From small to large scale projects, there is always a lot going on at the Hormel Historic Home! 
Our organization is taking proactive steps to ensure the health of the mansion.
​See our current and past projects below. 
​Please note we are currently updating our website with updated information on our current project, visit again soon for new updates!

Funding for preservation projects comes from generous donations, grants that we source, and the Hospitality part of our mission.
​
When you host your meeting or special event or a Lillian's Table or Little Lillian with the Hormel Historic Home, proceeds fund the
​ongoing preservation of the historic home as well as all other areas of our mission into the future.

In August 2022 plans begin to come together to restore  each of the bases of our four historic columns
(which are original to the Hormel Family's 1901 remodel).

The columns are 20+ feet tall and are load-bearing.
​
The first column receives weather from two directions and was in the worst condition when Phase One of this project began.
The wood base had compacted and dropped the column by about two inches before Historic Design Consulting began their work.

We can't thank Mark with Historic Design Consulting enough for taking on such a large project for our museum.
Our nightmares of the column falling out and rolling down 4th Ave. a thing of the past now that the column is secured and the restoration project is underway. As most can imagine, the cost of the project is overwhelming and has many layers to it...well beyond the column repair itself.

Not only was moisture coming up from the concrete (without much of a way for the base to dry out), but during Phase One of this major restoration project it was discovered that the wrong paint was used on the columns by the last painter who painted it.  Unfortunately moisture is also coming in through the cracks in the paint.  Work began to source a painting company willing to take utmost care to hand-scrape (instead of power wash) the old paint away.

The good news we discovered was that the load-bearing column core was solid and hasn't moved. 
​The first column's fluted sleeve is also in good shape.

By November 2023, Historic Design Consulting had the first column base restored, primed, and ready for installation later that month.

On November 16, 2023, Historic Design Consulting placed the column base in place. 
​It was quite the challenge getting it into position due to gusty winds.

By Spring 2024, the first phase was complete.  The first column base had been rebuilt, vents to help circulate airflow through the column, some new staves, and some other smaller repairs.  Later in 2024 Phase Two and column two's base it planned for restoration.

The second column base was removed for restoration in August 2024.

In December 2024, Historic Design Consulting installed the second column base (with vents).  This completes Phase Two.

Phase Three will consist of scraping, prepping, and painting the first two columns and is expected to begin in Spring 2025.
Phase Four will be removal of the third column base for restoration and is expected to begin in Summer 2025.

On the quarter-sawn oak walls of the Dining Room, these ornaments (which look like carved wood, but it's not) were in need of repair.  These are actually called compo (or composition), which was a type of putty made from hide glue, whiting, and a few other things.  Mark with Historic Design Consulting created molds to cast new pieces and fit them into existing pieces.  After he color-matches it, it will be all done and blend into the original ornamental compo designs.

After removing the massive front door, Mark with Historic Design Consulting, began to refinish it on April 26, 2021.  Step one was cleaning the dust and dirt off the door, removing some of the hardware, and taping areas he didn't want exposed to the stripper.  

The newly refinished and restored front door.