Members of the Wilson Brewer Park Board listen as Wayne Schlotfeldt, of Schlotfeldt Engineering, explains options for finishing restoration of the first Hamilton County Courthouse. The building's wood siding, which dates to 1869, is so deteriorated it must be completely replaced with new material.

The agenda looked reasonable. Nothing any able-bodied group of citizen-volunteers couldn’t get through in two hours.

But once more, two hours and 45 minutes after it began the Wilson Brewer Park Foundation Board adjourned after just starting on a long list of items under the heading “new business.”

This is no bureaucratic quagmire. The new board wasn’t formed to make recommendations to City Council of Webster City or the Hamilton County Supervisors.

Or anyone else.

They’re here to make decisions, take responsibility for the park and start running a real museum.

And they are.

With the Dean Bowden family million-dollar endowment now safely in the Foundation’s coffers, Chairman Doug Bailey decided it was an appropriate time to say thank you.

The letter speaks for itself:

“Dear Dean and Bowden Family,

“I have never written a thank you for $1,000,000.

“What is just as important to recognize as the amount of this gift, is that this is not the first thank you I have written to you and Adele and your family. Your history of giving and caring in this community and beyond is a well-established fact.

“Also, I want to point out that generally, your giving comes with a plan. A plan that you have worked out in your mind after analyzing a situation or a set of circumstances. You then develop a strategy that you are willing to step up and put in play with you and your family’s treasure. I know that you are thinking that is a fancy description for just using your common sense. The thing is your version of common sense is not all that common.

“This enviable situation that the new Wilson Brewer Park/Depot Foundation Board of Trustees find themselves in simply would not exist without your gift as an enticement to bring together the City of Webster City and Hamilton County in a joint effort to lay the groundwork for a long-term fiscally sound Wilson Brewer Park complex. It took over two years to get here, but you never wavered and never lost faith.

“Dean, once again, I have the honor of thanking you – this time on behalf of all the residents of Webster City and Hamilton County.

“Truly, Doug Bailey, Chair, Wilson Brewer Park/Depot Foundation”

Characteristically, Bowden listened as Bailey read the letter aloud, then quietly put it in his notebook and indicated he was ready for the next item on the agenda.

Depot museum volunteer Darlene Dingman reported museum activity for August. The depot had 82 visitors and received $213 in donations, bringing the year-to-date totals to 156 and $456, respectively. Visitors came from 21 states and 56 towns in Iowa. Dingman and volunteer David Parrott have also been accepting new artifacts and arranging a new display on Webster City inventors. Parrott cleaned up the basement and set up a comfortable conference room in the northwest corner. It’s the Board’s new home at the park.

Next, Jerry Foster reported on his work to restore the display cabinets commissioned by Frank Bonebright to open his museum in the Brewer-Groves cabin in the early 1930s.

“Two years ago I was asked if I’d restore the Raven display cases. I’ve been plugging away for almost two years. The cabinets were in poor condition from having been moved too often. Many mortise and tenon joints have split apart, and the top frames that hold the glass required work. The frames and glass are fragile. My mission was to restore the cases to original condition. Once stabilized, glass can be installed, but you might consider a lighter glass, or glass substitute. It’s been suggested we put legs on the back of the cabinets, which originally didn’t have them (they were fastened to the cabin walls) for stability. I hope to finish the work before cold weather sets in.”

Admitting the details could be “tedious,” Tamiann Parrott gave the treasurer’s report. She confirmed she’s received the annual $50,000 contributions from both the city and county. She questioned whether the value of the museum buildings should be carried as an asset on the Foundation’s balance sheet, but as they remain the property of the city, concluded “our only real assets are the artifacts in our collection.”

The value of the artifacts is unknown, but must soon be estimated for insurance purposes.

Wayne Schlotfeldt, Schlotfeldt Engineering, addressed construction projects at the park. He presented three options for a complete re-siding of the first Hamilton County Courthouse. As work has progressed it’s become apparent none of the original siding can be saved.

The least expensive option, at $45,840, was vinyl siding. A second option was “LP wood.” an engineered wood product from Louisiana Pacific Corporation made of wood chips, resins and glue that would cost $58,575. The final estimate was for traditional, all-wood siding, which at $77,660 was the most expensive.

Schlotfeldt, whose own home is sided with LP wood, recommended it as a practical solution and a compromise between historical accuracy and durability. The board voted unanimously for LP wood, and will convey its decision to the county supervisors. The original budget for restoration of the courthouse was $235,000. Thus far $240,565 has been spent. The county has stood the cost of most of this, and must decide if it will pay for the new siding.

Also discussed was climate control in the restored courthouse. The two most likely options are a Douglas heat pump, perhaps better known as a “mini split system,” or a traditional forced air furnace/air-conditioner which would require the usual ducting and returns.

After years of options and proposals, the board voted to make Mulberry Center Church ADA accessible at its main (north) door. The existing wooden porch will be removed and a gently sloping concrete ramp will ascend from the park walkway system to provide a no-step entrance, similar to that recently installed at Webster City Community Theatre. It’s estimated to cost $18,000 and construction will probably be deferred until next spring.

Ryan Rupiper, who with board member Kolleen Taylor is building advocate for the Illinois Central depot, has been working with contractors on a quotation to scrape and paint the depot, as well as make some of the most pressing carpentry repairs to the building’s exterior.

Rupiper also presented a proposal from the Webster City Chamber of Commerce for a fall festival to be held at the park the afternoon of October 12. Details are still coming together but it would essentially be a day of “family fun” with a historical and seasonal theme as strong background elements. He asked the board to consider advertising this, and the park in general, in “Our Iowa” magazine to begin attracting more visitors. After Tamiann Parrott advised the Foundation has enough money earmarked for marketing, the board voted to proceed.