Novitiate site in 2021. PC: Fox 11 Online
TOWN OF HERMAN, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A vacant mansion in Shawano County may be seeing new life.
The county’s Board of Supervisors have approved a zoning change for the property. This historic mansion off Butternut Road in the town of Herman, better known as the Novitiate, has sat empty and neglected for years. Now, the property owner is trying to change that.
“This property and the mansion, it’s going to be preserved. The land is going to be used in a very respectful manner,” said David Gilman, the zoning consultant of the Novitiate and a representative of the property owner, Ethan Fernhaber.
The goal is to turn the historic home into a hotel and event center that can host weddings, receptions, retirement parties and more.
The mansion was built back in 1939, originally intended as a home for a wealthy woman and her daughter. The Alexian Brothers religious order later used the facility as a novitiate, or training center. Fast forward to 1975, and it was the centerpiece of a standoff involving the Menominee Warrior Society. During that year, the Society took over the property for more than a month. The effort was meant to prove sovereignty over the land.
“We are attempting to force the white man to recognize his own racism. It’s been latent. All this action has done is brought out the extreme racism that exists in this part of Wisconsin,” Russell Means with the American Indian Movement said in 1975.
The Novitiate changed hands multiple times until 2021, when it was bought by its current owner.
There are four floors inside the home. Plans call for the basement to house a theater and recreation room. The entry level would have a dining room and kitchen, and the top two floors would have a total of 13 rooms for guests.
“The building, it’s got great bones, and we’re just going to do a ton of cosmetic interior remodeling. So, we’re blessed that the building was built with a vision,” Gilman said.
The land surrounding the mansion would allow for a pavilion for people to gather and enjoy the river view.
Representatives of the area say this project is exciting for all of Shawano County.
“Out there at the Novitiate, it will be a great opportunity. Like I said, because it’s finally going to get developed,” said Rick Giese, a Shawano County Board member. “It’s been great to have been putting some time and effort into it, and then building, it’s up and being part of the community now.”
Construction is expected to cost between $2.5-3 million. Gilman hopes to start construction by this fall and potentially open the hotel and event center sometime in 2027.
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