YWCA to HHH

If you have driven by the Hormel Historic Home at night lately you may have noticed a bright flashing light in one of the upstairs windows.  You may have also heard a radio playing from the front porch.  We are not operating a disco; we are trying to distract the area crows from roosting in our beautiful trees.  The mess they bring with them is a concern for the aesthetics of the facility and we are trying to figure out an economical way of sending them somewhere else, preferably outside of town. 

I have been wondering lately about how the transition from the YWCA to the Hormel Historic Home occurred in the early 1990’s. So I made a phone call to Evie Mohrfeld, the Director of the facility during the transition. She explained that the National YWCA had made several organizational stipulations and the facility leaders, including I.J. Holton, decided that the home could continue serving the community of Austin and the legacy of the Hormels as The Hormel Historic Home instead of trying to meet the YWCA guidelines. 

Once the change was made, Evie and many local residents decided it was time to restore the Home to its early 1900’s grandeur.  During the 65 years that the YWCA operated in the Home the furnishings were made very basic.  They made the space functional for their needs and that meant changing some of the décor the Hormels had left behind.  It was determined that if the furnishings were upgraded more revenue may come into the home to fund more restorations.  Belita Schindler was very involved with that process and I had the pleasure of visiting with her this week as well. She, and a group of talented decorators and craftspeople, worked hard to select the right wall and floor coverings to try to take us back to the time of George and Lillian.  Unfortunately we do not have many photos from those days. 

An interesting tidbit Belita shared describes the wallpaper border in the living room. It is a hand screened Bradbury and Bradbury reproduction of an early 1900’s print. Acanthus leaves are used in the paper to continue the Greek revival theme that the Hormels introduced in the home when they remodeled upon purchase.  The crew has made many enhancements in the Home over the last 20 years and we are grateful for their forward thinking and decorating talents.