Director’s Desk: It’s Always Something

By Allen Lea

Read the full September issue of Viewpoints.

“It’s always something.” I say that at least once a week. Anyone who works with a historic house museum or artifacts that are over 100 years old knows the continuous upkeep and care involved is critical to ensure they are around for generations to come.

Taking care of a museum involves much more than the general public realizes. Care of historic properties and buildings are done at a snail’s pace; nothing happens overnight.

Throughout the past few years, the McFaddin-Ward House has undergone multiple restoration and preservation projects. So far this year, we have witnessed the restoration and painting of the carriage house exterior, the building of a new wood and garden-loop wire fence around the carriage house, a major overhaul to the victory garden, and planting of offspring from our historic live oaks, William and Rachel, around the museum to replace fallen trees. This has all taken place at the same time as tours, camps, lectures, conferences and a program, proving that museum life goes on in the midst of the chaos.

Our next venture will be repainting some of the museum exterior and two interior rooms: the master bedroom and the neighboring green bedroom. Collaboration among museum departments is essential for projects like this to run smoothly, but fortunately, as if on autopilot, staff and volunteers carry on with their duties. The collections department will remove all artifacts from the rooms, while keeping detailed reports for moving each and every object. The education department must create new signage so that while the painting is taking place, visitors can see what the rooms look like fully furnished. Docents will adjust their normal tour path and edit their tour text accordingly.

I feel quite certain that any museum–or business for that matter– would be fortunate to retain the staff and volunteer corps that our museum has. Everyone here cares immensely, not only about the museum and its collection, but also the community and one another. Like a family, everyone involved with the McFaddin-Ward House has individual interests that intertwine to make the museum a better place for all.

There has only been one day in the last five years that, while driving to work, I thought to myself, “I have nothing urgent to do at work today.” It took about thirty seconds from the time I stepped through the office door to know I was wrong. I learned my lesson then and have never said it since; my new motto is, “Okay, what’s next?”

“It’s always something.” I say that at least once a week. Anyone who works with a historic house museum or artifacts that are over 100 years old knows the continuous upkeep and care involved is critical to ensure they are around for generations to come.

Taking care of a museum involves much more than the general public realizes. Care of historic properties and buildings are done at a snail’s pace; nothing happens overnight.

Throughout the past few years, the McFaddin-Ward House has undergone multiple restoration and preservation projects. So far this year, we have witnessed the restoration and painting of the carriage house exterior, the building of a new wood and garden-loop wire fence around the carriage house, a major overhaul to the victory garden, and planting of offspring from our historic live oaks, William and Rachel, around the museum to replace fallen trees. This has all taken place at the same time as tours, camps, lectures, conferences and a program, proving that museum life goes on in the midst of the chaos.

Our next venture will be repainting some of the museum exterior and two interior rooms: the master bedroom and the neighboring green bedroom. Collaboration among museum departments is essential for projects like this to run smoothly, but fortunately, as if on autopilot, staff and volunteers carry on with their duties. The collections department will remove all artifacts from the rooms, while keeping detailed reports for moving each and every object. The education department must create new signage so that while the painting is taking place, visitors can see what the rooms look like fully furnished. Docents will adjust their normal tour path and edit their tour text accordingly.

I feel quite certain that any museum–or business for that matter– would be fortunate to retain the staff and volunteer corps that our museum has. Everyone here cares immensely, not only about the museum and its collection, but also the community and one another. Like a family, everyone involved with the McFaddin-Ward House has individual interests that intertwine to make the museum a better place for all.

There has only been one day in the last five years that, while driving to work, I thought to myself, “I have nothing urgent to do at work today.” It took about thirty seconds from the time I stepped through the office door to know I was wrong. I learned my lesson then and have never said it since; my new motto is, “Okay, what’s next?”

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