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Independence, MO —
When renovations started on Swinney Hall, there were some colorful residents in the 130-year-old building.
“When we started this process, we had a population of about 20 raccoons, three large bee hives and three huge hedgehogs,” said Bert Schwaller, general contractor of the Swinney Hall restoration project. “We had to find homes for all of the residents before we could do anything.”
Now the facility, built in 1881 and later purchased by Major Andrew Drumm, is home to the Drumm Farm Center for Children’s administrative offices, counseling services and the COMPASS program, a new program designed for young men aging out of the foster care system. Community members celebrated the completed restoration project during a grand opening Thursday.
“This is the centerpiece of Drumm Farm and showcases what we are trying to do for our children, which is providing them the highest quality service possible,” said David Rock, president of the Drumm Farm Board of Directors. “In 1881, I am sure this was a very elaborate building. But over the years, the brick work and wood was deteriorating to the point where we got very close to having to tear it down. This is a community that values history, and that thought frightened many of the board members.”
From 1929 to 1975, Swinney Hall served as a residence hall for boys. The boys would go to public school in the morning, and then take vocational classes on the estate. It was briefly converted to administrative offices before it was completely shut down in the early 1980s.
Schwaller said the first year of renovations was spent stabilizing the outside of the structure and making much needed repairs. Two of the three porches had been removed for safety reasons, and many of the windows were broken out. The roof was also replaced, which provided additional time to save the interior of the building.
When the work moved to the inside, Schwaller said it was basically “a shell.” Years of leaking water had taken its toll, causing the ceiling to fall in and damaging many of the floors beyond repair. Plaster and paint were peeling off the walls, and the third floor was in such bad shape, it had been closed off.
“We wanted to do an accurate re-creation as to how the original building would have been,” he said. “But we then added modern electrical and an updated floor plan to meet Drumm Farm’s needs.”
When renovations started on Swinney Hall, there were some colorful residents in the 130-year-old building.
“When we started this process, we had a population of about 20 raccoons, three large bee hives and three huge hedgehogs,” said Bert Schwaller, general contractor of the Swinney Hall restoration project. “We had to find homes for all of the residents before we could do anything.”
Now the facility, built in 1881 and later purchased by Major Andrew Drumm, is home to the Drumm Farm Center for Children’s administrative offices, counseling services and the COMPASS program, a new program designed for young men aging out of the foster care system. Community members celebrated the completed restoration project during a grand opening Thursday.
“This is the centerpiece of Drumm Farm and showcases what we are trying to do for our children, which is providing them the highest quality service possible,” said David Rock, president of the Drumm Farm Board of Directors. “In 1881, I am sure this was a very elaborate building. But over the years, the brick work and wood was deteriorating to the point where we got very close to having to tear it down. This is a community that values history, and that thought frightened many of the board members.”
From 1929 to 1975, Swinney Hall served as a residence hall for boys. The boys would go to public school in the morning, and then take vocational classes on the estate. It was briefly converted to administrative offices before it was completely shut down in the early 1980s.
Schwaller said the first year of renovations was spent stabilizing the outside of the structure and making much needed repairs. Two of the three porches had been removed for safety reasons, and many of the windows were broken out. The roof was also replaced, which provided additional time to save the interior of the building.
When the work moved to the inside, Schwaller said it was basically “a shell.” Years of leaking water had taken its toll, causing the ceiling to fall in and damaging many of the floors beyond repair. Plaster and paint were peeling off the walls, and the third floor was in such bad shape, it had been closed off.
“We wanted to do an accurate re-creation as to how the original building would have been,” he said. “But we then added modern electrical and an updated floor plan to meet Drumm Farm’s needs.”
Considered the “crown jewel” of the project is the third floor, which has been converted into a large communal living space, small kitchen and four bedrooms. This program will provide on-campus housing, instruction, staff supervision and a network of support to help young men transition successfully into adulthood.
Brad Smith, director of Drumm Farm, said those who participate in the program must be in a career-orientated activity such as college or technical school, pay a small amount of rent each month and work on campus. Interviews are in process for the program’s first group of residents.
“We want to prepare them for true independent living,” he said. “But there will also a network of support that they would not find elsewhere.”
Rock said the third floor is his favorite feature of the new building.
“This gives them a home until they are ready to go out on their own. I think it is definitely the most meaningful place we have here on campus,” he said. “This is more than restoring a historic building, but it is about improving children’s lives.”
