NEW GLARUS - The Chalet of the Golden Fleece Museum in New Glarus, on the brink of closure last year, will be back on the list of the village's must-see tourist spots this summer, thanks in part to an undisclosed amount of funding donated by the New Glarus Brewing Company.
Village Administrator Nic Owen said New Glarus Brewing Company owner Deb Carey has not released information on how much her company is committing to the museum, "... but it will pay for one person to maintain the museum during open hours and conduct tours."
The museum is set to open May 1 for the 2012 season. Hours of operation will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Monday. Owen said the hours were set with the height of tourism on the weekends in mind.
Owen and Lynne Erb, village clerk, recently met with representatives from the New Glarus Chamber of Commerce and the brewery to nail down the details of the museum's operations.
The group identified the village Park and Recreation Committee as overseers of the operations, supplemented by reports from village staff, Chalet tour guides, the chamber and the brewery.
The group also identified tasks that need to be done, including updating the current inventory; recording video tours; re-arranging the collection for security and tours; upgrading signage, and cleaning up the landscape.
A "Friends of the Chalet" group will be developed under the Park and Recreation Committee, which will work on specific tasks and raise funds for special projects.
The Chalet of the Golden Fleece Museum was built as a home in 1937 by Edwin Barlow, founder of the annual New Glarus Wilhelm Tell Drama. Barlow donated his house to the community in 1954, along with an extensive collection of European art and antiques.
Barlow was widely known for his efforts to perpetuate Swiss culture and art in this country. The Chalet's three floors holds his collection of artifacts; painted furniture; antique jewelry, silver, pewter, glassware, china, coins and stamps; original artwork; fiber arts; and Swiss scissors cuttings, woodcarvings and dolls.
Village Administrator Nic Owen said New Glarus Brewing Company owner Deb Carey has not released information on how much her company is committing to the museum, "... but it will pay for one person to maintain the museum during open hours and conduct tours."
The museum is set to open May 1 for the 2012 season. Hours of operation will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Monday. Owen said the hours were set with the height of tourism on the weekends in mind.
Owen and Lynne Erb, village clerk, recently met with representatives from the New Glarus Chamber of Commerce and the brewery to nail down the details of the museum's operations.
The group identified the village Park and Recreation Committee as overseers of the operations, supplemented by reports from village staff, Chalet tour guides, the chamber and the brewery.
The group also identified tasks that need to be done, including updating the current inventory; recording video tours; re-arranging the collection for security and tours; upgrading signage, and cleaning up the landscape.
A "Friends of the Chalet" group will be developed under the Park and Recreation Committee, which will work on specific tasks and raise funds for special projects.
The Chalet of the Golden Fleece Museum was built as a home in 1937 by Edwin Barlow, founder of the annual New Glarus Wilhelm Tell Drama. Barlow donated his house to the community in 1954, along with an extensive collection of European art and antiques.
Barlow was widely known for his efforts to perpetuate Swiss culture and art in this country. The Chalet's three floors holds his collection of artifacts; painted furniture; antique jewelry, silver, pewter, glassware, china, coins and stamps; original artwork; fiber arts; and Swiss scissors cuttings, woodcarvings and dolls.