2022 Annual / Financial Report
Dear Friends of Historic Florissant,
Historic Florissant remains strong and fiercely committed to the mission of historic preservation in our community. We continue to focus on protecting, preserving and restoring local history.
This past year we were fortunate to acquire new volunteers. Lauren Eddings and Anna Duncan have been with us for a few short months and have worked with archives, preparing for house tours and displays in the Gittemeier House and Cougot Log Cabin. Kevin Fitzpatrick continues to work in the background maintaining the Gittemeier House while Lynn Burkhart, Sharon Gettemeier, Kris Sonthiemer, Tom Shields, and Gina Siebe complete the day-to-day tasks for running the organization. Sharon, Kris, and Dennis Schilligo completed the monumental task of creating a Gittemeier Family Tree. This is a fluid document and is on display in the Research Center. The people of Florissant are so very generous with their time, services, and funds. We appreciate the efforts of all volunteers.
Last year generous donors made it possible for over 400 files to be scanned. This was a four- month project which ensured unique documents from our research center were saved in the event of a catastrophe. During the 2022 Annual Benefit Dinner, $8,000 was raised. The cumulative cost of scanning was $11,000. In 2023, it is our hope to raise and allocate funds for scanning all photographs and remaining files to completely protect all archives within the research center.
Maintaining the beautiful Gittemeier House and Museum continues to be a focus. This past year we repaired the air conditioner, patched plaster, and repainted in several locations. Dan Gittemeier has been consistently sealing and maintaining the parking lot and put a second coat of paint on the fence while Steve Siebe and Lynn Burkhart ensured the gardens remained beautiful. J&R Tree Service, B&B Heating and Cooling and ABBCO Plumbing also provided services to Historic Florissant. Construction for the 270 Project has caused some damage to the Gittemeier House. A structural engineer, MODOT and representatives from Vibra-Tech and Millstone Weber are working with Gina Siebe to rectify the issue.
We believe community outreach is essential to our community. Historic Florissant is currently working with Mayor Lowery and the City of Florissant to preserve the Bockrath-Wiese House. The Wiese Family had a successful reunion at the house and raised over $3,600 to be used toward replacement of wood windows. The Myer’s House and Barn is on our radar and will soon need our attention. Gina Siebe assisted families with genealogy, gave a Florissant History Presentation at Garden Villa North and along with Lynn Burkhart supported other local historic organizations by attending fundraisers. After the Florissant flood, Historic Florissant supported St. Ferdinand Shrine and assisted in their fundraising efforts. Volunteers including Patrick Mulcahy, Keith Schildroth, the Gardeners of Florissant, and many others planted petunias along the retaining wall between Circle K and the Gittemeier House. In addition, a memorial plaque and dedication ceremony honored the late Albert “Bud” Gettemeier who was instrumental in preserving the Gittemeier House.
To better serve the community we are always learning and growing. Gina Siebe attended the Department of Natural Resources Webinars.
Fundraisers for 2022 included guided tours of the Gittemeier House and Cougot Log Cabin. Historic Florissant’s Christmas House Tour and the Annual Benefit Dinner continued to be our most lucrative fundraisers, while the Historic Saint Louis Holiday Tour and House and Garden Tour attracted new visitors to the area. Giving Tuesday, the Knitting Club and Rowdy Readers Book Club also brought additional income. The Annual Ghost Tour has become very popular and sells out every year. A new event, A Wake for Franz Gittemeier, proved to be quite successful and will continue in 2023. Gina provided a paid guided tour of the Gittemeier House, Taille de Noyer, and St. Ferdinand Shrine for students from Fontbonne and UMSL. Special thanks to those who sent year-end donations and earmarked memorial donations for Historic Florissant!
Requests for donations from nonprofit organizations such as ours, come quite frequently, yet we ask you to consider a gift to Historic Florissant, Inc. as resources allow or consider a memorial donation. We cannot do our work without donors like you. We are volunteers. We have no paid employees or dues paying members. We rely on your financial support and please know that the Board and volunteers are very grateful for donations of any size. Donations support our mission in preserving, enhancing, and promoting the architectural and rich heritage of Florissant.
With gratitude,
Gina Siebe
President, Historic Florissant, Inc.
314-565-1468
historicflo@aol.com
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Please mark your calendars for the following:
- Benefit Dinner 2023, March 19
- House and Garden Tour, June 10
- A Wake for Franz Gittemeier, September 9
- Christmas House Tour, November 26
- Historic St. Louis House Tour, December 2
Please send donations to:
Historic Florissant, Inc.
1067 Dunn Road
Florissant, MO 63031
Or to make a payment by phone call: 314-565-1468
Historic Florissant, Inc. is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 and all donations are tax deductible.
