I. Appoint a committee to explore the feasibility of recycling Welch Hall - a committee made up of administration, faculty, students, and townspeople (including possibly an architect). This sort of committee, on a larger scale, has been appointed by the President of Wayne State.
II. Urge its designation as an historic site. Place it on the National Register and work on getting funds for a larger feasibility study and possible future funds for restoration/recycling.
III. Consider the possibility of restoring the exterior to its original glory. It's all there except the balustrade over the front porch.
IV. Convert the interior into a totally redesigned space for use mainly as executive offices. (Tear out all the tack work that is now there, restore the ceilings to make use of the wonderful windows, the tops of which are now blocked out.) In other words, make it into a showcase of executive offices. The location - near the Union and Starkweather Center - is perfect.
V. If the executive offices could be housed on the second floor, where the best architectural features are, convert the ground floor into a much needed art gallery for (the University. We are known in Ann Arbor and Detroit for our creative art department; give it a showcase, place it up front.
VI. Every stage of such a progress should be used to the University's advantage in terms of public relations; such a development could serve our image from beginning to end.
VII. Meanwhile, convert Pierce Hall - which looks like prison on the outside and a grade school in the halls - into a student services building entirely.
I HEREBY PLEDGE MY SERVICES TO THE CAUSE OF REVITALIZING WELCH HALL AND THE CAMPUS. I ASSURE YOU THERE ARE OTHERS WHO WOULD BE GLAD TO SERVE AS WELL.
Sincerely,
Jack Harris
NOTE, January 1989: Even as we reprint Jack's letter, Welch Hall is under restoration and will house the University's executive offices. Pierce Hall is being expanded to house all student services (registration, records, financial aid, etc.) Jack's efforts, over so many years, Denis Schmiedeke's major proposal for the adaptive reuse of Welch, the efforts of Preservation Eastern, and the often expressed concern of so many others have all contributed to this splendid outcome. All of us can breathe a big sigh of relief. The saving of Welch Hall is a MAJOR contribution to the preservation of the heritage of the University and this community.