Posted 7 years ago
SpiritBear
(813 items)
Every few years, the Museum changes up the homes a little to reflect different periods. The Hackley House is currently in its 1890s style (stripped to the original colours and redone) and the Hume Home is done in its 1910s-1920s style. They shared a barn that would itself make a glorious home.
The Hackley and Hume families helped build Muskegon and keep it moving forward even after the lumber stop coming down the river. Hackley basically invested half of what he made.... back into our economy, and was so set on Muskegon's economy that even the carvers that worked continuously for two years on the woodwork.... were all local.
In the 1980s both houses and the barn were at risk of being demolished due to being in disrepair. Their 100-year history at that point was considered of less value than the cost to restore them.
The homes were donated to the Museum, and the city residents voted to pay more taxes to bring the homes back to life.
Work is still being done.
While they look glorious, a friend and I were discussing the fact that the Museum deceives many of its visitors. The Hackley House is supposed to be restored to its 1890s glory with period-correct furnishings, yet a hat-box from the 1960s or 1970s (I have the same one) was on display in the bedroom of the daughter who died near 1900. I happened to have some of the same artwork, which I know is 1900s through the 1920s as well. Bryan poined out that the phonograph, too, was 1920s, and not correct for the 1890s theme.
The Hume home was even worse, with many modern Asian vases and little glass figurines you can still buy at imports stores-- original to the family, but at a much later period.
And they won't tell you this. They tell you that not everything is original to the house, but the only item the guide pointed out as being period-incorrect was the ice-box, which someone had asked a question on (also 1920s).
Great places to visit, but all the houses our Museum has as still-life displays.... are just like this. The Depression-Era house is even worse in that.
I've commented to the Museum before that things were quite obviously incorrect, but I doubt they'll make any changes.
A fun time, but disappointingly incorrect.
They need to hire someone like you as a guide-curator,-advisor,research r marshall-n- Maybe a salaried position, or you might domate some time as tour- historian,(might be fun!!) Thanks again for sharing,
This house is really incredible looking. Sort of reminds me of the style of homes that were featured in the movie "Meet Me In St. Louis". Great write up on this beautiful home.
I agree with PCC a cool 100k a year sounds fair ;p All house of this age and style should use 5 to 7 colors if ya ask me
Its often the conundrum of small-to-medium sized local history organizations: the artifact resources really beg for a museum professional, but the financial resources (and often organizational resources) won't support it. :/
Nice old local historic homes SpiritBear. Don't be too hard on the museum though, as you said they're not finished yet! :^D
I do like the picture of you though, very nice smile, looks like you were enjoying the day! :^)
Post Card Collector, there are two guides already that fill those positions, and I think we received a new curator last year. I'd like to work with history, but I panic as soon as someone put a period-incorrect piece in the home. LOL.
jscotto363, thank you for the compliment.
LOL, Political Pinbacks. The Hackley house has 13 shades/colours on the exterior, and over 130 inside not including metallics.
Meowman, I'm bearly (pun intended) outside my cub years, yet I can point out their errors. They, which have lived longer and have degrees in this, cannot?
Billretirecoll, I'm not being hard. They're only finishing the restoration/painting. They did it on a budget, so up close you can see they jut painted over old paint outside. From a distance it looks great. Up close.... And then the artifacts.... They have many to choose from and picked the wrong ones! Yes, I was enjoying the homes. Lovely day outside. Pretty houses from a favourited time-period.
By the way, that is a really nice photo of you!! Great smile...
Thank you, PostCardCollector.
I love old homes!!
Mrstyndall, thank you for commenting.
Beautiful! Even if not totally accurate. Thank you for sharing!
My pleasure, VintageLamp.
Oh wow Spirit, that first one is gorgeous! It has so many beautiful elements To the design, but what really caught my attention, and something I've never seen before, is the circular molding on the porch.
Rick, there is one Victorian house near it where one end of it is just a giant circular porch. That house is simple, but with great sweeping circles gracing its construction it is really eye-catching.
Would be more interesting to know what state or province without have to look up where Muskegon is.
PhilDMorris, it's a city in the state of Michigan in the U.S.A.