County Preserves History of Moor Downs Property

Waukesha County believes in preserving significant representations of the City of Waukesha’s History

Waukesha County reached an agreement with the Wisconsin Historical Society to preserve and perpetuate the history of the Moor Downs property while allowing for demolition of the structure. The agreement included hiring a historian who specialized in historical photography to document the remaining structures in imagery and writing. The county created a website that utilizes that information to memorialize the property. The county also built a historical marker that adheres to National Historical Marker guidelines. This information is outlined in the agreement the county made with the State Historical Society.

That agreement is in addition to past preservation efforts, which included investing hundreds of thousands of dollars to preserve Moor Downs Golf Course as a functioning public course, the reconstruction of the Moor Downs Clubhouse building on the golf course, and donations of significant items to the Waukesha Historical Society.

Is the rest of the property considered historic?
The Landmarks Commission designated the entire Moor Downs property as a “relatively intact example of a resort from Springs Era.” However, the footprint of the property and all of its structures were significantly altered before the historic designation was given.

The golf course: Moor Downs Golf Course as the public knows it today is not located on the same plot of land that was used for golfing during the Springs Era. Moor Downs Golf Course (except for the 9th hole) was located entirely to the south of the former Health and Human Services Building until the 60s. The course ceased operations from 1963 – 1973, when Waukesha County took ownership of the property. Since the course reopened under Waukesha County ownership, modifications to the course were made to the course including changes necessary due to the City of Waukesha approving additional development adjacent to the course creating safety issues.
The clubhouse: The clubhouse is almost entirely brand new, rebuilt in 2006 due to structural deterioration and mold. In January, 2006, the State of Wisconsin Historical Society determined the clubhouse was not a contributing element to the Grand View Health Resort/Moor Mud Bath National Register listed historic property.
The springhouse: The former springhouse is also on the golf course. The structure dates to 1915. At the request of the Waukesha County Historical Society in 1999, Waukesha County pledged to restore the springhouse at a projected cost of $95,000 contingent upon the Historical Society successfully fund raising for the cost of the project. John Weber III, whose family established and operated the Moor Mud Bath Resort pledged to match any contributions up to $3,000. The Historical Society did not follow through with their fundraising pledge.

Former Health and Human Services Building FAQ

What was the dispute over the former Waukesha County Health and Human Services Building?

Waukesha County is obligated to maintain its former Health and Human Services (HHS) building and its grounds as a local historic landmark. The building, which is a vacant shell that contains no significant historic architecture, needs a new roof at a cost of nearly $1 million. If the City Council does not grant the county a demolition permit, taxpayers will need to fund the new roof, in addition to nearly $500,000 that have already been spent to maintain the structure. Each dollar spent maintaining the building is diverted from county priorities, including public safety projects and road maintenance.

When learning that the Moor Downs property is the site of the former Grandview Health Resort, many people assume that if they were to enter the property they would find rich, historic charm and details. The unfortunate fact is that the building has been renovated and repurposed so many times since 1911 that the interior has been completely gutted. Historians agree that nothing historic remains inside the building.

Waukesha County wanted to preserve the legacy of the Moor Downs property to the fullest extent possible. However, maintaining an empty building that contains no relevant historic architecture is not the best way to do this. In order to show residents what the building actually contains, we are sharing this collection of photos to demonstrate what really exists inside the structure.

Main Entrance

When you step inside the entrance of the former HHS building, you are greeted with the former office's reception area. All original woodwork, trim, flooring, light fixtures, counters and other details original to the building were gutted and removed when the building was sold in 1950 to be turned into a college, and then an office building in 1972.

Even the staircase and its rails are not what is pictured in post cards of the building. The original decorative wood handrails were removed.

Hotel Rooms

The rooms that once served hotel guests have been updated to include modern heating, plumbing, drop ceilings, and commercial carpeting in order to accommodate college students and later office workers. The historic turn-of-the-century details that once made these rooms fit for resort guests are gone. For example, the rooms that once served as bathrooms were gutted to be used as closets and retiled with materials from the 1950s. Even the doors to the rooms were altered for ventilation grates.

The Mud Rooms

All of the areas that once served guests receiving mud baths have been stripped of historically relevant characteristics, like the mud tubs themselves and decorative elements. Most of these areas no long exist in any recognizeable form. In other areas, like the room pictured below, the floor was mudded over or replaced with new flooring. Even the tiles on the walls were removed or painted over.

Even the large room that stored the mud was refurbished to serve as a filing area.

The cost to maintain the vacant former Waukesha County Health and Human Services (HHS) building is currently $17,500 annually. However, imminent roof replacement is necessary for the
building, which is estimated to cost approximately $904,000, and will add an additional $10,000 in annual roof maintenance costs.
Due to the landmark designation, the County will incur added cost of approximately $210,000 to repair and/or install new windows, approved by the landmarks commission, to match those already in the building during the asbestos remediation process. The asbestos remediation of the building, windows, and demolition of the boiler room is $921,450.
VACANT FORMER HHS BUILDING ONGOING COSTS:
Annual Utilities:
• $8,000 Electric - The County spent a total of $152,100 from 2013-2019
• $1,529 Water - The County has spent a total of $10,437 from 2013-2019
• $0 Gas - The County has spent a total of $60,272
Annual Contracts:
• Elevator: Contract from 2013-2018; the county spent $8,136 during that time period
• Simplex Fire Panel: Contract from 2013 -2018; the county spent $5,470 during that time
period
Annual Insurance:
• $1,047 (Specific Limit and Vacancy Permit). The county spent $71,127 from 2013 and
2019.
Annual Maintenance
• $7,000 Maintenance - The county has spent a total of $169,300 from 2013 and 2019
IMMINENT REPAIR COSTS
Based on the roof assessment performed by the engineering consulting firm, SEG, it is their
recommendation that asphalt built up roof areas 13, 10, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 28,
30, and 31 are beyond repairs and need to be replaced. The remaining single ply rubber roof
(EPDM) structures can get by with minimal repairs to extend the life of the roof.
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Administration Center
515 W. Moreland Blvd Waukesha, WI 53188
Phone: 262-548-7902
The facilities manager recommends not replacing the asphalt built up roof areas, proceed with the
minimal roof repairs, abate the entire structure, replace the windows, and demolish the boiler
room.
COST ANALYSIS:
Former HHS Building Roof Replacement Cost
Roof Area (10, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30, and 31) $545,000
Total Construction Budget for all roof areas: $681,000
A/E Design Fees: $87,400
Construction Contingency: $136,000
TOTAL ROOF REPLACEMENT COST: $904,000
Roof Maintenance Costs
Estimated cost provided to perform all work on the Repair List: $12,000.00
Estimated cost for yearly maintenance budget: $10,000.00
Abatement and Demolition Cost of Remaining HHS Structure
Actual cost Bid received (12/28/2017) abate and demo building $1,619,000
Abatement of Remaining Structure and Boiler Room Demolition
Bid received 11/21/2019: $921,450
HHS Demolition Capital Project Balance: $2,789,915