|
The
Mary Sheldon Ismon House |
|
300 South Clinton, Albion, Michigan 49224 |
|
The
Future of the Mary Sheldon Ismon House |
|
|
The Board of the Friends of the Ismon House is committed to the full renovation and adaptive reuse of the
entire facility. Its goal is to transform this magnificent once-private member-only club house into an elegant, functional building that will serve all of Albion as a
multi-purpose community gathering place and enrichment center.
For example, a restored Ismon House will be able to provide meeting and dining space for civic,
volunteer, social, business, cultural, educational, and service organizations.
More specifically, Ismon House can be reserved for:
-
Social events such as
dances, banquets, weddings, receptions, and
reunions;
-
Cultural functions including
music, drama, dance, and the visual arts;
-
Educational functions
such as lectures, debates, workshops, and classes;
-
Business events such as bridal displays, antique shows, etcetera.
Actual usage will depend upon three factors: successful
fund-raising; the pace of physical restoration as it
proceeds through three phases; and the desires of
interested groups and individuals.
Floor-by-Floor Uses:
Each story of the Ismon House originally was
designed with unique features to serve different needs
and purposes. In the renovation we strive to preserve
each floor's unique character. Two sets of stairs and a
modern elevator will provide access to all floors.
|
 |
Second Floor: The second floor will
provide flexible meeting spaces for a variety of uses,
such as board and committee meetings, workshops,
classes, receptions, and weddings. The large north room
can handle perhaps 100 persons, or be partitioned off
with movable dividers to provide two smaller soundproof
rooms for groups of up to fifty individuals.
The large room to the south can serve another 70
or so individuals, or be subdivided into two
soundproofed rooms for smaller groups. A warming kitchen
and small restrooms increase the potential uses for this
floor, including catered or carry-in meals, beverages,
and light snacks.
The room between these two large areas features
an original fireplace, faced with attractive ceramic
tile. This space can serve as a common room for
registration, conversation and refreshments.
|
 |
Third Floor:
The auditorium on the top
story of Ismon House contains a small stage and warming
kitchen. It is ideally suited for recitals, small
ensembles and chamber music, vocal performances, plays
and skits, dances, lectures, political debates, and
poetry readings.
Through the use of screens and dividers, the
second and third floors can be adapted to function as an
art gallery, provide instruction in the visual arts,
offer seminars, and accommodate other cultural and
educational activities.
|
 |
Basement:
Renovation of the basement will
provide complete handicap-accessible restrooms, a full
kitchen with a dumb waiter that can service the first
floor, and storage room for tables, chairs, dishes, and
equipment. Another portion of the basement may be
designed for low impact recreational activities such as
ping-pong, shuffleboard, billiards, board games, and
bocci. There also may be space for a small coffee shop
and reading room, and perhaps a cyber cafe.
|
|
|
|
