Interpretive Strategies Study: Framing the Choices

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Interpretive Strategies StudyFraming the Choices

• Lower Hudson Conference Workshop
• Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich
• Bush-Holley House

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What is the Historical Society of the Town of
Greenwich?

• An historical society that owns an historic
  house previously had been headquartered in the
  house.
• Dedicated to telling the complete history of
  Greenwich, not just one era or person.
• Bush-Holley House interpreted as Revolutionary
  War era home of David and Sarah Bush, but with
  the occasional inclusion of early 20th century
  art

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What did they know about the house and families?

• General background on David Bush and the American
  Revolution and genealogical information on Bush
  family house inventories 1797, 1824
• Great deal of information on turn-of-the-20th-cent
  ury Bush-Holley house as a boarding house for the
  Cos Cob Art Colony.

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What was in their collections?

• Outstanding collection 18th century New England
  furniture on display in the house.
• Large collection of turn-of-the-20th-century
  materials associated with Art Colony, especially
  relating to Elmer MacRae, the impressionists and
  the transition into the Arts Crafts era, post
  1913 not displayed

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What structures were on site?

• 18th century house interior elements, c. 1820s
  1840s exterior elements, early 20th century
  mid-20th century modifications
• Turn of the century wash house/ privy
• Mid 19th century barn
• Early 20th century shed/MacRaes workshop
• Early 19th century storehouse
• Modern 20th century archive/office

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How is the landscape treated?

• Dominated by Mianus River thruway bridge
• Primarily 20th century groomed lawn, flower beds,
  small walkways
• Part of a suburban neighborhood

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Who is the audience?

• Local Greenwich residents
• New England antique lovers
• School children Sarah Bush Revolutionary War
  program
• Connecticut Art Trail

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What did I find?

• Disorganized house displaying a split personality
• Original, 18th century presentation weakened by
  lack of strong research local story
• Evolving turn-of-the-century Art Colony
  presentation with good research and national
  audience
• Divided board with strong camps for Revolutionary
  Greenwich and Cos Cob Art Colony

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Interpretive Strategies

• Use entire property, not just the house
• Total interpretative message covers 18th, 19th
  and 20th century Greenwich.
• Strategies should be non-destructive do not
  include major modifications, deletions or
  additions to the house to place it in a specific
  time period.

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Strategy 1 The Bushes of Greenwich

• Interior of house last generation of Bush family,
  to 1844
• Exterior of House Grounds 20th century with
  focus on art colony images
• Outbuildings retain early 20th century
  appearance, education or exhibition
• Utilizes exterior signage with artists
  illustrations to discuss landscape environs

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Strategy 1 Advantages

• Utilizes existing strong collection of 18th
  century furnishings
• Builds and retains strong support of primary
  founders and continued benefactors of the
  organization
• Allows for continued use of well received school
  programming with modest modifications

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Strategy 1 Disadvantages

• Absolute dichotomy between interior exterior
• Relative weak documentation available on Bush
  family in Greenwich. Require additional research
  to strengthen the Bush story
• Generic furnishings used in conjunction with site
  specific inventories
• Relegates Art Colony story to small exhibitions

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Strategy 2 The Holley House and the Cos Cob Art
Colony

• House interior and exterior Art Colony boarding
  house
• Landscape and outbuildings Art Colony period and
  later 20th century although modern uses vary-
  exhibition or education or storage
• Utilizes artists illustrations to create
  interpretive signage relating to landscape and
  environment

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Strategy 2 Advantages

• Provides more unified story
• Creates a story for 2 strong audiences, historic
  house buffs art lovers
• More complete documentation relating to interior
  of house, including paintings and photographs
• Have personal objects and art associated with
  MacRae and Art Colony residents

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Strategy 2 Disadvantages

• Relegates Bush story to smaller exhibits
• Requires removal of much of the 18th century
  furniture collection
• Requires acquisition of turn-of-the-20th century
  furnishings, primarily generic
• Possible alienation of principal supporters and
  contributors to the Historical Society

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Strategy 3 A Microcosm of Greenwich

• Exterior grounds, 20th century with alterations
  made by historical society
• Interior split, start tour with
  turn-of-the-century Art Colony rooms, then go
  back in time to Bush era, early 19th century
  rooms
• Utilizes artists illustrations to create
  interpretive signage relating to landscape and
  environment

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Strategy 3 Advantages

• Covers both Art Colony and earlier Bush family
  history in house
• Acknowledges 20th century changes made as house
  is turned into a museum
• Utilizes the majority of the current collections,
  including much of the 18th century New England
  furniture

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Strategy 3 Disadvantages

• Bush documentation insufficient to provide
  balanced presentation, requires more research
• Will require the removal of some of the larger
  pieces of 18th century furniture
• Requires careful presentation to allow visitor to
  make transitions back in time

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Strategy 4 Rediscovering Americas Heritage

• Focus on the transformation of the colonial into
  the colonial revival
• Too esoteric

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Strategy 5 Collections Collectors of Greenwich

• Rooms treated as series of galleries with
  rotating exhibits that focus on evolution of
  house, Bushes Holleys, furniture collections,
  American Impressionists, etc.
• Additional exhibits on other objects in the
  collections of the Historical Society
• Society has no interest in a non-historic house
  presentation

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Recommendation

• Strategy 3 Dual interpretation in the house
• Retains early American story and furnishings in
  at least part of the house.
• Builds on growing interest in early 20th century
  history, American Impressionist movement, and the
  art audience
• Makes no significant modifications to the
  structure of the house

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Compromise Strategy

• Acknowledges and utilizes the strengths of the
  existing collections
• Acknowledges the reality of the need for the
  support of major stakeholders in the historical
  society to accomplish change
• Acknowledges the importance of evolving audiences
• Respects the history of the structure all the way
  into the museum era