GardnerJump

Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County

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History Matters Here

We exist to preserve, protect and promote the stories of Quincy and Adams County and their connection to our state, nation and world.

Public Hearing on Gardner Elicits Ideas

             HSQAC Executive Director Reg Ankrom told the crowd the community owed a great debt of gratitude to the Gardner family for creating and maintaining for 35 years the one-of-a-kind showplace on Quincy’s architectural heritage.
               “Few cities in America can boast the architectural treasury of Quincy,” Ankrom said, “and this beautiful place has interpreted that treasury for more than three decades. Our board has been looking for ways to sustain what the Gardner family created.”
               GREDF President Jim Mentesti assembled the 11 members of the independent committee to represent stakeholders and the community. The hearing Thursday was part of the committee’s efforts.

            There were plenty of ideas, among them:

                o   Create a civil war museum.
                o   Convert it to a “Quincy History” museum
                o   Establish a public-private small office incubator.
                o   Create an interpretive center on the Mormon experience in Quincy
                o   Focus on Quincy’s history as a “City of Refuge.”
                o   Create a historical library.

                There also were proposals for funding. Brett Austin, a Quincy property developer and manager, suggested rental of part of the facility, including the creation of a small office incubator, which he thought would support exhibition uses in other parts of the building.

John Gebhardt, a former Park District trustee, reported that the Park District levies a museum tax whose purposes may fit uses of the museum. He also noted there were communities like Sioux City, Iowa, that levy a tax for uses like interpretation of local history.

Vicki Dempsey of Quincy Preserves learned that the City Council had the authority to aim a portion of the city’s Hotel-Motel tax to support tourism and similar uses of the building.