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Council approves library request to fund Brown Mansion restoration and new archival barn
Summary
Westchester Public Library and the Westchester Township History Museum presented a barn-restoration plan for the Brown Mansion archive with a guaranteed maximum price proposal of $6,216,759 and requested a $6.6 million appropriation from the library improvement reserve; the council approved the appropriation and will rename the facility the Duland History Center.
Westchester Public Library Director Heather Chadock and Westchester Township History Museum curator Serena Ard asked the Porter County Council on Monday to approve a multimillion-dollar appropriation to restore the Brown Mansion and build an archival barn-style addition.
Chadock told the council the project would create climate-controlled artifact storage, ADA-accessible offices and public research space. The presenters said the library purchased the mansion in 2024 and has been stewarding local archives — including Prairie Club and Chesterton Tribune collections — previously held in other facilities.
The presenters said they received a guaranteed maximum price proposal for the barn restoration of $6,216,759 and requested an additional appropriation from the library improvement reserve of about $6.6 million to cover restoration and contingencies. “We originally thought we were going to do an attached museum and then moved on to the barn concept...that just allows the mansion to become our largest artifact,” Chadock said.
Council members questioned contingency language tied to a “guaranteed maximum price” and whether the stated GMP covered expected items such as lead-paint remediation and utility relocations. Museum staff replied that some items — for example, removal of lead paint or relocation of gas and water lines — may not be included in the GMP and that the contingency allowance is intended to cover such unknowns.
Council members made and seconded a motion to approve the appropriation; the motion carried on roll call. Presenters estimated construction would take about a year once started and said the library plans to rebrand the site as the Duland History Center to reflect expanded research and program services.
The council also approved a related $5.5 million item from the library improvement reserve earlier in the meeting for professional services tied to the project.
