Steps for Rogers museum expansion approved

Terrilyn Wendling, assistant director at the Rogers Historical Museum, looks at quilts Tuesday in the museum’s exhibition Crazy Quilts opening at 10 a.m. Saturday at the museum, 322 S. Second St., in downtown Rogers. The display features 13 quilts made as early as the 1890s. Most were made in Northwest Arkansas, Wendling said. The exhibition will run until July 10.
Terrilyn Wendling, assistant director at the Rogers Historical Museum, looks at quilts Tuesday in the museum’s exhibition Crazy Quilts opening at 10 a.m. Saturday at the museum, 322 S. Second St., in downtown Rogers. The display features 13 quilts made as early as the 1890s. Most were made in Northwest Arkansas, Wendling said. The exhibition will run until July 10.

ROGERS -- The City Council approved Tuesday hiring an architect for the Rogers Historical Museum expansion.

DeLeon and Primmer Architecture Workshop of Louisville, Ky., was recommended for approval by the Museum Commission.

John Burroughs, museum director, said a contract could be signed with the firm as soon as today. He said architecture work could take up to a year.

The city closed on the former Rogers Morning News building in downtown in December. The building at 313 S. Second St. is also known as the Hailey Ford Building and will be renovated to house the museum's main exhibits.

Mayor Greg Hines said supporting the history of Rogers through the museum is important for the city. He also said restoration of the building will renew the historic prominence of a structure downtown.

The museum received a $408,000 grant from the Walton Family Foundation for architectural needs in September. The grant is part of the foundation's Northwest Arkansas Design Excellence Program.

David Hook, Rogers director of facilities and development, said the architects will work with construction managers in the next year to design the remodel of the building. He said once complete the project will be put out for bids.

A construction timeline depends on funding, Hook said. The museum is in the process of raise money to cover expansion costs.

City Council members also approved demolishing a duplex owned by the city on the museum's property.

Hines said the museum was able to rent the facility in the past. He said removing the structure will allow for the museum to create a green-space that can be used in the future.

The City Council also approved $11,000 to contract Nabholtz Construction for the expansion project last month.

Nabholtz also will oversee the renovation of the former youth center at 300 W. Poplar St. The building is owned by the city and will be used to house the museum's collection in the future.

Burroughs said the $11,000 was received through a matching grant from the National Endowment for Humanities in 2010. He said the total grant is for $500,000.

The grant requires the museum to raise another $1.5 million for the renovation by July, Burroughs said. He said the museum is still in the process of raising money to match the grant.

Work on the renovation also must be completed by 2018 for the grant, Burroughs said. He said it's likely the work on the former youth center will be completed by the end of this year.

The museum also has received another $1 million grant from the Walton Family Foundation for construction, Burroughs said. The grant is contingent on a successful fundraising campaign to cover the remaining costs of construction, he said.

NW News on 02/10/2016

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