The restored Governor’s Mansion is set to reopen July 14, according to Justin Blandford, who was recently named to the post of curator of the mansion, after years as supervisor of Springfield’s state historic sites.
Daily tours are planned, and a new visitor center will include exhibits. “This will be a living museum, and we plan to share the stories of the children such as Florence Fifer, who rode her horse into the house, or Richard Yates, Jr., who saw his father guide the state as governor, and later became governor himself,” Blandford said. “These stories have never been talked about before. We will also highlight our first ladies and their leadership. Our goal is to convey civic responsibility.” One item that will be on display is a drawing of the mansion done in 1972 by a teenaged Elizabeth Ogilvie, whose father, Richard B. Ogilvie, served as governor from 1969 to 1973.
The Mansion has been restored to the 1890 period when Henry Horner was living in the home. Repairs have been made and new carpeting installed. Draperies done in 2002 by Afar decorators Tara and Mike McVary have been taken down, sheers added to protect items in the house, and rehung.
A second-floor suite will showcase 14 hand-carved pieces of furniture from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition acquired by Gov. James Thompson, and another area will display Civil War-era furniture, pictures and maps. Parlors will showcase various items such as paintings, maps, furniture and artifacts collected over the years.
Grounds have been redesigned by Massie Massie and Associates, the Springfield landscape architecture firm. The front “had become a jungle, and there were animals and drainage issues we had to address,” says Kent Massie. Overgrowth was removed, a few diseased trees had to be removed, and around 10 trees have been relocated. The west yard and carriage house area have not been touched. Jackson Street will be the entrance into the grounds. Old stepping stones (discovered to be cutouts from countertops) were removed. “A lot of work that people won’t see, though, has occurred,” says Massie, “with drainage and sewer repairs. The water from gutters often drained into the street and froze in the winter. Now water will be held on site in underground areas.”
Illinois artists will be featured once again. Gov. Jim Thompson opened an Illinois artisans shop in 1990 to highlight the many works of talented Illinois artists. The Artisans Program was later administered by the Illinois State Museum but met its demise during the Rauner administration’s closing of the museum and shop.
Parking will still be available on Fourth, Fifth and Jackson streets, and visitors will be able to tour the Mansion as well as enjoy areas nearby with the new Bicentennial Plaza and walkway along the Realtor’s Building. –Cinda Klickna
