Newsletter: The Museum Messenger

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$25K Until Pavilion Structural Repairs

With Enough Giving Under Tax Credits Grant, Restoration Starts Spring 2025

Since summer 2024, generous donors have given more than $138,000 to help ensure the future of the 1904 World’s Fair Swedish Pavilion.

This giving under the museum’s Community Service Program (CSP) Tax Credits grant from Kansas Commerce means we are close to being able to make critical structural repairs to the historical structure.

However, Aubrey Wheeler, museum Executive Director, noted that approximately another $25,000 is needed to cover the repairs.

“We’re very close,” she said. “But there’s still a bit more distance to cross the finish line.”

In June, the Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum learned they were receiving $166,600 from the CSP. That’s enough to raise $238,000 in donations, which will fully cover critical stabilization repairs (estimated at about $165,000 cost) to prevent the possibility of a catastrophic collapse of the historic structure. If that amount can be raised before the end of the year, work should be able to begin Spring 2025.

The balance of donations possible under the grant will partially cover the cost of a new pavilion roof made of reproduction composite material that will prevent leaks and be more historically accurate.

CSP is a popular program for Kansas nonprofits taking on major capital campaigns. State tax credits reduce the total amount of taxes owed to the state. They are a way for taxpayers to reduce the cost of contributing.

An engineering assessment in October 2023 found that the Pavilion is leaning by as much as 2 degrees. This severe “racking” represents structural failure that could result in full collapse with adverse conditions. For safety, the museum Board of Directors closed the Pavilion until repairs could be finished.

Right now is a great time to make a donation under the tax credits program, as the end of the tax year approaches. Individuals, families, businesses and foundations can all qualify for credits from a variety of sources, including a required minimum distribution or investment funds.

Donors giving at least $250 to the Pavilion Restoration & Improvement Project may qualify for a 70% tax credit. For example, a donor making a $1,000 gift receives a $700 tax credit when they file their state taxes, making the net cost to the donor only $300.

Contact museum staff at 785-227-3595 or info@oldmillmuseum.org to learn more about how to donate under the program. Current progress can be seen  at www.oldmillmuseum.org/save-the-pavilion.

Seeking Year-End Match Challenge Donors for December

As public sources of funding have continued to reduce their financial support to the daily operations of the Museum, we have had to rely on the generosity of private donors to keep the doors open to the public and serving our visitors and community.

The last two years, a critical source of funding has been two different donors who each put up a $50,000 match challenge donation to promote year-end giving. As 2024 nears its end, we are again seeking donors interested in taking on this role. This time instead of a single large donor for the match challenge, we’d like to have several donors to present the challenge. If you, your business, or your organization would put up $5,000 to $10,000 (or more!) for this need, please contact oldmillmuseum@gmail.com or 785-227-3595.

 

2024 Brought Many New, Exciting Events… That Will Continue!

Staff members have been striving to make the museum more of a hub for community and culture and attracting new groups to the museum.

This year has been a huge year of accomplishments toward that goal.

For starters, the museum has been able to offer some great online presentations on Lindsborg Historical figures for free thanks to a grant from Humanities Kansas! Anyone can watch recordings of the presentations that have passed as well as sign up for upcoming presentations at www.oldmillmuseum.org/historical-speaker-series.

Upcoming are sessions on Swedish Churches of Southern Saline County on November 9, a reenactment of Rev. Carl Aaron Swensson (both in-person and online) in January, journalist Alma Luise Olson on February 8, and teacher and crafter Amalia Rabenius on March 8.

Make sure to get signed up; it’s free!

The museum also had its very first collaboration with local game store – Spelbok – on September 20 for an event called “Magic at the Mill.”

This card tournament held at the museum and offering tours of the Old Mill featured the release of a new trading card game set. There were 33 players in attendance and the tournament admission cost included a donation – bringing $350 of income to the museum. Store owner Adam Northcutt said it was the largest store event they’ve had since opening and that he’d like to make Magic at the Mill an annual event.

Finally, October 2024 saw the return of a Lindsborg Halloween tradition that hadn’t been seen in a decade –  “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” performed on the museum’s Heritage Square in a “traveling audience” performance. Presented in cooperation with local Lindsborg community theater troupe Broadway RFD, the show presented the spooky tale of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman across four locations on the historic museum grounds.

The seven performances were to sold-out audiences, which were capped because of space limitations in some of the locations. About 175 people got to see one of these unique, intimate performances (which also happened to feature one of the museum staff members in the lead role).

With the show being successful and popular, the plan is to continue to put on “Sleepy Hollow” in the future – only in even-numbered years so as not to conflict with Svensk Hyllningsfest in odd-numbered years. This means the show should be returning in October 2026.

 

Heritage Christmas December 14

The locations have had to be adjusted somewhat to account for the Swedish Pavilion remaining closed for repairs, but all the wonderful events of the season are returning for Heritage Christmas at the Museum on December 14.

The biggest change is that music from Men in Harmony, Mennonite Chorus, and Smoky Valley High School Madrigals will be performed in the main museum gallery rather than the Pavilion.

Admission is by-donation, and features all of the traditions of the museum’s annual event. This includes activities such as a visit from Santa Claus, kid’s crafts and sugar cookie decoration, bake sale refreshments, tours of the Old Mill, and the Mayor’s Christmas Kaffe.

Along with music, performances for the night also include “Christmas on the Prairie” presented by SVHS and “A Shepherd’s Story of Christmas.”

We look forward to welcoming you to this family-friendly event at 5:30 p.m. December 14!

From the Director’s Desk: Introducing Myself!

Dear Museum Friends,

I wanted to take some time to introduce myself as the new Executive Director of the Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum. I have loved history since my 6th grade World History class and have continued that passion throughout my life. I have a master’s degree in Anthropology and a Museum Studies certificate from Wichita State University. I am excited to learn more about Lindsborg’s Swedish American history and look forward to meeting everyone.

I also wanted to mention two events to mark on your calendars. December 14 at 5:30 p.m. is our Heritage Christmas event. We will have musical performances, crafts, cookie decorating, and much more. In addition, we have Millfest next year. It may seem early, but we are excited for Millfest 2025 and have started preparations for it. So, mark your calendars for May 3, 2025!

I will be signing off now, but thank you for your support; without you we could not keep growing as a nonprofit.

Tack så mycket,

Aubrey Wheeler,
Executive Director

Clearance Sales, New Items In Gift Shop for Christmas

The holiday shopping season is nearly here, and buying from the museum gift shop is a great way to support local Kansas history!

Items are available in-person or online at www.oldmillmuseum.org/gift-shop.

Even better, right now in the in-person gift shop shoppers can get a great deal on clearance items in the gift shop. Many slower-moving items – including sticker books, foods, die-cast pencil sharpeners, books, toys, jewelry, and more! All of the items are at least half off their original price and many of them make great gifts or stocking stuffers.

The clearance sale is to make room in the museum’s small gift shop for more popular items as well as gifts with more of a local or Kansas connection – especially unique, artistic, and handmade items.

The gift shop now also features two new items, as area wood artist John Buckner has expanded his work made from pine boards removed from the Old Mill scale house. Purchasers can now take home a part of the mill with gifts made from more than century-old wood – Christmas ornaments that also highlight a sea urchin shell and toothpick-holder keychains.

Finally, don’t forget the holiday items already in the shop! These include cards with designs by a local youth artist, laser-cut wooden ornaments featuring an Old Mill design, and wheat weavings in Christmas designs of wreaths, candy canes, and angels. We also carry books with Swedish holiday recipes and crafts. Thank you for helping us to make room and for supporting the Old Mill Museum!