Bergstrom Mahler Museum
165 N Park Ave
Neenah, WI 54956
165 N Park Ave
Neenah, WI 54956
A Detailed History: 1901 to Present
In 1904, John Bergstrom and his wife Evangeline moved to Neenah and joined his father D. W. Bergstrom in founding the Bergstrom Paper Company. In 1929, Eisch Weiler constructed the Bergstrom’s Tudor-style residence at 165 North Park Avenue in Neenah. The beautiful house has many unique features including a slate roof and multiple unique carvings in the facade. The most notable carving on the exterior of the house is the carving of the face of a Native American next to the carving of a Viking face which symbolizes the new world and the old world coming together.
In 1935, Evangeline Bergstrom began a collection of paperweights that would reach over 630 items by her death in 1958 at the age of 86. Mrs. Bergstrom started her desire for paperweights when she came across a paperweight at an antique show. It resembled one her grandmother owned and from there on she wanted to collect every paperweight she saw. John Bergstrom passed away in 1951 and stipulated in his will that “If at the time of the death of my wife [Evangeline] the City of Neenah shall have established a museum, then my trustee shall pay to said City of Neenah $50,000.00 for museum purposes." The will later states that if a museum is not established two years after Evangeline’s death then the City of Neenah shall lose the previously promised funds. Shortly after Evangeline’s death in 1958, the City of Neenah established a foundation to operate a public museum at the Bergstroms' former residence. Carol and Ernest Mahler had worked with Mrs. Bergstrom before her death in order to set plans for the new museum. Consequently, the Mahlers became the first members of the Museum Board of Directors after its official incorporation in 1954. Plans for the museum had been underway for years before Mrs. Bergstrom’s death, and the dream finally became a reality on April 5th, 1959 when the John Nelson Bergstrom Art Center and Museum was opened to the public.
In 1935, Evangeline Bergstrom began a collection of paperweights that would reach over 630 items by her death in 1958 at the age of 86. Mrs. Bergstrom started her desire for paperweights when she came across a paperweight at an antique show. It resembled one her grandmother owned and from there on she wanted to collect every paperweight she saw. John Bergstrom passed away in 1951 and stipulated in his will that “If at the time of the death of my wife [Evangeline] the City of Neenah shall have established a museum, then my trustee shall pay to said City of Neenah $50,000.00 for museum purposes." The will later states that if a museum is not established two years after Evangeline’s death then the City of Neenah shall lose the previously promised funds. Shortly after Evangeline’s death in 1958, the City of Neenah established a foundation to operate a public museum at the Bergstroms' former residence. Carol and Ernest Mahler had worked with Mrs. Bergstrom before her death in order to set plans for the new museum. Consequently, the Mahlers became the first members of the Museum Board of Directors after its official incorporation in 1954. Plans for the museum had been underway for years before Mrs. Bergstrom’s death, and the dream finally became a reality on April 5th, 1959 when the John Nelson Bergstrom Art Center and Museum was opened to the public.
The museum continued to grow in size and scope in the coming years, and, in 1965, a main gallery and classrooms were added onto the main structure. This addition laid the groundwork for the gradual shift of the building from simply an art museum to a center for education, which made it unique in the Fox Valley. The next major change for the Bergstrom Mahler Museum came in 1979 with the gift of Mrs. Mahler’s 39 Germanic drinking glasses.
As the years progressed and the number of visitors to the museum per year began to rise, the Board of Directors decided the building needed a modern expansion that included a new foyer and gift shop that would sell small paperweights and books about glassblowing. This addition, which covered 2,600 square feet and cost $428,000, broke ground in 1997 and was completed in early 1998. The main architect for the 1998 expansion was Steve Gries. On the floor of the foyer is a glass mosaic with the original seal of the museum crafted into several of the glass tiles. This started a tradition where visitors are encouraged to take a rubbing of the seal.
As the years progressed and the number of visitors to the museum per year began to rise, the Board of Directors decided the building needed a modern expansion that included a new foyer and gift shop that would sell small paperweights and books about glassblowing. This addition, which covered 2,600 square feet and cost $428,000, broke ground in 1997 and was completed in early 1998. The main architect for the 1998 expansion was Steve Gries. On the floor of the foyer is a glass mosaic with the original seal of the museum crafted into several of the glass tiles. This started a tradition where visitors are encouraged to take a rubbing of the seal.
A subtle, but necessary, change took place in October of 2011 when the museum’s name, which had formerly been The Bergstrom Mahler Museum, was officially changed to The Bergstrom Mahler Museum of Glass. The shift was intended to distinguish the museum as one of the leading collections of glass artwork in the nation. In fact, it is actually the world's most representative collection of antique glass paperweights. The collection also includes German drinking vessels from 1573 and glass baskets dating back from the Victorian Era. Most recently, the upper level of the original house has been redesigned to function as the Mable R. McClanahan Memorial Library, a historical research library open to the public.
The Bergstrom Mahler Museum of Glass has gone through many changes since the original house was constructed in 1929. Visits to the museum are always free to everyone. Art classes are offered to people at every age and skill level. Exhibits are offered and changed regularly. To see the current information about the museum, visit their website here:
bmmglass.com/
The Bergstrom Mahler Museum of Glass has gone through many changes since the original house was constructed in 1929. Visits to the museum are always free to everyone. Art classes are offered to people at every age and skill level. Exhibits are offered and changed regularly. To see the current information about the museum, visit their website here:
bmmglass.com/
Sources:
Geiesse, Peter A. "Bergstrom Builders." The Post-Crescent [Neenah] 7 Nov. 1997. Print. "Mahler Gift Basis for Glass Museum." Daily Northwestern [Neenah] 20 Sept. 1979. Print. "Museum Expansion Planned." The Post-Crescent [Neenah] 1997. Print. "Museum History." Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass. Web. 17 May 2014. <http://bergstrom-mahlermuseum.com/index.php/about-the-museum/museum-history.ht ml>. Photo courtesy of Google images Smith, Jan M. "Museum History Interview." Telephone interview. 15 Apr. 2014. |
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