The Mount Horeb Landmarks Foundation, Inc. was awarded a $7,350 grant by the National Trust for Historic Preservation from its Wisconsin Projects Fund. Grant money, along with funds from the Mount Horeb Community Foundation, supported the costs of an Historic Structures Report.

The HSR provides a firm direction and guidelines for restoration of the schoolhouse insuring that work is done in an historically correct manner. The document was prepared by Art Chadek Architectural Services, LLC, an AIA architect specializing in historic structures. The report outlines the history of the school and the way it should be restored for the intended uses following code requirements. The structural integrity of the building was evaluated by a local engineer, Larry Soltis, who donated his work, and by William Dries Associates from Middleton, who provided evaluation at a reduced fee.

Historic preservation and adaptive-use is a particular skill of Art Chadek’s firm, and the report includes historic research, the building condition assessment and preservation recommendations based on the Secretary of Interior Standards and National Park Service requirements for historic buildings. Art Chadek has worked on many historic preservation projects, including the Milton House in Milton, The Little White Schoolhouse in Ripon, and the Wisconsin State Capitol east wing restoration.

We also thank Pete Riphahn for his advice and donated work on the bell tower project.

Lead Region Historic Trust was contacted to reconstruct a new bell tower but lacked accurate drawings to work from. A member of the community who had just completed a project designed by Design Coalition Architect's historical restoration expert, Mark Hinrichs, recommended contacting him about putting together detailed drawings. Mark studied old photos provided by MHLF as well as investigated the old schoolhouse building, looking for signs of telltale marks and shadows on the “Cream City” brick, in order to faithfully reproduce the original bell tower and door canopy. Retired structural engineer, Don Frederick, was recruited to assist with the design of major structural reinforcements in the roof and front wall of the schoolhouse so they would carry the weight of the bell tower and door canopy. Mark knew that Don was well qualified, having previously designed the structural reinforcements for the UW-Madison's historic Bascom Hall, to allow it's once prominent rooftop dome to be be rebuilt. Don was also involved in the structural renovation of the historic Pfister Hotel in downtown Milwaukee. A majority of Mark and Don's hours for putting together the final restoration design drawings were donated.