The McGillycuddy House in Rapid City sits empty, with exterior evidence of reconstruction. It was built in 1887 by Valentine McGillycuddy, a contract surgeon with General George Crook, Indian agent at Pine Ridge, mayor of Rapid City, and dean of School of Mines and Technology.
With volunteer hours and donated materials and money, a group of preservationists has taken on the house as a project, planning to restore it as closely as possible to its original state. SDPB’s Victoria Wicks talks with Jean Kessloff, president of Historic Rapid City, about the dismantling of the house and what workers have found.
Volunteers Seek To Restore McGillycuddy House To 1887 State
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The McGillycuddy House, as it looks today. It sits near the corner of Mount Rushmore Road and South Street.
Victoria Wicks
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Jean Kessloff, president of Historic Rapid City.
Victoria Wicks
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When workers tore sheet rock off this space below the stairs, they found original paneling.
Victoria Wicks
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These lines on the floor show where the front door used to be positioned, at an angle facing northwest. A renovation repositioned the door to face directly north.
Victoria Wicks
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These lines on the floor show where the staircase once jutted away from the wall. It is now flush against the wall.
Victoria Wicks
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The square hole in the wall was a window in the original house, subsequently filled in and covered over. It has now been uncovered and will be restored.
Victoria Wicks
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This fireplace was built in the opening where a window once was. The original fireplace was located across the room.
Victoria Wicks
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Another window filled in, this one with a bookshelf. At the top of the photo, you can see a black board with red paint on it, part of the original house.
Victoria Wicks
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When workers found this piece of trim, they then knew what color of green the original house had been painted.
Victoria Wicks
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These new windows are installed in the reconstructed second story.
Victoria Wicks
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These houses sit immediately to the east of the McGillycuddy House.
Victoria Wicks
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The McGillycuddy House looked like this, before restoration started.
Flickr: Online photo
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The McGillycuddy House as built in 1887 by Valentine McGillycuddy, seen standing in front of the house with his dog.
Online photo
