Coming Soon to the Lyons District
Clinton Sawmill Heritage Museum
On January 17, 2008, Clinton Kiwanis Foundation
was the recipient of a four-acre land donation from the Wild Rose LLC
dba as the Mississippi Belle II/Wild Rose Casino. The land is
located at the site of the former McEleney Sales building.
Financial matches of $350,000 secured the land valued at $1.375
million dollars. The gift of land is immediately adjacent to the
north of the former McEleney shop building that will be Phase I of the
Sawmill Museum project.
As a result of this gift and additional
donations made in support of the Sawmill Museum project, the match has
been secured to move forward with additional property to begin
planning the additional components that will make up the Sawmill
Heritage Museum Complex.
The Wild Rose Casino Corporation purchased the
Mississippi Belle II gambling boat in Clinton and has spent the
past years drawing up designs for a new facility that will be the Wild
Rose Casino and Resort. The new facility that will take up 29
acres on the west end of Clinton.
Over the years, the Mississippi Belle II/Wild Rose
Casino have made charitable contributions in excess of $1 million
dollars supporting community area projects. .
Work on the Sawmill Building construction has
begun with Estes Construction beginning the design development. A
schedule for construction indicates that a possible finish date for the
exterior finishes and some areas of the internal Museum will be
complete by approximately July 2008. The Sawmill Museum is among
the projects of the Iowa Great Places designation for Clinton.
When complete, the Phase I portion will have a
permanent display of a working sawmill within the structure. The
Exhibit committee is reviewing three proposals for the internal
interactive elements of the Museum.
In the feasibility study completed by ConsultEcon,
Inc., it was determined that a river view is important to help support
the storyline of the River's role in Clinton's lumber history.
The McEleney site is adjacent to the levee and the Mississippi
River.
The Lyons location sits immediately east of the
former Disbrow Manufacturing Company. The proximity of the lumber
industry bred new businesses which utilized the freshly harvested rich
oak and walnut. Martin Disbrow began manufacturing window sash,
doors and decorative trim in 1856. For the next thirty years, the
company enjoyed a fine reputation for their quality work. Today,
the Disbrow Company is the home of McKinley Street Taverne,
The Sawmill Museum will enter into Phase II of
construction once the McEleney Shop building has been completed.
That Phase will include a gift shop, outdoor activity area,
changing exhibit gallery and their permanent collection. The gift
of land by Wild Rose LLC will provide opportunity for additional grants
and buildings as the Museum continues to grow and expand.
For additional information regarding any of the
projects of the Sawmill Heritage Experience, contact Stephanie Brisch,
President, at 563-243-0246.
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