Historic museum faces uncertain future

Budget crisis makes operating group unable to fund Legation’s maintenance and staffing

AUSTIN — The Daughters of the Republic of Texas, facing a growing budget crisis as it continues its expensive legal fight over the state’s takeover of the Alamo, now is confronted with an uncertain future for the storied French Legation museum here.

The Legation, the only building still existing in Austin from when Texas was its own country, was purchased by the state in 1948 and has been operated as a museum by the Daughters group since 1956 under a custodial contract.

Houston resident Betty Edwards, the president-general of the Daughters, said her organization has been unable to raise enough funds to perform routine maintenance and make muchneeded renovations to the onestory frame house just east of downtown.

Edwards said the house needs about $1.9 million in renovations and repairs, and the group has asked the state to pick up the tab.

“Without state money at this point in time, our concern is what’s going to happen to the house, to the status of the house,” Edwards said.

In recent weeks, group officials confirmed, the Legation’s operational budget was cut from about $100,000 to just $22,000, a move that has left the museum without full-time staff.

According to an email in February apprising its members of the dilemma, Lucretia McReynolds, a district representative of the Daughters, conceded the lack of funding was critical. She blamed the funding shortfall, in part, on the Daughters’ continu- ing legal fight with the state over ownership of the Alamo Library and documents collection in San Antonio.

A copy of the internal message was obtained by the Chronicle.

“The FLM is a very old, state historical property which makes it very expensive to maintain and preserve; add staff salaries to that and it becomes a huge financial endeavor,” the message states. In reviewing the issue, “it became clear we may have to choose between OUR own properties and a state owned property; chose between our children and a foster child!

“Another solution, with our

sincere apology, return the custodianship of the FLM to the State of Texas,” the message continues. “If the State could provide the funding, DRT members would be glad to continue to provide oversight and management.”

The house was built in 1841 as the official residence for Alphonse Dubois de Saligny, the French charge de affairs who was assigned to Austin after France recognized the Re- public of Texas as a country

The Legation was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969, and it is listed as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, two designations that underscore the historical significance of the site.

Built on 21 acres purchased in 1840 from Anson Jones, a future president of the Republic, the house was built of loblolly pine wood hauled in from Bastrop in a design that is a mix of Greek Revival and Mississippi Valley French architecture.

According to the Handbook of Texas, Saligny likely never lived in the house. While he was living at a Congress Avenue inn as the house was being built, Saligny engaged in a nasty snit with the owner after his pigs destroyed Saligny’s belongings in 1841, an event that became known as the Pig War.

Saligny left Austin for New Orleans, and the house was sold to Jean Marie Odin, the bishop of Galveston, and then Moseley Baker, a general. in the Texas Revolutionary War, before Dr. Joseph Robertson bought it in 1848.

The state bought it from Robertson’s heirs in the 1940s, and the property was placed in the custody of the Daughters, which restored the house to its 1840 appearance and made extensive improvements to the grounds. The Daughters operated the Alamo starting in 1905 under a similar custodial arrangement.

Not ‘highest priority’

In early 2015, the state took control of the Alamo from the Daughters after lingering disputes over maintenance and capital improvements that had been delayed because of a lack of funds.

While the group has asked the Texas Facilities Commission for help in funding the Legation’s renovations, executive director Harvey Hilderbrand said he is considering seeking funding from the Legislature next year, but noted the Legation “is not our highest priority.”

“Staff members were very receptive and supportive of those requests and kind of share the concern,” Hilderbrand said, adding that the request remains under “serious consideration.”

Even if it is approved by the Legislature in early 2017, in a budget year when state funds are expected to be tight, additional funding for the Legation likely would not be available until September 2017, leaving open the question of who will pay for operations until then.

Hildebrand said the commission has no plans to operate the property.

State Rep. Ryan Guillen, a Rio Grande City Democrat who chairs the House Culture, Recreation and Tourism Committee that oversees historic sites, said he is concerned about the Legation’s future.

“The French Legation house holds immense historic value, not only for its status as one of the oldest in the state, but for its diplomatic significance in the story of the Republic of Texas,” he said. “Maintaining the building and its legacy will be something to explore as we prepare for next session.”

Kenneth Howell, history professor at Blinn College and executive director of Central Texas Historical Association, said the museum is one of the most important pieces of history remaining from the Republic of Texas.

“The French Legation is important to early Texas history, so it would be a museum very worthy of preserving,” he said.

Since the Texas General Land Office took over operations of the Alamo in 2015, the Daughters sued the agency to retain custody of a historical library and collection. A hearing in that case is set for May 5.

Edwards said the Daughters have spent upwards of $275,000 in le- gal costs so far. That has forced the group to cut the operations budget at the Legation, said Jim Suydam, a spokesperson for the Daughters.

“(The Daughters) would have $200,000 more had they not had to fight with the state over the ownership of their library,” he said.

General Land Office officials declined comment, saying the agency has no connection to the Legation.

Economically unstable

Edwards said the $22,000 that remains to cover operational costs at the Legation — money that will be used to pay part-time employees with volunteers covering other roles — could be increased if the legal costs abate.

Edwards said the group also is working to move some of its Alamo library for display at Texas A&M University at San Antonio, at a cost between $35,000 and $50,000, plus another $235,000 for purchasing display materials.

The Daughters of the Republic of Texas oversees operations of six properties, including its headquarters. Edwards said the group’s other properties are not having financial problems, but the Legation is not “economically stable.” The Legation sees about 18,000 visitors per year, she said, but the museum has problems “earning enough money on its own.”