Knowlton Foundation Purchases Spike Building
Posted on May 15, 2008
The Knowlton Foundation, owner of the Knowlton Ice Museum in Port Huron Township, has purchased the former Spike Furniture building in downtown Port Huron and will convert it into the new Knowlton Museum and office space.
In a complicated and still evolving transaction that began last summer, the Knowlton Foundation will be seeking IRS and Community Foundation approval to convert from a private operating foundation into a subsidiary corporation of the Community Foundation of St. Clair County.
The former Spike building has two floors with approximately 10,000 sq. ft. on each floor. The Community Foundation has facilitated discussions with the Economic Opportunity Committee to relocate them from their current offices across from City Hall to the entire 2nd floor of the Spike building. The first floor will be renovated and converted into the largest single gallery space in the Thumb Region.
The Knowlton Foundation’s primary mission is the ownership and operation of the Knowlton Ice Museum and related collection. Mr. Mickey Knowlton created the Party Time Ice Company in 1967 and grew it into one of the largest and most successful ice distributors in the region. In the 1970’s he began his quest to develop the largest historic collection of ice making equipment and memorabilia in the country.
“The Knowlton family is excited about the prospects of our new home,” said Mr. Knowlton. “The legacy of my wife, Agnes, and I, will be the new Knowlton Museum in downtown Port Huron.”
The Knowlton Foundation and Community Foundation are also in discussions with the Port Huron Museum about future collaborative opportunities. According to Chuck Kelly, chairman of the Community Foundation, having a 10,000 sq. ft. gallery space will open up new possibilities for other organizations, like the Port Huron Museum, to bring in larger and more elaborate collections and exhibits, such as the recent highly successful “Grossology” exhibit.
“The ground floor gallery space in the new Knowlton Museum will be larger than any single space at either Studio 1219 or the Port Huron Museum, opening up great new opportunities for arts and culture,” said Kelly.
Through the rest of this summer the Knowlton Foundation and Community Foundation will be working with their respective attorneys to draft a request to the IRS asking for the conversion of the Knowlton Foundation into a directly controlled Supporting Organization (subsidiary) of the Community Foundation. The Community Foundation, through other related subsidiaries, also co-owns Studio 1219 and a home for homeless teenagers called ‘Wings.’
Renovations to the building, including the build-out of the 2nd floor for EOC office space, should begin later this summer and take much of the remainder of the year to complete. While the office space could be done sooner, the museum portion isn’t expected to open until 2009.
“The Knowlton Foundation is pleased to add the new Knowlton Museum to the growing community of arts and culture in the Blue Water Region,” concluded Mr. Knowlton. “The Knowlton Ice collection will provide an opportunity for children and adults alike to learn more about the role that natural ice production played during the industrial revolution of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.”
The sale of the building was negotiated by Kramer Realty and the Kearns Agency. Terms of the sale are not available.
