Tag Archive for wardlaw-smith-goza mansion

Join NFCC for its final Christmas at the Mansion event

December 7, 2011 Around Madison, Front Page One comment

Enjoy “A Victorian Christmas” décor and “Cookies with Santa”

 

The North Florida Community College Foundation, Inc. and the Friends of the Mansion cordially invite the community to attend its final Christmas at the Mansion holiday open house now through Dec. 11 at the Wardlaw-Smith-Goza Conference Center in Madison, Fla.  The holiday open house, which began Wednesday, continues Friday, Dec. 9 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 10 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 11 from 1-5 p.m. This year’s theme is “A Victorian Christmas at the Mansion.”

Visitors will see the historic Mansion transformed into a spectacular holiday extravaganza featuring Victorian style Christmas décor. NFCC also invites parents to bring their children to “Cookies with Santa” on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the WSG Conference Center. “Cookies with Santa” is sponsored by the Junior Auxiliary of Madison County. The public is invited to stop by anytime during the open house hours. For group tours, call in advance, (850) 973-9432.

“We have so many people who volunteer their time and talents to decorating the Mansion,” said Greene. “The Victorian Christmas décor is beautiful this year and I encourage everyone to stop by for a visit.”

Jackie Johnson coordinated the decorations with the following businesses, organizations and community members lending their support to transform the Mansion into “A Victorian Christmas:”

  • Downstairs hall—Junior Auxiliary of Madison County
  • Dining room—Madison Woman’s Club
  • Music Room—Madison Garden Club
  • Library—Wendy Bartlam
  • Parlor—Randy and Lydia Coody and family
  • Upstairs hall—Madison Community Bank and The Country Store
  • Breckinridge Room—The Madison Florist
  • Rose Room—Wells Fargo Bank
  • Childrens room—Madison Market and Antiques
  • Guest Room—Thelma Dehart and Rosalyn Jenkins
  • Outside decorations—Bali’s Florist

 

“This will be the last college sponsored Christmas at the Mansion open house,” said Wardlaw-Smith-Goza Conference Center coordinator Maria Greene. “We appreciate all the support from our Friends of the Mansion members and from the community. We want this to be the best Christmas at the Mansion to date, so please join us as we celebrate the holiday season and the beautiful Wardlaw-Smith-Goza Conference Center.”

Although this is the last NFCC sponsored Christmas at the Mansion event, the Wardlaw-Smith-Goza Conference Center will remain open following the holiday open house – “It will be business as usual with wedding rentals, tours and other events,” said Greene. “We will continue to run the Mansion and open it to the public for tours and events for as long as our current budget allows.” Since June 2011 The Wardlaw-Smith-Goza Conference Center has been operating as a self-supporting enterprise that no longer receives financial support from NFCC’s general operating budget.

For more information, contact Maria Greene at (850) 973-9432 or email greenem@nfcc.edu.

 

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NFCC’s historic conference center remains open to the public

August 5, 2011 Education, Front Page Comments Off

College makes changes in Wardlaw-Smith-Goza Conference Center funding

The Wardlaw-Smith-Goza Conference Center is now operating as a self-supporting enterprise that no longer receives financial support from North Florida Community College’s general operating budget. The shift in funding was approved by the NFCC District Board of Trustees and considered a necessary change as the college prioritizes expenditures amidst another year of reduced state funding. A special announcement regarding the change was sent to NFCC’s “Friends of the Mansion” members in June.
“Over the years, Friends of the Mansion members have made monetary donations, volunteered time, and shown a great love for NFCC’s historic conference center,” said Maria Greene, WSG Conference Center Coordinator. “We are making changes, but our annual membership drive is currently underway and we continue to hold events, weddings and tours in the Mansion. It’s business as usual for now as we look for ways to build extra revenue.”
Greene is looking as far ahead as June 2012 with her current budget and needs the continued support of donors and the community. According to NFCC President John Grosskopf, the College is also actively seeking partnerships or alternative solutions that can keep the WSG Conference Center open to the public; even if that means taking NFCC out of the equation.
“NFCC is very proud of its tenure as the primary steward of this very important local treasure; however, we are now in a position where we must align all of our resources to the fulfillment of our primary mission, and we cannot continue to fund this endeavor,” said Grosskopf. “We will be working to find our successor to take over from here.”
The Wardlaw-Smith-Goza Conference Center, listed in the Historic American Building Survey and the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1860. NFCC purchased the WSG Conference Center property in 1988 through a Florida legislative appropriation to preserve and use it as a conference center for the six rural counties which the College serves.
Many of the antique furnishings and accessories inside the Mansion are loaned or donated by individuals within the area and according to Greene, these items will be handled with the upmost respect in regards to the donor or owner, whatever the future brings for the Mansion.
“The Mansion has become a valued icon in our community, full of history and character,” said Greene. “I appreciate all the community support, especially our Friends of the Mansion members, and ask for continued support and feedback as we work to build the future of the Wardlaw-Smith-Conference Center.”

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