A structural scan of the Nennig Dance Pavilion took place on November 29, 2022.

A dance held in the Nennig Dance Pavilion

The Nennig Dance Pavilion project has taken on a life of its own in the past 2 years.

It all began in fall 2022, with a call to A.C.E. Building Service to make repairs to the exterior of the building. This led to questioning why the siding was ripping off the studs. After scans of the building and the analysis of structural engineers it was determined that the building has a great lean to the south and is essentially ‘twisted’ as well. With this information it was determined to close the building for use until it could be repaired.

But how do we repair the building? Our Manitowoc County Historical Society and A.C.E. Building Service met with many different folks, including an Amish group, Red Maple Sales, to figure out the best plan going forward. We also worked with Legacy Architecture in Sheboygan to ensure the repairs would provide for a structurally safe building.

Combined with the movement of the building during its relocation to our museum, and general age, it was determined that it was not one ‘event’ in particular that caused the lean and the twist, but instead a general movement over the past century. We also determined that the building did have a southern lean when the building was brought to our site. We know this because the band and stage addition was actually being built on a slant to accommodate this shift.

We know the building is not in immediate danger but we still do not feel safe using the historic structure until issues are resolved.

Our restoration plan is as follows:

Volunteers will cut out the ‘wallflower’ seats around the perimeter of the dance pavilion so ACE Building Service and Red Maple Sales will have full access to the walls of the structure. These pieces will be reinstalled after repairs are made. Red Maple Sales will remove the existing shingle roof.

Additional temporary shoring and bracing to the existing structure will take place inside. A.C.E. Building Service will cut out & salvage existing wall sections for later re-installation. Installation of the new foundations and structural steel will take place.

Red Maple Sales will straighten, plumb & re-square the existing walls & roof structure. A new roof will be installed once all repairs are completed, along with masonry work and exterior painting.

In 2023 alone, we know we lost $6,700 from being able to use the Nennig Dance Pavilion for rentals. The building use during large public programs was also very much noticed as the band for our Heritage Maker’s Market and the Civil War were relocated to under a modern tent. This shows just how integral this space is for our programs and rentals.

The total project cost is expected to be about $250,000. This key project is made possible by support from the Ruth St. John and John Dunham West Foundation, Inc and generous donors to our Vetting Fund.

The goal is to combine the talents of many people to ensure the Nennig Dance Pavilion remains a part of our museum complex in a safe and accurate way. This large undertaking will ensure that we not only secure the stability of the dance hall today but for future use, rental income, and a wide range of programs. We are grateful to A.C.E. Building Service and Red Maple Sales for sharing their expertise with us.

Learn more about the history of the Nennig Dance Pavilion with a previous blog post.