Mention the word “Novitiate” in Shawano and Menominee counties, and most people know exactly what you’re talking about, although even locals may be hazy on some of its historic details.
The mansion at W9653 Butternut Road in the Town of Herman has been vacant for decades, but the current owners now have plans to turn it into a hotel and event center.
David Gilman, representing owner Ethan Fernhaber and his company, Renewing Management, detailed the renovation plans Feb. 4 in front of the Shawano County Planning, Development and Zoning Committee.
“His (Fernhaber’s) dream is to bring it back to its original luster — turn it into a place that kind of preserves its historic significance to the community, sort of giving back a little and turning it into something that, hopefully, would benefit the town, the county and surrounding communities by having a really showcased place to hold some life celebrating events,” Gilman said.
The zoning change request covers the mansion and the immediate area around it, for about three-quarters of an acre, for use as a hotel.
“In our interpretation, it’s going to be an event center where you would have various events like weddings, receptions, retirements, retreats, and then there are 13 individual suites that could be leased or rented,” Gilman said.
A conditional use permit was also requested to allow for outdoor activities in conjunction with indoor events. This could include tents, tables, seating, deck platforms and food and beverage carts.
The mansion, with its four floors, would be remodeled extensively.
“The basement will be remodeled to have a lounge, rec room, home theater, obviously a mechanical room, laundry rooms, a couple multipurpose rooms and then bathrooms,” Gilman said. “The first level would have a great room where the fireplace is, a dining area, a kitchen, a foyer and bathrooms.”
The kitchen would be a staging kitchen, not a prep kitchen, as food would be catered in for events.
“On the second level, we’ll have seven suites, and then on the third level, we’ll have six suites,” Gilman said.
Plans also include guest parking, including a paved parking area compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act by the buildings. Cul-de-sacs branch out from the main area and could be the site of a future development for tiny homes. Fernhaber has a tiny-home manufacturing plant in Indianapolis, Indiana.
“We might put smaller homes out there, but again, that’s down the road,” Gilman said. “We’re not even sure if that’s something that we’re going to do.”
The Herman Town Board approved the plans Jan. 21.
Gilman said there are no plans to fence in the property.
“That’s not our intent, to fence it in,” he said. “We’re not interested in turning it into a public park where everybody can just come in and wander wherever they want.”
He said overnight guests could number from 50-75. Hours of operation would run until midnight, although he estimated most events would be done before then. He also stressed the owners would be respectful of neighbors with regard to lighting, noise and music.
Gilman said that in addition to county approval, owners need to obtain permits and authorizations for septic work, a well, state building codes for commercial structures, drainage, civil engineering work and more.
“It’s going to take most of 2026 to get through all the permits and approvals that are going to be required,” he said. “The construction itself will probably take another year, maybe a year and half, so we’re looking at about a two-year process to get this ready.”
Not everyone on board
Neighbor Craig Weyenberg said he is opposed to the plans.
He first questioned the 50-75 guest maximum, noting most weddings are much larger than that.
“The chances of that are probably pretty slim to none,” he said of Gilman’s estimates.
Weyenberg said the events would increase traffic on Butternut and surrounding roads, leading to surface damage and costly repairs.
He questioned the need for a liquor license and spoke at length against the future concept of tiny homes on the property.
“They’re going to push for that next, because if there’s guests coming out there, they have to stay in Shawano or west of Shawano or something like that,” he said.
He was also concerned with guests trespassing on his property.
“I’m not for it,” he said of the plans. “Do we need another event center? I don’t know what there is in Shawano County for event centers. There was one in Bonduel, The Barn, right south of (Highway) 29. That’s up for sale. Do we need another event center?”
Gilman said the owners have already invested $2 million into the site and plans, with another $2.4 million expected to be spent on the remodeling.
“This is a 27,000-square-foot building. I’m not sure what other use you could put in there to save this building,” he said. “You can’t turn it into a residence. You can’t turn it into apartments or condos. You really can’t turn it into retail, commercial offices. That event center, with this property with 192 acres, seems to be the pristine use for this property.”
He said the area is beautiful, and the market would welcome the hotel and event center. The property is unique, and he believes many would want to use it for celebrations.
Gilman said the tiny homes are only a future concept, and he only mentioned it to be transparent. Any plans for those are not tied to the hotel and event center zoning change and conditional use permit.
The committee approved both, with the full county board expected to vote on the zoning change Feb. 25.
A brief history
In 1939, a wealthy woman from New York, Jennie Peters, began building a home for herself and her disabled daughter. The Georgian-style mansion included 35 rooms, a two-story stone portico and a second-story balcony overlooking Freeborn Falls on the Red River. Unfortunately, her daughter died before the mansion was finished.
“This building is 100% wall, floor and even the ceiling is precast concrete, 8 inches thick,” Gilman said. “It’s literally a fortress.”
Peters donated the mansion to the Alexian Brothers, a Catholic order devoted to caring for the sick, in 1948. The Alexian Brothers built several other buildings on the grounds, including a chapel and dormitories, in 1952.
Twenty years later, the last of the Alexian Brothers left the property and moved operations to Chicago.
In 1975, there was a 34-day standoff with the Menominee Warrior Society over the property. Later that year, fire severely damaged the property.
In 2004, after changing hands multiple times, the buildings built by the Alexian Brothers were demolished, leaving only the mansion, which was again put up for sale in 2020.
Fernhaber purchased the property in 2021.
kpasson@newmedia-wi.com
