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LUDINGTON — Sandcastles Children’s Museum is undergoing a major roof renovation in September following four years of fundraising.
The museum has contracted with G. Freeland and Associates of Ludington to replace two of the three roof sections at its building, 129 E. Ludington Ave. Work is expected to be completed by Oct. 1.
The project will replace the 1,817-square-foot high roof on the east side of the building and the 3,510-square-foot west annex roof, the two sections considered most in need of repair.
Funding for the project came from several sources, including the Community Foundation for Mason County, West Shore Bank, individual donors and a $50,000 matching contribution from the Pennies From Heaven Foundation.
Future work is expected to include repairs to third-floor ceilings and first-floor staff areas affected by the condition of the roof.
The project also includes plans to replace the building’s existing flagpole with a lighter pole positioned in a safer location on the high roof. Sandcastles is working with a group of area individuals and businesses on that portion of the project, an effort initiated by Budde Reed.
The existing flagpole rises about 40 feet above the roof and weighs more than 600 pounds.
Interim Museum Director Kelli Stojic said contractors raised concerns about the amount of stress the pole places on the building.
“During the course of meeting with potential contractors, it was brought to our attention that the weight of the flagpole coupled with the amount of wind it has to withstand at that height puts more pressure on the building’s supporting structure than it can handle,” Stojic said. “We can replace everything on the roof, but if the current flagpole remains, we will continue to see damage to our building.”
Stojic said museum officials wanted to preserve the flag’s role as a familiar downtown landmark while protecting the historic structure.
“We are proud of the landmark welcome our flag gives to people entering Ludington, and we learned during this process that the Ludington Fire Department uses our flag to determine wind speed and direction when leaving for calls,” she said. “It was important to us to find a way to honor the legacy and history of our building while also being responsible stewards of the structure itself.”
The Sandcastles building dates to 1891, when it was constructed as the clubhouse of the Pere Marquette Social Club, an organization of prominent Ludington professionals and business leaders formed for social and athletic activities. Members included Antoine E. Cartier and Michael J. Danaher.
Financing for the clubhouse was arranged by a cashier named Fuller at Commercial & Savings Bank of Ludington. In 1893, the bank dismissed Fuller after discovering he had advanced money to the club without the knowledge or approval of the bank’s directors.
That same year, during the nationwide financial panic, the bank failed and many of the developments it had financed also collapsed. The Pere Marquette Social Club disbanded, and Cartier purchased the building for use as a community gathering place.
The Ludington Elks Lodge, founded in 1901, later began renting space in the building. In 1902, Danaher became exalted ruler of the lodge. Following Cartier’s death in 1910, the Elks began purchasing the property and received the deed after completing payments in 1923.
The lodge made numerous improvements during the decades that followed, including the addition and renovation of dining facilities. An exterior renovation was funded by a benefactor in 1988.
Sandcastles Children’s Museum purchased the building in 2009. The museum then spent approximately a year and a half renovating the structure, including upgrades to heating, electrical and lighting systems.
Sandcastles opened in the building in May 2011 and has since continued efforts to preserve the historic structure while operating it as an educational and recreational facility for children and families.
Stojic credited numerous donors and organizations with making the current roof project possible. In addition to the Pennies From Heaven Foundation, supporters included Budde Reed, more than 70 donors who contributed through the Community Foundation for Mason County’s Sandcastles Roof Replacement Fund and West Shore Bank, which hosted a summer coin drive and contributed a $1,000 match.
Fundraising also included proceeds and support from The Masked Singer and Ludington’s Got Talent events, along with contributions from museum members, guests, volunteers and sponsors.
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