Snippet of history: Puppy-Cat Club at Brucemore

Deb Engmark, head gardener at Brucemore  in Cedar Rapids, sent the following about a mystery on the grounds of the historic estate:

We know it sat amongst the apple trees, in the location of the original orchard.  We know it had running water and a stove where the Douglas girls occasionally prepared meals for their friends.  The Puppy-Cat Club was the Douglas girls' playhouse at Brucemore during the 1910s and conjures more questions then answers about our historic landscape.  

 As an interpreter of Brucemore's story, the playhouse and its exact location plague my thoughts whenever I give a tour or a talk about the property's history. As a steward of the landscape, I understand maintenance and preservation are as important as interpretation. As such, a series of policies and practices are in place to guide decisions relating to preservation, restoration, and reconstruction of our historic landscape.  These policies are why I have not dug holes all over the northeast side of the property looking for evidence of the small building that used to be the Puppy-Cat Club.  But, others will soon do the digging for me.

 The policies and practices used for the preservation and treatment of historic landscapes will set the pace for a week-long summer camp entitled Exploremore. The camp is geared toward middle school students whose detective work will hopefully reveal both the location of the playhouse as well as its relationship with the entire site.  The students' research during the week-long experience will be presented on the last day of camp to both their parents and the Brucemore staff.  The research uncovered during Exploremore will be analyzed and considered when deciding the significance of the playhouse to the Brucemore interpretive period.   

 Exploremore students will follow the same guidelines that the National Trust for Historic Preservation uses.  These are also the same guidelines I refer to when I receive inquiries on how to preserve or reconstruct a historic landscape. These policies are published by the National Park Service and are available at www.nps.gov/hps/hli

Eplore

more is June 14 -18 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Reservations for Explore

more are required.  Space is limited. The cost of the camp is $150 per camper and $140 per camper of a Brucemore member.  Full and partial scholarships are available.  Call 319-362-7375 for reservations or more information.