Discover Wisconsin’s Cornish
History and the Couple
Who Helped Preserve It
Every building tells a story, and at Pendarvis, there are plenty, each with a unique narrative to tell. Your journey through this picturesque cluster of stone structures will take you not only through the stories of the people who originally created and inhabited them, but also the story of Bob Neal and Edgar Hellum, the couple who salvaged, restored, and made these buildings shine again.
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Pendarvis
Tucked away in historic Mineral Point, Pendarvis celebrates the 20th century preservation efforts of
Happy birthday to Edgar Gorby Hellum!
Edgar was born on this day in 1906 in Stoughton, Wisconsin. In 1934, he met Robert Neal, and together as business and life partners, they spent the rest of their lives promoting and preserving history. Their biggest endeavor was the Pendarvis House restaurant and surrounding buildings which make up Pendarvis Historic Site today.
📸Edgar on the front step of Pendarvis House, ca 1935. Before Pendarvis House became well known as a restaurant, it briefly operated as an antique shop that served Cornish tea. ... See MoreSee Less
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When Edgar and Bob were working on Pendarvis in the summer of 1935, the city of Mineral Point still employed a man, part time, to go up and down the streets with a little wagon and a shovel to clean up after the horses. The man told Edgar, "Anyone who thinks Mineral Point is a one-horse town never had this job!"
"Dear Bob:
Just a note to say -- will you be my Valentine!"
Happy Valentine's Day!
📸 Letter from Edgar Hellum to Bob Neal, February 13,1945 ... See MoreSee Less
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Bob and Edgar's love story is one of my very faves. <3
A little context for this letter: Pendarvis was closed during World War II as Bob and Edgar worked at Truax air field in Madison (in a civilian capacity) for the war effort. Edgar developed an ulcer and left Truax and went up to Champion, Michigan (in the UP) to spend the winter of 1945 at Gordon McCormick's (their secret benefactor) Great Camp. In the letter "Betty" is Betty Cass, the Madison newspaper columnist who promoted Pendarvis and Mineral Point in the press. The "Chief" was McCormick.
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So cool!