Conser House Updates

We dedicate this section to informing you about the restoration of the Conser House.  

August 26, 2023

  If you haven't been to the Museum lately or you are new to town, come visit.  Our fireplace room has two professional exhibits- "Early Jefferson" and the "Santiam Kalapuya".  Our display cases document other materials associated with those two topics.

  We want to thank our members for donating their time and materials to enhance our Museum and help open the Museum from 3-7 during Tuesday Market Days.  Come enjoy the vendors and the music and tour the Museum, too!  

August 25, 2023

We've made lots of changes, so to keep you posted please keep checking back to see what we've posted!!  Thanks for your patience.

November 2022

Our year has been so busy!  Lots of successful events and happenings this year.  We had our first Chautauqua series, our first ever Glenn Marlatt Day, we have been able to host several functions and events.  It's been an exciting time for continuing our work on exhibits within the museum as well.  Now we had a spooky time during October and were able to be a part of Jefferson's Pumpkin  fest 2022, with our Tales From the Grave display, our information on our local cemetery headstones.  We started to elaborate on last year's display focusing on  Dia De los Muertos as well.

Our next events are coming up fast with our Veterans Day Display and our shared event with the Greater Jefferson Community Center, the Holiday Faire.  Check our website events page and our FB page as well.

February 2,2022

We've Moved!!!!

We have now moved into the Conser House and are working to finish last minute touches to hopefully have a soft open either this month or in March.  Keep checking us here, Facebook or Instagram for any updates as we are moving forward in this exciting time!

December, 2021

  We wanted to share that we are moving!  We have our lease and we are busy moving materials into the Conser House.  We also have received 2 grants to purchase technology and children's items to make the museum interactive.

   We will be hosting events and weddings this year.  We are very excited!  

(Also notice we have new storm windows with old latches and a security system, too.)

 July 2019:  At this point, the city has received a grant to start exterior repairs. Old insulation has been removed under the house.  Work to be addressed in this grant is: replace porch boards, add insulation underneath, fix gutters, and repair rot on lower boards.

  Watch for banner announcing the start of the restoration process.

September 4, 2019:   We are finally on our way to begin actual restoration work on the Conser  House.  After receiving a grant in May, we have "jumped through all the  hoops" to use the funds to repair the front porch, add insulation under  the house, and fix the drainage system.  Watch this space for further  updates and learn how you can help support this big project!  Keep  watching. 

November and December 2019

Soon  you will be seeing contractors at work on the Conser House.  The front  gutter will be replaced and additional flashing and other work will  guarantee the water flows  into the gutter.  An additional downspout will help solve the water  issues.

Vertical  grade Douglas Fir flooring is being ordered from a plant in Eugene.  It  will be used to replace the floor on the front porch.  This will follow  the gutter replacement.

In December the insulation will go in under the building, so lots is happening!

(We  haven’t dug the irises yet, but will soon.  Let Amy know in the museum  if you want some).  Also, don't forget to check out our thermometer showing our current  financial status 

 May 2020 

So  as we continue to be in lock down mode, we would like to take the time  to update you on some improvements that have happened in the Conser  House:  The exterior of house is opened up along the south and west side to  reveal  the work to finish the CLG grant.  There is more rot at the SE  corner,  but Jeff with the city states it is just a 4 x4 filler board that can be replaced  without jacking the house.  It is pretty much what we  expected.  Stop  by and see the opening. We are going to plan a "hatch"  to allow  electrical contractors to access under the house on South.   Jeff has removed all communication conduit to the house and it looks   better already.  Most of the electric  is shut off,  since they removed all floor outlets that were sticking up in the  middle  of the floor.   Frank  is getting two more electrical and plumbing  bids.  The hanging chimney is now down .  Cost was $500 and that will come from our  grant account.  This is way less than  we had planned, so good news. 

We've received almost $3000 in donations with another $750 that came in as well,  so that is great news too.

June 2020 Update

Welcome back!!  A lot has happened at the Conser House despite the shut down.  The low boards on the south and west side of the house (called “skirt boards”) have been replaced along with the thin “transition board” above them that separates the siding from the skirt boards.  This board is cedar with a metal flashing to prevent rot.

The bathroom add-on has been reveled and the rotted out support has been replaced with concrete pier blocks.  A primer paint coat will protect everything until we are finished with the exterior work.  We know there is more to do!

The “kitchen” chimney in the back has been removed.  It was a “hanging” chimney and was dangerous because it started about 5 feet above the floor and had no support below it.  This safety measure was important to do.

Meanwhile, the City and JHS&M have signed a contract with an electrician to rewire the building.  A new pole will be set and underground conduit will bring power to the house so we can take off all the conduit attached on the south side of the building.  A committee has identified areas for new outlets and lighting for the future museum use.  The HVAC contractor will touch base with the committee for setting of the outdoor units that will bring heat and cooling to the building in the future.  

Funding for these projects are coming from the Conser Family donation and private donations that have come via the extreme generosity of this community.  We at JHS&M are humbled by the support this landmark is receiving.  Thank you Jefferson!  

Thank you for your continued support as we keep progressing through this time, your support

 is so valuable to us!

July 2020 Updates for the Conser House

Work continues to move forward on the Conser House. Jeff and his crew have set an

electrical pole and removed the two large furnaces inside the building. New heating and

cooling units will be installed this fall.

The House is being completely rewired to bring up to standard. In addition, a sub-panel

has been set upstairs and awaits finishing when funds are raised for Phase 2 - Finish

the Second Floor.

Bids have been accepted for floor refinishing, HVAC, and plumbing. The plumbing will

be redone in August and meanwhile JHS&M is awaiting the results of grants submitted

back in March. Keep your fingers crossed!!

April 2021 Updates for the Conser House

The Grants came through!!!!  We have been able to accomplish quite a bit since our last update.  On the inside we have lovely finished floors, completed the first level electricity improvements, plumbing improvements, and our heating and HVAC needs have been addressed.  Another wonderful addition is that we now have amazing fireplace inserts from Albany Stoves.  

Outside we have seen repairs made to the gazebo, the grounds have been cleaned up, and now we are getting a new coat of paint to spruce up the building and gazebo as well.  We will keep you posted with any more info as it happens!