Laura Bush Tours Latest Restorations at The Mount
LENOX, Mass. — Former first lady Laura Bush and friends toured the recent restoration efforts at The Mount, the home of Edith Wharton and a National Historic Landmark, on Saturday, June 18.
Bush, who serves as the honorary chair of The Mount’s National Committee, was joined by Mount Trustee Chairman Dan Kasper, Executive Director Susan Wissler, and Facilities Director Ross Jolly, Lois Betts, Nancy Weiss, and Penny Slade-Sawyer.
The main focus of the tour was the recent repairs to the historic stable’s exterior, which had suffered severe deterioration. Bush and her friends were given a behind-the scenes tour by Jolly. This project was green-lighted last fall thanks to private donors who were dismayed with the Stable’s exterior condition, as well as two major grants. The Massachusetts Cultural Council awarded $100,000 to The Mount from its Cultural Facility Fund. Additionally, The Mount secured $150,000 from a private foundation.
After touring the stable, the group was taken on a walk through The Mount’s newest trail, which cuts down the meadow towards Laurel Lake and offers unique views back up to the mansion. Kasper and Wissler explained to the group that The Mount is purposely exploring the creation of an extensive system of walking trails across their property as well as neighboring lands. This is the most recent in a series of transformations of the historic property. Since 2010, The Mount has continuously expanded its role as a historic house museum to a year-round cultural center, offering a diverse line-up of music, theater, readings, lectures, and an annual outdoor sculpture exhibit.
Being a long-time advocate for preservation, Bush was pleased to see the continuing efforts as well as the new initiatives at The Mount. The dual-purpose use of the property, as both a historic house and a cultural center, is a blueprint for preservation and sustainability that can be emulated at other important historic properties. As Bush stated in a 2013 interview with the National Trust, “If we know our history, then we value the things that people have left to us. And I think if we value what’s been left to us, then we’re much more likely to protect and preserve it.” The National Trust recently included The Mount in their short list of preservation wins for overcoming past financial struggles and announcing that it was debt-free.
Bush has played a significant role in the The Mount’s preservation efforts. In 2005, President and Mrs. Bush presented the Preserve America Presidential Award to The Mount in the Rose Garden of the White House. Mrs. Bush visited The Mount one year later to celebrate the return of Edith Wharton’s 2,700-volume library. Mrs. Bush has continued to show her support through the years, returning regularly to see the progress on the house and gardens.
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