One of Butte’s popular historical attractions, the Clark Chateau, is set to receive an infrastructure upgrade – thanks to a $41,421 grant.
Wiring, plumbing, heating, lighting and insulation will get attention. The money comes from the state, but is filtered through the Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives, which oversees the mansion’s care.
Archives Director Ellen Crain couldn’t be happier about the Montana Department of Commerce tourism award.
“We are quite thrilled that Butte is going to get that money,” Crain told The Montana Standard.
Since the Chateau, 321 W. Broadway St., changed hands, the Archives had one year to transfer collections and assess its restoration and preservation status. That deadline is Dec. 1.
The city-county took over from the Butte-Silver Bow Arts Foundation in early November 2013, after Chief Executive Matt Vincent severed a longstanding lease.
Now, Crain and Mitzi Rossillon, transition project manager for the Chateau, will present specific recommendations for the Chateau to county commissioners on Nov. 12.
“Our presentation will include where we’ve been and what the future might hold,” Rossillon said. “In the short term, once we secure the funds to match the grant, we’ll do some improvements to the building.”
The county must dredge up one-third of the $41,421 in matching funds, but how and where that money will come from remains to be seen. Total projected cost of the infrastructure upgrade is $62,131, which Crain wrote into the grant proposal.
Crain, quite pleased with the progress her committee made during the year, said she’s proud of several accomplishments:
• Successfully transferring stewardship to city-county government
• Keeping the building open to the public
• Tallying 1,300 total visitors during the year
• Holding three listening sessions to hear citizen ideas for public use of the building and programming suggestions