Renovations on Bohls House to resume in Pflugerville
The Pflugerville City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved a $638,756 contract for renovations of the Bohls House, otherwise known as the Heritage House Museum.
Renovations include the installation of air conditioning, new plumbing, electrical wiring and light fixtures, updates to interior finishes and creating new office spaces for the Parks and Recreation Department. The museum is dedicated to preserving local history and educating the public on the history of Pflugerville.
"It is good to see it restored with purpose," said Mayor Pro Tem Doug Weiss.
Eight new offices, a break room, a conference room, equipment storage and updates to the restroom facilities also will be part of the renovations, said Assistant City Engineer Jeff Dunsworth. Up to 12 city staff members will be able to work there with the renovations. Dunsworth said the additional office space is needed as the city has an office shortage and cannot accommodate staff at City Hall.
Dunsworth said the exterior walls, hardwood floors, doors and cabinets will be preserved. The renovations will ensure any new additions can match existing features. City staff said Bohls family members approved the renovations, which are expected to start in January and be completed by August by HCS Inc., a Waco-based general contractor.
Renovations to the house were put on hold in 2017 to reassess the need for office space in City Hall.
Henry Bohls began building the 2,656-square-feet home in 1922 at the site of what is now the Typhoon Texas water park. The Bohls family is considered to be one of the city’s first settlers. The house was designated as a historic landmark in 2005.
The Pflugerville Community Development Corp. gifted the house to the city in November 2013 and paid for its relocation to Heritage Park. Pflugerville Community Development Corp. officials spent more than $100,000 to ensure the home’s preservation, including $40,000 to transport the structure to its current location in 2014.
More:Work continues on historic Bohls home
The house is open to the public the first Sunday of each month from 1-4 p.m. and on Tuesdays from 3 -7 p.m. through the months of March and December.
The Pflugerville Public Library manages the facility and works with the Heritage House Partners to provide exhibits and programs that are representative of all families, cultures, businesses, schools, churches, and other organizations that contributed to the development of Pflugerville, according to the city's website.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Renovations on Bohls House to resume in Pflugerville
