Mineral Point, WI. - The Wisconsin Historical Society placed additional documentation to the Pendarvis Historic Site, (Mineral Point, Iowa County) State Register of Historic Places listing on May 14, 2021.

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The National Register nomination for Pendarvis, a property currently listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is being updated to recognize the pioneering work of former owners Robert Neal and Edgar Hellum.  The early Cornish history of Pendarvis which is included in the first draft of the State Historic Register listing is still included and is an important part of the story of Pendarvis. This new information only adds to the history of the site.

“The Pendarvis additional documentation reflects the importance of the site while under the ownership of Bob Neal and Edgar Hellum, an era which spanned the years 1935 – 1970,” said Bethany Brander, southwest sites program manager for the Wisconsin Historical Society.  “Bob and Edgar were partners, two gay men who realized the impact their beloved Pendarvis had on historic preservation in the region.”

The property has statewide significance for early Cornish-tradition stone construction, and early settlement and lead mining history, but also is significant for the period between 1935-1970 reflecting the influence of Neal and Hellum and their efforts to preserve Pendarvis, its architecture, and Cornish history. 

Purchasing the property in 1935, Neal and Hellum spent most of their adult lives preserving and promoting it.  Their pioneering historic preservation efforts involved the removal of non-original elements and additions; reconstruction of long-vanished features; construction of other features such as stone chimneys and fireplaces; repair or replacement of original fabric such as plaster finishes, windows, and doors; and the sensitive insertion of modern amenities including kitchens and bathrooms. Their efforts were undertaken with such sensitivity that it is often difficult to differentiate original construction from later changes. The century-old houses at Pendarvis were set within a picturesque landscape that was also created by Neal and Hellum through the construction of stone walls and terracing, flagstone patios, and the installation of decorative light posts and native plantings.

“Under the watchful stewardship of Bob and Edgar, Pendarvis served as a Cornish restaurant, visitor attraction, and early repository for historic documents, furniture, and other historical items,” Brander continued.

The historic customs and recipes of the Cornish people in southwestern Wisconsin, and most of their stone houses on Shake Rag Street in Mineral Point, would likely be lost if not for Neal and Hellum.  They reclaimed the nearly forgotten songs, traditional foods, dwellings, mining tools, furniture and historic photographs of this enterprising immigrant group, and in the process, preserved their legacy and history. Neal and Hellum engaged in a remarkable array of educational and advocacy efforts during the 35-year period they served as proprietors of Pendarvis (1935 to 1970), all aimed to recognize and celebrate the contributions of the Cornish people to the history and settlement of Territorial Wisconsin.

The State Register is Wisconsin's official list of state properties determined to be significant to Wisconsin's heritage. The State Historic Preservation Office at the Wisconsin Historical Society administers both the State Register and National Register in Wisconsin.

To learn more about the State and National Register programs in Wisconsin, visit www.wisconsinhistory.org.

About the Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. For more information, visit wisconsinhistory.org.

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