Making a comeback to bygone days
By Lynn Zerschling, Journal staff writer | Posted: Monday, December 24, 2007
SIOUX CITY -- From Victorian style wallpaper to refinished sycamore trim, the stately Peirce Mansion is making a comeback to its glory of a bygone era.
"Things are starting to happen" to restore the historic home at 2901 Jackson St., Pat Brenden, chairman of the mansion committee, said. "Sioux City is not alone in having lost so many of our notable houses, Jackson Street in particular. They were so amazing, and now they're gone."
The mansion, which has gone from a residence to a nursing dormitory, now houses the Sioux City Public Museum's main collections. After the museum moves to the remodeled former JCPenney building downtown, scheduled for 2009, the Museum and Historical Association will take over management and maintenance of the home. The city will retain ownership.
The goal is to rent out the home for receptions, weddings and other events, as well as to conduct tours and offer programming for children.
"This is something we never really had before," Brenden noted. "It's not going to be a 'velvet rope' operation. People are going to be able to sit on the furniture."
Steve Hansen, museum director, added, "When we started changing out exhibits, we made sure we made repairs that would fit with the renovations. We uncovered windows that had been walled over and did electrical repairs. We have stripped the woodwork and refinished the floors on the second floor. Most of the floors are oak. We have walnut on some trim and have some cherry."
Brenden said the mansion will be restored one room at a time, as funds become available.
First up? Restoration of the master bedroom. Instead of seeing stuffed animals and glass exhibits showcasing the habitat of mammals, birds and reptiles, visitors will find a fully restored Victorian-era bedroom on the second floor.
"We have obtained a Victorian bedroom set," Hansen said. "We purchased it from some people in Sioux City who really gave us a good price on it. It's got a highboy dresser and marble tops."
Woodworker David Bauerly restored the room's trim, taking it to his shop, where he refinished it.
"He found it's quite rare wood -- sycamore," Brenden noted. "Dave was really excited about that. It would have come from Pennsylvania. John Peirce came from Pennsylvania."
Two styles of wallpaper, created from that era, will decorate the bedroom's walls. One has an ornate border, and the other has a muted stripe. Harry Hart, formerly of Ponca, Neb., and now of Lincoln, will hang the wallpaper.
"The main part of the mantle (in the master bedroom) is there. The tile around the fireplace has been remodeled, but we're lucky part of our committee loves to restore homes," Brenden said.
Brenden said the association is asking for donations to furnish the room, from period rugs to lamps to window treatments.
"We welcome anything from that era, like a Victorian comb and brush set, a Victorian hat, quilts, hand-painted china and paintings."
Photographs taken shortly after Peirce lived in the home are serving as a valuable guide. Although most of the original furnishings are gone, the association plans to recreate the style as much as possible, including the massive third floor ballroom.
"We are developing a wish list and doing the planning now," Hansen noted. "We'd like to have a boy's room and a girl's room. We need Victorian clothing for children."
Also on the wish list? China, hall trees, ornate mantles for at least three of the mansion's five fireplaces, lamps, settees, paintings, end tables, library and sewing-room decor.
George Wakeman, who restores older homes, has donated Victorian furniture. Dr. Penny and Paul Fee donated a bedroom set that decorated Dr. Fee's childhood home.
The estimated renovation and furnishing costs have not been determined. The goal is to have the mansion become self-sustaining from the rental fees charged for events. The fees have not been set.
While the work will occur in stages, Hansen stressed, "The beauty of this building is, it is in great structural shape. The building still can be functional. ... John Peirce did not spare on quality."
Anyone interested in donating items should call Hansen at (712) 279-6368.
Mansion Highlights
The 21-room house was built in 1891 by John Peirce, who developed much of the north side between 23rd and 40th streets on Jackson and Nebraska streets.
Charles P. Brown was the architect. He also designed the 1890 Corn Palace, Augustana Lutheran Church and other buildings in Sioux City. The mansion was constructed out of South Dakota quartzite.
In 1900 Peirce, who had lost his fortune during the international recession of 1893, decided to move to Seattle. He staged a national raffle for the home, selling about 40,000 tickets for $1 a chance.
The raffle, as it was later discovered, was rigged. Peirce transferred the title 19 days before the lottery to millionaire New York threadmaker William Barbour, according to the warranty deed.
In 1902 Barbour sold the home to Stella and William Gordon in exchange for bonds issued by the company that operated the Combination Bridge over the Missouri River. The Gordons, in turn, sold the mansion to J.N. Warren.
Perhaps the best known owner was Thomas S. Martin, who bought the residence in 1908. He founded the Martin Department Store in downtown Sioux City. The Martin family lived there until 1920. He died in 1915.
Through the 1920s, two other families purchased the home and in 1928, T.S. Martin's son, J. Earle, purchased the house and moved in after a major renovation. His family lived there until 1946 when it was sold again. The next four years, the mansion was called "The House of Lights" because Martha Zanfes, an antique collector, placed lamps in all the windows and around the street edge of the stone porch.
From 1951-57, the house was converted to a dorm for Lutheran Hospital's nursing students.
In 1958, the Junior League of Sioux City bought the house for $10,000 and donated it the next year to the city for use as a cultural building. In 1961, the museum, which had been located in the library building, opened in the Peirce Mansion. In 1978, the residence was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
"Things are starting to happen" to restore the historic home at 2901 Jackson St., Pat Brenden, chairman of the mansion committee, said. "Sioux City is not alone in having lost so many of our notable houses, Jackson Street in particular. They were so amazing, and now they're gone."
The mansion, which has gone from a residence to a nursing dormitory, now houses the Sioux City Public Museum's main collections. After the museum moves to the remodeled former JCPenney building downtown, scheduled for 2009, the Museum and Historical Association will take over management and maintenance of the home. The city will retain ownership.
The goal is to rent out the home for receptions, weddings and other events, as well as to conduct tours and offer programming for children.
"This is something we never really had before," Brenden noted. "It's not going to be a 'velvet rope' operation. People are going to be able to sit on the furniture."
Steve Hansen, museum director, added, "When we started changing out exhibits, we made sure we made repairs that would fit with the renovations. We uncovered windows that had been walled over and did electrical repairs. We have stripped the woodwork and refinished the floors on the second floor. Most of the floors are oak. We have walnut on some trim and have some cherry."
Brenden said the mansion will be restored one room at a time, as funds become available.
First up? Restoration of the master bedroom. Instead of seeing stuffed animals and glass exhibits showcasing the habitat of mammals, birds and reptiles, visitors will find a fully restored Victorian-era bedroom on the second floor.
"We have obtained a Victorian bedroom set," Hansen said. "We purchased it from some people in Sioux City who really gave us a good price on it. It's got a highboy dresser and marble tops."
Woodworker David Bauerly restored the room's trim, taking it to his shop, where he refinished it.
"He found it's quite rare wood -- sycamore," Brenden noted. "Dave was really excited about that. It would have come from Pennsylvania. John Peirce came from Pennsylvania."
Two styles of wallpaper, created from that era, will decorate the bedroom's walls. One has an ornate border, and the other has a muted stripe. Harry Hart, formerly of Ponca, Neb., and now of Lincoln, will hang the wallpaper.
"The main part of the mantle (in the master bedroom) is there. The tile around the fireplace has been remodeled, but we're lucky part of our committee loves to restore homes," Brenden said.
Brenden said the association is asking for donations to furnish the room, from period rugs to lamps to window treatments.
"We welcome anything from that era, like a Victorian comb and brush set, a Victorian hat, quilts, hand-painted china and paintings."
Photographs taken shortly after Peirce lived in the home are serving as a valuable guide. Although most of the original furnishings are gone, the association plans to recreate the style as much as possible, including the massive third floor ballroom.
"We are developing a wish list and doing the planning now," Hansen noted. "We'd like to have a boy's room and a girl's room. We need Victorian clothing for children."
Also on the wish list? China, hall trees, ornate mantles for at least three of the mansion's five fireplaces, lamps, settees, paintings, end tables, library and sewing-room decor.
George Wakeman, who restores older homes, has donated Victorian furniture. Dr. Penny and Paul Fee donated a bedroom set that decorated Dr. Fee's childhood home.
The estimated renovation and furnishing costs have not been determined. The goal is to have the mansion become self-sustaining from the rental fees charged for events. The fees have not been set.
While the work will occur in stages, Hansen stressed, "The beauty of this building is, it is in great structural shape. The building still can be functional. ... John Peirce did not spare on quality."
Anyone interested in donating items should call Hansen at (712) 279-6368.
Mansion Highlights
The 21-room house was built in 1891 by John Peirce, who developed much of the north side between 23rd and 40th streets on Jackson and Nebraska streets.
Charles P. Brown was the architect. He also designed the 1890 Corn Palace, Augustana Lutheran Church and other buildings in Sioux City. The mansion was constructed out of South Dakota quartzite.
In 1900 Peirce, who had lost his fortune during the international recession of 1893, decided to move to Seattle. He staged a national raffle for the home, selling about 40,000 tickets for $1 a chance.
The raffle, as it was later discovered, was rigged. Peirce transferred the title 19 days before the lottery to millionaire New York threadmaker William Barbour, according to the warranty deed.
In 1902 Barbour sold the home to Stella and William Gordon in exchange for bonds issued by the company that operated the Combination Bridge over the Missouri River. The Gordons, in turn, sold the mansion to J.N. Warren.
Perhaps the best known owner was Thomas S. Martin, who bought the residence in 1908. He founded the Martin Department Store in downtown Sioux City. The Martin family lived there until 1920. He died in 1915.
Through the 1920s, two other families purchased the home and in 1928, T.S. Martin's son, J. Earle, purchased the house and moved in after a major renovation. His family lived there until 1946 when it was sold again. The next four years, the mansion was called "The House of Lights" because Martha Zanfes, an antique collector, placed lamps in all the windows and around the street edge of the stone porch.
From 1951-57, the house was converted to a dorm for Lutheran Hospital's nursing students.
In 1958, the Junior League of Sioux City bought the house for $10,000 and donated it the next year to the city for use as a cultural building. In 1961, the museum, which had been located in the library building, opened in the Peirce Mansion. In 1978, the residence was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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