Willow River Cemetery Chapel Restoration Nearing Completion

If you’re looking for a summer volunteer project, want to learn a little about historic preservation and are not afraid of cemeteries or spooky basements, the Hudson Vintage Neighborhood Alliance, which is in the final phases of restoring the Humbird Chapel at Willow River Cemetery, wants you.

“Each year we take the Hudson eighth grade class on a tour of the cemetery and chapel for a history project they’re working on," said Wayne Haut, president of the HVNA. "The chapel basement, which is a little spooky, is kind of a highlight of their tour.”

Like other cemetery chapels, at one time it was used to store bodies during the winter when the ground was too frozen to dig graves, he says.

“I will warn the students that there is a box in the basement up on the racks, and then when we go downstairs, I suddenly open and shut it and kids would scream. Word’s gotten around though, so every group now asks if we are going to scare them.”

Kids must enjoy both the scare and the tour, as this year eighth graders held a bake sale at the Hudson Middle School’s Open House and volunteer organization fair, raising $200 for the chapel restoration. 

HVNA has been working on the chapel since 2006 and has completed replacement, repair and painting of lower exterior doors and restoration of the chapel’s original 13 stained glass windows including tempered glass coverings and repair of the stained glass.

Volunteers—experienced and inexperienced—are needed to finish installation of windows and assist with the final phases of the project over the summer.

To-do list

Tasks on the summer to-do list include cleaning the original woodwork, removing carpet, sanding the wood floors, cleaning or removing the organ, repairing/painting plaster walls, removing a false ceiling, cleaning/repairing/patching the original cove ceiling and original light fixtures, painting outside trim, fixing exterior steps, cleaning the basement and assisting with landscaping.

“It’s gone slower than expected as the list keeps growing like any other renovation,” Haut said. “We are interested in having both individuals and groups come and get involved this summer. If the chapel restoration is further along by fall, we’d like to continue to work with the St. Croix County Historical Society and offer cemetery tours for the public. We’ve done that before with locals and actors who impersonate Hudson residents. The tours have been well received; it’s like that person was out of the grave talking to you.”

The stained glass restoration by Jim Smeed of Willow Stained Glass and Framing in New Richmond is the largest expense associated with the project at about $12,000 and is almost complete. Currently Smeed is searching for replacement glass to match the original glass for the lower portion of two windows on the north side, Haut says.

A final phase could include rewiring of the building at an estimated cost of about $5,000 and but is contingent on Willow River Cemetery Association’s plans for the chapel after restoration is complete, Haut said. 

Chapel history

Unused since the 1970s, the chapel was funded by M. Kate Humbird, the wife of David Humbird, a treasurer of the Western Wisconsin Railroad in the late 1800s and early 1900s, according to an article in the Hudson Star-Observer and posted on the alliance’s website.

David’s father, Jacob, was involved in bringing the railroad to Hudson. The chapel was designed and built by Hudson contractor Arthur Lee and completed in 1921.

How to help

Each year HVNA members personally sponsor a hot-air balloon during the Hot Air Affair and participate in the parade to raise awareness for their organization. This year, the group took first place for its antics as flying pigs. Haut said: "We are crazy and always have a lot of fun."

HVNA will sell brats Sept. 9-10 during the Lion's Club garage sale weekend to raise money for chapel completion at the Knights of Columbus Brat wagon, parked at RJ’s Meats.

The chapel restoration project has been funded by a $10,000 grant from the Andersen Foundation and a $5,000 grant from the Phipps Foundation plus individual donations and countless volunteer hours. Memorials given in honor of the late historian and newspaperman Willis Miller totaling $3,500 have also been used exclusively for the chapel.

To donate to the chapel project, contact the St. Croix Valley Community Foundation, which is serving as the fiscal agent for HVNA. For more information visit http://www.hvna.net/ or contact Jean or Wayne Haut at 715-377-0645.