A Timely Intervention
Let's not lose this treasured building and its storied past, to oversight and neglect.
We thank you for your interest. In this section we cover three topics:
- Building Description
- Original Fabric and Alteration
- Building Condition
1. Building Description
The Island Park Village Hall is a historic municipal building in Mound, Minnesota constructed in 1936 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). It is located at 4843 Manchester Road, adjacent to a public park, Swenson Park, in a residential neighborhood on Phelps Island in Lake Minnetonka. The building was originally constructed as a government center, municipal event hall and fire station and is owned by the City of Mound which uses the building for storage. |
|
The 5,120 SF Village Hall is a one-story structure with a partial basement foundation and an upper level mezzanine. The main floor is approximately 3,320 SF with a 725 SF mezzanine; the basement contains 1,075 SF.
The building is organized into two main functional areas: a large assembly space with ancillary rooms, and a garage that originally housed the fire station. The assembly space was sized to accommodate table seating for around one hundred persons. The form of the building is L-shaped, with the assembly space contained in a main volume oriented north-south and the garage in an intersecting west wing. The main assembly volume is front-gabled with a steeply pitched roof; an intersecting roof over the west wing is hipped at its west end. The main entrance faces the street and is reached via a symmetrical set of exterior stairs whose upper landing forms a semi- circular terrace in front of the entry.
The property is a half-acre city lot which slopes steeply up at its southern and western edges, and slopes less steeply from south to north and from east to west across the site.
The foundation, above grade exterior walls and front entrance stairs are constructed of cast-in-place concrete. The concrete walls on the principal elevations feature a repeating raised horizontal fllet whose bands create the appearance of a wall cladding such as horizontal car siding. The front entrance is framed by red brickwork that culminates in a round brick arch pattern that has an intricate cast concrete keystone. The main floor above the basement is a structural concrete slab. The mezzanine floor framing and roof framing above the assembly space is heavy timber, with a stick framed roof above the fire station. There are minimal roof overhangs and the building is roofed with asphalt shingles.
Large rolled steel windows at the assembly space and the adjoining kitchen are horizontally proportioned and are similar in appearance to those used in industrial buildings of the period. They are arranged in regular bays and have an operable upper sash. The smaller windows at the front of the building are steel casement windows that are vertically proportioned and have a more residential appearance. The garage windows are of the industrial type. None of the original wood doors remain, either at the hall entrances or the fire station garage openings.
The building is organized into two main functional areas: a large assembly space with ancillary rooms, and a garage that originally housed the fire station. The assembly space was sized to accommodate table seating for around one hundred persons. The form of the building is L-shaped, with the assembly space contained in a main volume oriented north-south and the garage in an intersecting west wing. The main assembly volume is front-gabled with a steeply pitched roof; an intersecting roof over the west wing is hipped at its west end. The main entrance faces the street and is reached via a symmetrical set of exterior stairs whose upper landing forms a semi- circular terrace in front of the entry.
The property is a half-acre city lot which slopes steeply up at its southern and western edges, and slopes less steeply from south to north and from east to west across the site.
The foundation, above grade exterior walls and front entrance stairs are constructed of cast-in-place concrete. The concrete walls on the principal elevations feature a repeating raised horizontal fllet whose bands create the appearance of a wall cladding such as horizontal car siding. The front entrance is framed by red brickwork that culminates in a round brick arch pattern that has an intricate cast concrete keystone. The main floor above the basement is a structural concrete slab. The mezzanine floor framing and roof framing above the assembly space is heavy timber, with a stick framed roof above the fire station. There are minimal roof overhangs and the building is roofed with asphalt shingles.
Large rolled steel windows at the assembly space and the adjoining kitchen are horizontally proportioned and are similar in appearance to those used in industrial buildings of the period. They are arranged in regular bays and have an operable upper sash. The smaller windows at the front of the building are steel casement windows that are vertically proportioned and have a more residential appearance. The garage windows are of the industrial type. None of the original wood doors remain, either at the hall entrances or the fire station garage openings.
The interior of the building is beautifully finished and detailed with vertical pine paneling complementing the exposed timber framing of the roof and ceilings. The functional concrete floors were left exposed (later covered with vinyl asbestos floor tile). The mezzanine features a maple hardwood floor and a wood staircase with newels and railings that are detailed in similar fashion to the exposed timber trusses of the roof framing. In addition to the main assembly space the main floor plan includes an entrance foyer, a cloak room and a kitchen with pantry. The mezzanine has a vaulted meeting/work room that overlooks the main space, and a large storage attic. The basement contains mechanical spaces and men’s and women’s restrooms. The fire station garage interior was finished at a basic level with painted concrete walls and a sloping concrete slab floor.
|
The basement mechanical spaces indicate that the building originally had some sort of central heating system; however there is no evidence of original ductwork for a forced air system, and there are no vestiges of piping for a hot water or steam system. The basement does have a large space that appears to have been the original mechanical room with a coal chute and a chimney. The existing forced air system is evidently a later addition. The electrical system originally featured pendant lighting fixtures in the main spaces with wiring routed in the timber framing members; the existing fluorescent ceiling fixtures are a later addition. There is a non-functioning plumbing system that served the main floor kitchen and the basement restrooms.
While having suffered from neglect and lack of maintenance in the years since it was last used as a civic center, the Island Park Village Hall is a wonderful, enduring example of a small municipal building from the WPA period. |
Island Park Vill Hall has a number of interesting architectural features that make it somewhat unique for a small scale municipal building built in a rural setting: cast concrete walls with intricate detailing, steel windows, bolted timber roof trusses. The building is well proportioned, nicely sited and exhibits a well-thought out floor plan, resulting in a structure both functional and beautiful.
The assessment has identified several areas of concern regarding the condition of the building, but the overall condition of the Village Hall is good and with a reasonable investment in preservation and restoration work the building will have the potential to reassume its role as a significant civic and social center in the community.
2. Original Fabric and Alterations
The original historic fabric is substantially intact and the building has seen minimal changes and alterations in its 85 year history. There has been some remodeling of ancillary spaces, as well as installation of a non-original heating system and accessibility modifications. The following is a list of alterations that were identified in the course of the conditions assessment:
The original historic fabric is substantially intact and the building has seen minimal changes and alterations in its 85 year history. There has been some remodeling of ancillary spaces, as well as installation of a non-original heating system and accessibility modifications. The following is a list of alterations that were identified in the course of the conditions assessment:
Basement Bathrooms
The two basement restrooms have finishes and fixtures from a later period, and were remodeled with wall furring and foam insulation on the exterior walls. It is probable that the basement restroom location was original to the design of the building. |
Exterior Doors
The front entrance originally had a pair of wooden doors, now changed to a wider single door. The side entrance to the assembly space had a pair of full light wooden doors, now a single residential steel door. The original fre station doors were replaced with a sectional door in the west opening; the east opening was infilled. |
Garage Remodeling
New wood trusses were constructed below the original garage roof framing in order to support the load of a new furred fat ceiling with insulation. The east garage door opening was infilled with concrete block and furred for insulation and a small office space was constructed in this area, with a window and exterior door facing the street. |
Accessibility Remodeling
A concrete ramp was built to access the front entrance, infilling one of the original fights of exterior stairs that accessed the building entrance from the street. Steel guard rails were installed along the ramp, and steel handrails were added along the existing stairs. The original exterior steel guard rail at the center of the entrance landing was altered to increase its height. |
Heating System
The original heating system is unknown. The existing forced air furnace system is of newer origin. A number of large supply and return ducts are routed through and left exposed in the main space, detracting from the original character of the interior. The upper window at the south end of the assembly space was infilled with concrete block. |
Window Boarding
Vandals have destroyed most of the window glass in the building. All of the window openings have subsequently been secured with exterior plywood coverings. |
3. Building Condition (as of July 2021)
Overall, the Village Hall is in good condition. It was built of sturdy, long-lasting materials and was engineered adequately to carry its loads. The structure remains plumb and level throughout, with minimal settlement, defection or visible cracking. The building saw intensive public use from the 1930’s through the 1980’s, and subsequently has endured a period of neglect in the last 30 to 40 years, and both the interior and exterior have held up well--with a few exceptions--a testament to the quality of its original craftsmanship and detailing. Most of the original interior finishes on the main floor and mezzanine level are in good condition and have seen little deterioration.
Where damage exists it has been mainly caused by water intrusion and vandalism, with some wear and tear from the building’s regular use over its eighty year history. Vandals have destroyed most of the exterior window glass and graffiti is an ongoing problem. Three feet of standing water entering the building from problem areas in the roof valleys, causing damage to one of the roof trusses and to the ceiling in the area of the main chimney. Rainwater or groundwater, or a combination of both are entering and filling the basement, has destroyed the restroom finishes.
One area of the building that has not held up well is the concrete structure supporting the front exterior entrance stairs, which is heavily deteriorated, probably due to a combination of weathering and salt corrosion.
Overall, the Village Hall is in good condition. It was built of sturdy, long-lasting materials and was engineered adequately to carry its loads. The structure remains plumb and level throughout, with minimal settlement, defection or visible cracking. The building saw intensive public use from the 1930’s through the 1980’s, and subsequently has endured a period of neglect in the last 30 to 40 years, and both the interior and exterior have held up well--with a few exceptions--a testament to the quality of its original craftsmanship and detailing. Most of the original interior finishes on the main floor and mezzanine level are in good condition and have seen little deterioration.
Where damage exists it has been mainly caused by water intrusion and vandalism, with some wear and tear from the building’s regular use over its eighty year history. Vandals have destroyed most of the exterior window glass and graffiti is an ongoing problem. Three feet of standing water entering the building from problem areas in the roof valleys, causing damage to one of the roof trusses and to the ceiling in the area of the main chimney. Rainwater or groundwater, or a combination of both are entering and filling the basement, has destroyed the restroom finishes.
One area of the building that has not held up well is the concrete structure supporting the front exterior entrance stairs, which is heavily deteriorated, probably due to a combination of weathering and salt corrosion.
Missing Original Features
Missing features include: aforementioned exterior doors, painted signage above the main entrance, wall plaque adjacent to entrance, flag pole, exterior lighting fixtures, interior pendant lighting fixtures, metal ridge cap at the roof with finials. Also missing is a set of wooden benches built into the perimeter of the assembly space, of which there is evidence in a shadow line in the wall finish.
Missing features include: aforementioned exterior doors, painted signage above the main entrance, wall plaque adjacent to entrance, flag pole, exterior lighting fixtures, interior pendant lighting fixtures, metal ridge cap at the roof with finials. Also missing is a set of wooden benches built into the perimeter of the assembly space, of which there is evidence in a shadow line in the wall finish.
The building’s most immediate need is a new roof, or at least temporary repair of problem areas, as the existing asphalt shingles are well past their life span.
|
From a safety perspective another immediate concern is the presence of deteriorated asbestos-containing materials inside.
|
In addition to preservation and repair of building components, preservation planning will need to address a number of other areas in order to make the building usable again:
- Energy efficiency, as there is minimal building insulation and the heating system needs replacement.
- Accessibility and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Regrading and landscaping the site.
Attributes of the building’s original construction, its durable concrete walls and steep-pitched roof, have made the structure quite resistant to the effects of the current lack of maintenance.
However this period of grace may be ending as water intrusion takes its toll on the roof structure and finishes inside the building. |
While existing damage is repairable at this point, the building may in the not too distant future reach a point where restoration costs become unmanageable. It is fortuitous that the Preservation Society has intervened at this point in the building’s life, and hopefully the Village Hall will soon be able to undergo needed repair and restoration.
|