Live Music Boosts Exposure for St. Joseph Museum
By: Melinda Barrett
Updated: December 30, 2012
The event took place at the Wyeth-Tootle Mansion in the Museum Hill neighborhood.
"It's just introducing the museum to a whole different group of people that have not been here before, a lot of young people. It's very, very special for the museum to be able to host this event," said Jackie Lewin, Executive Director of St. Joseph Museums.
The Wyeth-Tootle volunteer group was looking to attract more people to the museum, and find a way to raise money to continue the restorations throughout the home.
"Really looking for a way to bring people into the mansion and bring attention to it. It's just important to me to take care of the history that's around me," Dansare Marks, Wyeth-Tootle volunteer group.
Dansare Marks lives in the neighborhood and is part of the volunteer group who helped create this event.
She knew live music would bring the attention needed.
"That was my initial thought, let's have a music festival," said Marks.
By bringing in several local musicians and offering refreshments, the first Music at the Mansion introduced handfuls of people to Wyeth-Tootle, and many that haven't been exposed to St. Joseph's golden age.
"This is just one of the finest examples of Victorian architecture that our city has," said Lewin.
"It's easy to just walk in and gawk and admire everything. That's kind of rare, we don't have a lot of young people walking in and admiring architecture in St. Joe," said Marks.
But with a splash of live music, the museum's historic architecture gained exposure while supporting local musicians.
The Wyeth-Tootle volunteer group is looking to host another Music at the Mansion, sometime this spring.


