The two-story building once bustled with activity as women toiled to keep up with the loads of laundry spilling out of the nearby Daly Mansion.
Nowadays, there's a worry it could come tumbling down without some much-needed stabilization work.
But she'd have to be careful. If the Daly Mansion Trust's executive director put too much power behind her throw, the teetering building might just fall over.
“There's so much work that needs to be done to stabilize all these outbuildings,” Morris said Tuesday. “With our funding situation right now, all we can do is take baby steps and hope for the best.”
Morris' best ray of hope right now is buried deep in a multimillion-dollar federal appropriation bill working its way through Congress.
The current Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill sets aside more than $17 million for Montana projects that run the gamut from rebuilding roads to paying for affordable housing.
Missoula would receive funding to pay for a pedestrian bridge over East Broadway, replace an air traffic control tower at the airport, build affordable rental housing and purchase refrigerated trucks for the Montana Food Bank Network to move food around the state to other shelters - if the bill passes as currently written.
The spending bill, which has been agreed on by a panel of senators and representatives, also includes $268,000 for restoration efforts at the Daly Mansion just outside of Hamilton.
If the funding comes through, Morris said the focus will be on stabilizing some of the outlying buildings on the 45-acre Marcus Daly estate.
“We'll have to prioritize the best we can,” Morris said. “There's so much work that needs to be done on the outbuildings, and we don't really have the money to do any of it.”
While the Daly Mansion - with its 25 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms, 25,000 square feet and $5,000-a-month winter heating bills - is owned by the state of Montana, it doesn't pay the bills.
Most of the extensive restoration work on the mansion has been accomplished with funds from private and corporate donors, as well as a $298,000 federal appropriation four years ago.
“Restoration of the mansion is about a $2.2 million project,” Morris said. “So far we're about $1.8 million into it.”
Gate fees and charges for weddings and private parties help pay operational costs.
“We just don't have any spare money for stabilizing outbuildings or doing a lot of work on the grounds,” Morris said.
A corps of close to 70 dedicated volunteers helps keep the buildings clean, the grounds maintained and the doors open.
“We couldn't exist without our volunteers,” Morris said. “We only have 2 1/2 staff members. Everyone else helps us keep the doors open in the summer seven days a week.”
This year marked the 20th anniversary of state ownership.
“This was probably our best season ever,” Morris said. “We had about 10,000 visitors.”
The mansion has become a place where the Bitterroot Valley community comes together. It hosts a wide variety of classes, art shows, weddings and private parties.
On weekends leading up to Christmas, the Daly Mansion opens its doors every Friday night from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for tours of the beautifully decorated home.
“There are a dozen trees decorated in different ways,” said Darlene Gould, a Daly Mansion staff member. “There's not a room in the house without decoration. It's just beautiful.”
Entertainment and refreshments are provided on Friday nights.
The Montana A Cappella Society performs this Friday, Russell Perri on Dec. 7, Tim Shonkwiler the next week and the Jack Frost Trio will close down the show on Dec. 21.
Tour prices are $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for children ages 6 to 17 and free for children under 5. For more information, call 363-6004.
“It's really become a community Mecca,” Morris said. “People really do have a special feeling about this place ... and now all we can do is cross our fingers and hope that funding comes through. It would mean a lot.”
Reporter Perry Backus can be reached at 1-800-366-7186 or at pbackus@missoulian.com.
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