TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
Matthew Jarosz, Excutive Director of the Wisconsin Trust for Historic Preservation, is interested in preserving as much of the T.B. Scott Mansion history as is currently available, via a 3D scan of the building. By doing a 3D scan of both the interior and exterior of the Mansion, the technology can capture room dimensions, identify construction materials, and capture features, all of which can then be rendered into a 3-dimensional image of the building that can be kept indefinitely, digitally. Jarosz said the information captured can be shared in a variety of ways and could even be used to build an exact replica of the building at some point in the future, or perhaps a miniature replica done to scale. The data collected can also be very beneficial for study. Jarosz teaches at the UWM – School of Architecture & Urban Planning in Milwaukee and uses 3D scans to teach architecture to his students.
Jarosz and his team were in Merrill this past weekend, at the invitation of Merrill resident, Erik Pfantz, who contacted the Wisconsin Trust for Historic Preservation months ago asking if they could do anything to help save historic buildings in Merrill. However, they couldn’t scan the Mansion this past weekend, because it is on a campus privately owned by Ascension.
During Monday evening’s Historic Preservation Committee meeting, the idea of doing the 3D scans of the Mansion was introduced to the Committee, noting that it would take one or two days for Jarosz and his team to complete the scan, but it is non-invasive, and if Ascension could be convinced to pause demo to allow the scan, that would be a great gesture of goodwill to the Merrill community.
Since City Administrator Dave Johnson indicated many items have already been removed from the Mansion, the scan would not capture the whole character of the building as it was prior to the beginning of demo. Nonetheless, it would capture a great deal of data, if Ascension gives the go-ahead and is willing to halt demo to enable scanning.
Merrill Historical Preservation Committee member/Alderman Steve Sabatke said the City should pursue asking Ascension if they would allow a 3D scan team to come in to do the scan. Merrill Historical Preservation Chairman/Alderman Paul Russell and City Administrator Johnson were both given contact information for Jarosz.