Idaho Hemingway House Foundation to Fund Hemingway House

Organization provided vision for the house being carried forward by The Nature Conservancy

KETCHUM, IDAHO — June 24, 2007— The Nature Conservancy announced today that the Idaho Hemingway House Foundation has donated $26,200 for restoration of the Hemingway House, Ernest Hemingway’s last home located in Ketchum. The Idaho Hemingway House Foundation formed in 2003 with a vision to restore the house to its condition under Hemingway’s ownership and to maintain the surrounding grounds as a nature preserve.

The foundation, whose members agreed their vision was being carried forward by The Nature Conservancy, is now dissolving after transferring their gift to The Nature Conservancy.

“The foundation was formed with the original mission to restore the house, which we felt was quite important,” says Pete Smith, a foundation board member. “The Nature Conservancy moved forward with this restoration, and we felt that our mission was accomplished. The funds we raised were for restoration and we felt it was important that we provide this significant funding for the Conservancy to continue its restoration.”

The foundation’s vision provided the groundwork for The Nature Conservancy to establish a plan for the home and twelve-acre nature preserve, the largest undeveloped parcel of land in the city of Ketchum. The Conservancy, with a mission of protecting native plants and wildlife, is not a historical preservation organization, but the organization recognized the importance of preserving the cultural and historic values of the home.

“We’re proud to be carrying on the vision that started with the Idaho Hemingway House Foundation,” says Laura Hubbard, Idaho state director for The Nature Conservancy. “Due to the hard work of the foundation members, the house will remain a vital part of the Hemingway heritage.”

The home was bequeathed to the Conservancy by Mary Hemingway, Ernest’s wife. With the Idaho Hemingway House Foundation’s leadership, the Conservancy established a goal of honoring Mary Hemingway’s bequest, honoring the historic elements of the home and honoring the home’s neighbors.

The foundation’s gift will help fund interior restoration including furniture coverings, window treatments and wood finishing. All of the funds raised by the foundation have benefited the Conservancy, including a previous $17,500 gift.

“We support The Nature Conservancy’s efforts with the house 100 percent,” says Smith. “We are very pleased with the ongoing restoration. It is gratifying to see the Conservancy carrying forward our original vision.”

The Conservancy’s ongoing work includes an archival inventory of all items in the house, identifying items with cultural and historical value. A caretaker living on site has also ensured that plumbing, lighting and heating are maintained and functioning.

While Hemingway only lived in the home for a short period, the home represents Hemingway’s long connection to Idaho, and to the Idaho landscape. The Conservancy is dedicated to maintaining the home as a vital part of the Idaho Hemingway heritage.

“From duck hunting days at Silver Creek, to book writing at Sun Valley, to exploratory trips in the Pahsimeroi Valley, Ernest Hemingway had deep ties to Idaho’s incredible landscape,” says Hubbard. “The expertise and vision of the Idaho Hemingway House Foundation helped us chart a future for the home that honors his connection to our state.”

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.