BOONE, Iowa—The Boone County Historical Society’s Board of Directors has apparently followed through on a proposal to sell the Mamie Doud Eisenhower Birthplace. The center of controversy for the past year has apparently been listed with Friedrich Realty of Ames.
The Society’s Board has sent out several letters recently, noting that a loss in support has put them into a position of having to liquidate assets, most notably the Mamie Doud Eisenhower Birthplace. A letter dated August 28th said that with operating funds cut by the city and county, they had reached a crossroads. The director was terminated. The administrative assistant was let go and so was the cleaning team. The letter also stated that the drastic reductions in municipal and local funding were leading to the unavoidable sale of the Mamie Doud Eisenhower Birthplace since they can no longer afford to keep it going or give it away.
The Boone City Council members had received a letter from the Historical Society Board requesting a reconsideration of their decision to withhold funding. The council re-confirmed their position with a unanimous vote not to provide any funding during their meeting last Monday.
A year ago, it was announced that the Historical Society Board had decided to not re-open the Mamie Doud Eisenhower Birthplace until a number of issues could be addressed. Those included a mold problem and some structural matters. While that was taking place, the Board was to consider alternative uses for the Birthplace, to improve it’s revenue generating ability.
Members of the community that wished for the Birthplace to remain as a working museum site attempted to have the Birthplace returned to their care. They wished to raise funds, make necessary repairs and reopen the site for visitors and tourists.
The differences led to several confrontations at various meetings including those Boone City Council, Boone County Supervisors and other meetings of the Boone County Historical Society Board.
Earlier this year, Boone Mayor John Slight called on the State Auditor to conduct an audit of the Boone County Historical Society. The results of that audit are not available at this time.
KWBG has not received official communication from the Historical Society Board that the Mamie Doud Eisenhower Birthplace is for sale, but the property is listed on the Friedrich Real Estate website.
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