Brown Mansion will be historically restored as the plan is to move the Westchester Township History Museum into a new barn-like structure to be built nearby on the old Chesterton Middle School grounds.
Jeff Schroeder, an architect with the Moake Park Group, revealed the plans to the Duneland School Board Monday in an update concerning the redevelopment of the former Chesterton Middle School campus.
The old school is being transformed into a YMCA Healthy Living Campus. Schroeder said construction is proceeding on the 15,000-square-foot Dr. John and Linnea Forchetti Wellness Center, along with renovation of some of the old school space now used by the YMCA.
The addition is located on the west side of the building, where a parking lot has already been developed. The parking lot also includes a new entrance off Porter Avenue.
A two-story gymnasium, with an elevated track, is also planned for construction on the west side.
The newest development involves the Brown Mansion, which shares the old Chesterton Middle School grounds.
The Victorian-style mansion, built in 1885, is on the National Register of Historic Places and, at one time, served as offices for the Duneland School District. The Westchester Public Library, which has run the museum inside the mansion for years, took over ownership in September 2024.
Schroeder said the plan is to restore the mansion, including the construction of a front porch, to the way it originally looked.
The museum, a gift shop, offices and storage now fill the house. All those would move into the new structure.
“Our museum curator likes to say that the house is the largest artifact of the museum. So the house becomes entirely tourable,” said Heather Chaddock, executive director of the Westchester Public Library.
Chaddock said the project is expected to cost around $5 million. She said that the Westchester Public Library has been saving money for years toward the project and “it’s finally come to pass.”
Schroeder said the project would be put out for bid in March. Berglund Construction, which is also working on the YMCA, would be the contractor for the project.
Duneland Board President Brandon Kroft said it is great to see how the YMCA and library are collaborating on the redevelopment of the grounds.
In other business, the board reviewed its strategic five-year plan, which runs through 2028.
Superintendent Chip Pettit said since the plan was adopted, the school district has suddenly had to deal with the impact of Artificial Intelligence.
The board adopted a six-point guideline on AI proposed by Donna Briggs, director of learning and teaching. The strategy includes expanding the use of AI into the curriculum, professional development of the staff in using AI, having an acceptable use policy for students, and ensuring that students are educated in the responsible use of the technology.
Board member Kirk Redman said that AI potentially could bring the biggest changes that education has ever seen in the last 125 years.
“I am happy to see that we are trying to stay ahead of that,” Redman said. “I think we’re going to see tremendous change in the next five years.”
Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
