Flipside

Helping keep history alive

NIACC art instructor active in local preservation

AJ. Groebner
For the Logos

Logos photo by Monica Kiley The Wright Stockman House pictured above is just one of the many local buildings NIACC art instructor Peggy Bang has worked to preserve.

Peggy Bang, an art instructor teacher at NIACC, has been involved in restoration of buildings for many years.

She and her husband purchased and restored a home in Mason City in 1996.

Currently, she is involved in the effort to restore The Park Inn Hotel and The City National Bank building in Mason City.

“I have been involved in restoration of buildings since 1990,” Bang said.

She was the co- chairman of the Wright Stockman House, which is also located in Mason City, which is working to restore The Park Inn Hotel and The City National Bank Building.

Bang said she got involved in restoring buildings because she is an art teacher at NIACC. “It is important to preserve old buildings for the future,” she said.

After working with Wright On The Park Inc. for two years now, she is currently the president. Wright On The Park Inc. is a non- profit organization. “There are about 15 people on the board,” Bang said.

Wright On The Park Inc. was named after Franklin Lloyd Wright. He built many buildings in Mason City in addition to other buildings in California, Florida and many other states.

The goal of Wright On The Park Inc. for The Park Inn Hotel and The City National Bank Building is to make it look like it did in 1910. The hotel and bank were originally a prototype for a hotel in Tokyo.

The Park Inn Hotel is connected to The City National Bank Building and is located at the west end and the bank is at the east end. Law offices were located on the second and third floors in between the hotel and the bank.

In 1926, the first floor of the bank changed into a space for retail businesses. The upper floors were changed into offices, and the hotel has remained that way ever since.

In 2000, the city of Mason City purchased the building, which was transferred to the Mason City Foundation for rehabilitation.

Wright On The Park Inc. submitted plans to the city council in March 2005 to restore the building.

In March 2006, the city of Mason City transferred the ownership of the Park Inn Hotel to Wright On The Park Inc.

According to Bang, the plan for The Park Inn Hotel is to put 27 rooms in the hotel. On the second and third floors of the hotel, 21 deluxe rooms will be put in.

“On the top floor of the City National Bank, six additional rooms will be built,” Bang said.

Although Wright On The Park inc. does not currently own the City National Bank, the company hopes to purchase the bank within the next few months.

The Park Inn Hotel is the only hotel that still remains today out of six hotels Wright built.

The estimated cost of the project is $20 million, only $15,500,000 remains for the project to succeed.

A small membership to join Wright On The Park is only $20- $25. As of the middle of January, 165 businesses and individuals have joined the membership.

Post cards and stationeries can be purchased and proceeds will go towards funding. The address for purchasing post cards is: P.O. Box 792, Mason City IA 50402- 0792.

“Architecture is art, remember that when dealing with architecture to realize it is art too,” Bang said.

For more information visit www.wrightonthepark.org, or call 641-423-0689.