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Discover Wisconsin’s Cornish
History and the Couple
Who Helped Preserve It
Every building tells a story, and at Pendarvis, there are plenty, each with a unique narrative to tell. Your journey through this picturesque cluster of stone structures will take you not only through the stories of the people who originally created and inhabited them, but also the story of Bob Neal and Edgar Hellum, the couple who salvaged, restored, and made these buildings shine again.
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Pendarvis
Tucked away in historic Mineral Point, Pendarvis celebrates the 20th century preservation efforts of
It's officially Christmas baking season!
Christmas was a busy time at Pendarvis House even though the restaurant would close annually in the fall. To make income in the off season, Pendarvis founders Bob Neal and Edgar Hellum started a mail order service of homemade Christmas treats shortly after they opened in the mid 1930s, and running it through the closure of the restaurant in 1970. Saffron and fruit cake, along with potted preserves, were shipped out all over the country and became a holiday tradition for many families.
Several letters in our archives display the regret many felt about the end of this Christmas tradition. "I am sorry to learn you may not be making cakes in the future. Over the years they have been something we looked forward to eating at Christmas time in our family." (letter from K.A. Bennett, dated 1/16/1971)
📸 Pendarvis Archives: 1) Cornish plum preserves tag that was tied to stoneware jars; 2) small box used to ship saffron cake; 3) advertisement for cake and preserve mail ordering ... See MoreSee Less
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Looking for a great holiday gift? Support Pendarvis with your purchase! Shop for unique Wisconsin items at our online store: shop.wisconsinhistory.org/pendarvis ... See MoreSee Less
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Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Pendarvis! We hope you're enjoying your turkey (or pasty) dinner today!
📸: Bob Neal serving pasty in the Pendarvis House restaurant (Pendarvis Archives) ... See MoreSee Less
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Is it even remotely possible that the woman on the right is Ruth Mitchell?