Des Plaines Historical Society to sell historic Fisher-Wright House

Struggling to keep afloat, the Des Plaines Historical Society may put up the 93-year-old Fisher-Wright House for sale, officials said Friday.

The three-bedroom bungalow, at 815 Center St., was donated to the Historical Society in 2002 by sisters Nancy Wright Meyer and Lois Wright. Built in 1916 by Harry Bending, it was the home of Ruth and Louis A. Wright until their deaths in 2001, according to the Des Plaines History Center's website.

“It's a shame that we're faced with the need to sell it,” said John Burke, Des Plaines Historical Society president. “It's almost a time capsule of what life was like 100 years ago.”

The building is periodically used to host art exhibits and classes for the Des Plaines Art Guild, for mother-daughter tea parties, and to put on plays.

Though selling the property is not ideal in a depressed housing market, the building is underutilized for the society's purposes, Burke said.

“It's an asset that unfortunately we might have to liquidate,” Burke said. “It's not something that we necessarily want to do, but it's something that we might have to do with our present financial situation. The year ahead looks challenging.”

The move comes in the wake of the Des Plaines city council's decision to grant $30,000 toward the society's operations in 2011 $10,000 less than what it received this calendar year.

The city manager's office initially recommended yanking funding from the organization altogether as part of proposed cutbacks for 2011. Aldermen reconsidered after Burke made a plea before the council during budget talks.

The city already reduced the society's funding from $166,000 in 2009 to $40,000 this year.

As a result, the society slashed hours and staff at the History Center three part-time and one full-time position were eliminated after the city subsidy was cut, leaving three full-time employees whose salaries also were cut 10 percent.

Proceeds from the sale of the house would largely be used to pay salaries for those staff members.

“We're estimating salaries and benefits for next year to be in the range of about $150,000,” Burke said.

What's left would help fund repairs to the porches and the interior of Kinder House one of two historic buildings under the society's care, including the History Center.

“That's where the bulk of our revenues go every year,” Burke said.

The society board and History Center staff have devised a business plan to reduce the group's dependency on city funds.

The society raised $75,000 toward its $175,000 fundraising goal this year, including $12,500 in proceeds from the city's 175th anniversary party held last spring. The group also increased its membership by 101 so far this year and is averaging more than 200 volunteers a month.

The society also is cutting programming and increasing fees, and is trying to identify new sources of funding, such as foundations and corporations that it can reach out to for support.

“Within the next two weeks we will be sending out our annual fundraising mailing to all of our members,” Burke said, adding that the society raised $30,000 from its membership base this year, double what it received any other year.

The society's next step is to get an independent appraisal done of the Fisher-Wright House and getting the building ready for sale.