Fairlawn: Restoring the Splendor

Fairlawn: Restoring the Splendor chronicles the sage -- rags-to-riches -- of what is now acknowledged as one of the finest historic museums in the Midwest. From its Gilded Age beginnings to its long period of service as a children's home, from its near-demolition in the early 1960s to the massive multiyear effort that culminated in its return to grandeur, the story of Fairlawn is a richly textured tapestry replete with drama, human interest, and countless fascinating details. It is a story of perseverance, too, of daunting challenges met and mastered, and of the hundreds of fiercely dedicated people who lent their time, talent, and energy to help realize a shared vision. The restoration of the Fairlawn mansion was a dream held in common -- but it was a decidedly uncommon dream.

Tom Davis devoted a full year of research and writing to Fairlawn: Restoring the Splendor. The author of six previous books and the winner of awards from the Council for Wisconsin Writers and the International Regional Magazine Association, he is the longtime Senior Editor of Wisconsin Trails magazine and a regular contributor to a number of national publications. He makes his home in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he lives with his wife, Joan, and stepdaughter, Sophia.