04. Addressing the Council.NTERNATIONAL . R i
P.O. BOX 1604
..0
December 18, 1995
Mayor Rauthe and Members of the Council.:
I am pleased to report an article in The Soroptimist of the
Americas November -December 1995 magazine which focuses on
the Kalispell Soroptimists Conrad Mansion miniature and this
City's interest in historic preservation. We are providing
copies of the article so you may also enjoy it.
We thank you for your attention to the matter of the Conrad
Mansion Board appointments. The Mansion was entrusted to
the City, so it becomes a matter of public trust and the
accountability .for that trust.
Several Soroptimist members bequeathed large dollar sums or
gifted antiques to the Mansion because it was an ongoing
Soroptimist project. We, as the continuing membership, feel
the responsibility to ensure those gifts are applied as they
were intended.
We ask only that the contract be applied as Mrs. Campbell
set it out, and that the City require accountability of the
administration of this public trust.
We are here to listen, and intend to be fully informed on
this issue.
Thank you.
Karlene Khor
President, SI of Kalispell
Project
Profile:
Traveling History —Lessons of the Past
While Soroptimist clubs around the
world are alike in that they provide
service, each community poses
different challenges. So, when Si/
Kalispell, MT, members set about
designing a fund—raising project,
they wanted one that was educa-
tional, interesting and meaningful to
their community. In August 1990, the
club's Growth and Development
Committee decided to coordinate SI/
Kalispell's project with the town and
county centennial. For the past four
years, the club has been involved in
a project to build a museum —quality
replica of the Conrad Mansion. The
mansion was built in 1892 for the
successful freight operator and
landowner who founded the city of
Kalispell.
The Growth and Development
Committee's goats were two —fold: to
initiate a unique project to replace
small, yearly fund—raisers; and to
educate citizens about their city's
past. Kalispell Soroptimists have a
strong tie to the Conrad Mansion.
Charter members of the club, along
with members of SI/Whitefish, were
responsible for the mansion's
restoration when it was donated by
the builder's daughter to the city of
Kalispell. The mansion, which was
badly in need of repair, soon became
the city's first house designated as a
historic landmark.
SI/Kalispell members decided to
build a miniature replica of Conrad
Mansion to be raffled off as a fund—
�aiser. Karlene Osorio—Khor, chair of
:he Dollhouse Committee, located
Jollhouse craftsman Carl Spoonheim
)f Hamilton, MT, who began building
:he miniature mansion in November
1993. Building lasted through
Jctober 1994. Spoonheim used
7/Kalispell member Betty Norem originated
'te idea of building a miniature Conrad
lansion replica. Photo by Jim Pierce.
With its custom-made stained glass windows and operational doors, the 13-room dollhouse is a
true miniature replica of the Conrad Mansion. Photo by Jim Pierce.
original mansion plans and on —site
measurements to duplicate the
magnificence of the historic house.
Judy Syverson, a member of the
London Miniature Society, replicated
the Tiffany stained glass windows for
the dollhouse. Two other crafts-
people, who both worked on the
original mansion, also contributed to
the replica: Howard Doran built the
table on which the replica is dis-
played; and Arvid Kristofferson
painted the border for the
miniature's music room. On Novem-
ber 5, 1994, the replica was unveiled
at a gala event, attended by Kalispell
Mayor Doug Rauthe, former Montana
Governor Stan Stephens, and mem-
bers of the Kalispell community.
Since the dollhouse's completion,
the replica has been shown at local
schools, serving as a reminder of
past times, which were rich in
history and culture. Children learn
what life was like in the 1800s and
about Kalispell's founder, Charles
Conrad. Furthermore, citizens of
Kalispell are reminded of the many
developments in the town, specifi-
cally the use of a railroad system,
and the formation of professional
relationships within the city. The
replica has also been on display in
Glacier National Park, and has
traveled to various businesses in
surrounding towns. Currently, the
mansion is on display at the Glacier
International Airport, where thou-
sands of visitors have picked up
information sheets on the project
and on membership in SIA.
SI/Kalispell members are selling
raffle tickets for the replica, which is
valued at $25,000. The drawing will
take place on December 21, 1995.
Proceeds from the raffle will benefit
several SI/Kalispell community
service projects, including: the Past
President Scholarship Fund; the
Lawrence Park project, which will
repair and rejuvenate a park in the
city; and the Central School project,
an initiative to restore a historic
school. SI/Kalispell plans to work
further with the city of Kalispell in
efforts to preserve historical sites,
and to educate citizens about the
city's history.
SI/Kalispeil's Karlene Osorio—Kohr
stresses the importance of this
project in creating a spirit of commit-
ment and involvement in the com-
munity. "We have lead the way in
historic preservation ... taught our
history and learned ourselves by it.
We have inspired school children,
who are now fascinated by their
past. We have honored our charter
members by focusing the
community's attention on where we
came from, and we demonstrate to
each other where we are going."
SI/Kalispell members encourage
other Soroptimists to contact them
about planning similar projects. For
more information, call (406) 752-
9670, fax (406) 752-9671, or write to
SI/Kalispell, P.O. Box 1604, Kalispell,
MT 59901.'SI
The Soroptimist of the Americas/November—December 1995