it is also a showcase for the entire community," said Hans Bernet, president of the MAC board. "Even though it is not entirely finished, the concert hall is truly beautiful."
"This may be the largest gift by an individual in Monroe's history and was originally intended to be anonymous," Bernet said. However, the Wellingtons agreed to make the gift public in hopes it would spur other major donors to step forward.
Richard Daniels, executive director of MAC, said the construction of the new addition could start as early as the fall, but that it is more likely to be next spring.
"There's still too much money to raise," Daniels said.
Christine Wellington is a member of the MAC Board, as well as a member of The Legacy Campaign, and serves as dean at Blackhawk Technical College, Monroe campus. Charles Wellington is the president of the Monroe Arts Center Foundation's Board of Directors and an attorney with Kittelsen, Barry, Wellington, Thompson & Schluesche.
For more information about the Legacy Campaign, contact co-chairmen Kevin Callahan, (608) 325-3613; Ron Spielman, (608) 324-1093; Chris Wellington, (608) 325-6225; and Dave Babler, (608) 328-4235.
Daniels can be reached at (608) 325-5700.
MAC has announced the donation of $250,000 from Charles and Christine Wellington for its "Building Monroe's Cultural Legacy: The Legacy Campaign." The campaign seeks to raise $3.5 million to rehabilitate the church and parsonage buildings - and to build a fully accessible addition.
MAC occupies the Old Methodist Church, built in 1869, and its parsonage, built in 1887, on 11th Street, two blocks from the Square. Both buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places. And both were designed by Edward Townsend Mix, a 19th-century Wisconsin architect of national prominence.
The project has been researched and planned over the past five years, according to Charles Wellington. The latest donation is dedicated to the new addition and the new elevator, he said.
"Making the Monroe Arts Center accessible to everyone in the community is extremely important to us, and the Legacy Campaign does just that," he said, in a statement from MAC.
"We began this campaign just before the economic downturn hit the country and it's been tough sledding," he said. "Chris and I feel strongly about this project so we wanted to give the campaign a boost. We are making the gift in honor of my parents and our son Jon, who were all very committed to the arts."
Chris Wellington said the project is near to the couple's heart for other reasons as well.
"The Monroe Arts Center was an important factor in our decision to move to Monroe and MAC has provided us with so many enjoyable experiences over the years, we wanted to show our gratitude to both MAC and Monroe," she said. "We love this community and we want to see it continue to prosper. The arts belong to everyone and MAC is an extremely important part of this community."
A number of restoration projects have already been completed at MAC. The ceiling and walls of the concert hall and vestibules in the church have been repaired and restored to their original colors. The recessed wall at the back of the stage has also been restored and wainscoting rebuilt, and the concert hall floor has been refinished.
Pews have been rebuilt and new cushions, which will extend seats about 3 inches, are expected. A lumbar will be installed on the back for some of the pews for added comfort.
Additionally, two staircases to the concert hall have been restored with new carpeting on the landings. Future plans includes refinishing wainscoting, banisters and railings and possibly adding period tiling at both entrances.
Last summer, a conservator researched the historical colors of the concert hall, and discovered two periods of stenciling: One from the 1880s when the then-sanctuary was completed, and another in the 1920s when the stained glass in the windows was changed and beams were added to the ceiling. MAC officials say there is a strong interest in recreating the stenciling.
"The current restoration work will provide a showcase for the Legacy Campaign, but it is also a showcase for the entire community," said Hans Bernet, president of the MAC board. "Even though it is not entirely finished, the concert hall is truly beautiful."
"This may be the largest gift by an individual in Monroe's history and was originally intended to be anonymous," Bernet said. However, the Wellingtons agreed to make the gift public in hopes it would spur other major donors to step forward.
Richard Daniels, executive director of MAC, said the construction of the new addition could start as early as the fall, but that it is more likely to be next spring.
"There's still too much money to raise," Daniels said.
Christine Wellington is a member of the MAC Board, as well as a member of The Legacy Campaign, and serves as dean at Blackhawk Technical College, Monroe campus. Charles Wellington is the president of the Monroe Arts Center Foundation's Board of Directors and an attorney with Kittelsen, Barry, Wellington, Thompson & Schluesche.
For more information about the Legacy Campaign, contact co-chairmen Kevin Callahan, (608) 325-3613; Ron Spielman, (608) 324-1093; Chris Wellington, (608) 325-6225; and Dave Babler, (608) 328-4235.
Daniels can be reached at (608) 325-5700.