Friends Of Rockwood: Take Two

(image - not servants quarters....)

Sometimes sunshine is the best disinfectant when the local beat reporter goes over the top......Spat with county official ends 84-year-old's service at Rockwood

Did this spat really start with the recent decision by county museum staff to take the Friends of Rockwood's second story administrative office to be "reinterpreted" as a servant's bedroom?

Adam Taylor received the emails below from David Grimaldi last Thursday, forwarded to me on Friday plus a September 30th memo to the Friends of Rockwood from Phil Nord directing the Friends "to return" two Mansion rooms for the purpose of interpretation of Rockwood's servants. Nord, the Museum Director, decided to expand the tour of Rockwood to include the personal lives of the servants - a response to growing public interest no doubt inspired by Downton Abbey enthusiasts - which meant the Friends would have to vacate two rooms - one room on the second floor is used as the organization's office and storage space. 

Is that what escalated this story about the pissed off an octogenarian docent who strongly believes "no one was allowed to be in the property without her approval?"

The Gordon-Rockwood Friends' saga has been great fodder for selling newspapers and inspiring Republican cautionary tales of the evils of prevailing wage law. But the bottom line is that Rockwood is a county asset, not a playhouse for a bunch of sharp-tongued biddies. David Grimaldi's experience there wasn't the first story I've heard about poorly treated guests. If the Friends of Rockwood are really this unfriendly to tax paying county residents, then they shouldn't be allowed to have run of the place.  

The emails ~

From: Nord, Philip
Sent: Tuesday, October 01, 2013 10:42 AM
To: Rattenni, Jane
Cc: Matas, Alan
Subject: Call from Nancy Shanes

I received a call from Nancy a few minutes ago and she was furious. She asked me if the reason I gave her the day off to attend the lecture had anything to do with her confrontation with someone from the County. I told her that as a matter of fact yes, it did and she went off on me! Using profane words directed at the County. She was very upset and said she will never come back again. Without giving you a blow by blow description of every word she used suffice to say I experienced her wrath and understand what she must have done. This once nice lady is not the person I used to know. I am sure this encounter will be on the wire to all the Friends.

Philip Nord, Director

Rockwood Park and Museum

610 Shipley Road

Wilmington, Delaware 19809

From: "Matas, Alan" <AJMatas@nccde.org>
Date: October 4, 2013, 2:30:12 PM EDT
To: "Cartier, John" <JJCartier@nccde.org>
Cc: "Grimaldi, David" <DGrimaldi@nccde.org>
Subject: Rockwood

Councilman Cartier:

In response to the email that was sent to me by your aide, concerning the incident with Nancy Shanes, I think it is important that you are aware of the entire situation. On September 22 at the Faerie Festival, I ran into Mr. Grimaldi who was in attendance and pulled me aside telling me that he wanted to inspect the mansion so see the damage that had occurred as a result of the water leaks. We entered the mansion with Mr. Grimaldi going to the upper level and I went to the reception desk to inform the individual there that Mr. Grimaldi was inspecting the property. At the desk was Nancy Shanes. I informed Ms. Shanes that Mr. Grimaldi was inspecting the upper floors and her response was, and I quote, “he isn’t allowed up there without me.” I went on to explain that Mr. Grimaldi was the CAO and in fact, he was allowed to conduct an inspection on his own. Ms. Shane proceeded to become rude with me and in a tone that was completely unacceptable told me, that no one was allowed to be in the property without her approval. I then informed her that yes, he was allowed to inspect the property without her being in attendance and she was not to bother him. At this point I returned to the festival only to receive a call from Mr. Grimaldi twenty minutes later telling me that he had been confronted by Ms. Shanes who took it upon herself to challenge the legitimacy of Mr. Grimaldi being in the building. Again, she used language and a tone that were completely unacceptable.

On October 1, 2013 Philip Nord, the Director of the Rockwood Park and Museum informed me that Ms. Shanes had telephoned him using “profane” language and was rude as well as insulting because she was not on the schedule

Councilman, this type of behavior is not acceptable, especially from an individual whose responsibility is to interact with the public. I will not tolerate this disrespect towards Mr. Grimaldi, my staff and especially to the individuals who were in the area waiting to tour the museum. It is my goal and objective to turn the Rockwood Museum into a venue that is welcoming to the public. That cannot be achieved with individuals that fail to understand the basics of customer service not to mention basic civility.

Alan J. Matas

General Manager

Department of Community Services

From: Holajter, Brian
Sent: Friday, October 04, 2013 2:41 PM
To: Matas, Alan; Cartier, John
Cc: Grimaldi, David
Subject: RE: Rockwood

Alan,

 

I will make sure Councilman Cartier gets this. This is pretty much what he had surmised, but he just wanted to hear the full story. Thank you, and David, for responding so quickly. This is the type of thing that gets out of hand when you combine an already tense situation with third hand information. He is in full agreement with you on your sentiment that Rockwood should be a welcoming venue and wishes to help in any way to make sure this happens.

 

Again, thank you both for your quick, and thorough response. Also, thank you for your continuing efforts in Holly Oak apartments. There are some truly good things happening out there now and we just need to keep this momentum going. Thanks again.

 

Sincerely,

 

Brian M. Holajter

Legislative Aide

John Cartier straddles two perches here: as elected official accountable to fair use of our county assets and as Board Member for the Friends of Rockwood along with Nancy Schanes and June Zappa. The group's last published annual meeting minutes are from 2011.

The Friends obviously are great contributors to our heritage and enhance our value as a community but they don't own the property. They have to cooperate with county government. Period. If they decide to take their furniture and go, then so be it.

Remember, it wasn't that long ago that Paul Clark tried to sell it off.......

(Sept. 2011) New Castle County has asked the state to take over operation of Rockwood Mansion and Park which county officials say is underused, in disrepair and too expensive to run. The 65-acre property north of Wilmington costs the county $420,000 a year to maintain. The mansion, built between 1851 and 1854, operates as a museum and is open to the public year-round. The transition team for County Executive Paul Clark, who took office in November, recommended that the county "identify an appropriate steward for the park."

With a comment rescue ~  County Tries to Sell State White Elephant

My issue isn’t whether it should or shouldn’t survive. My point is that the State and County shouldn’t have to pony up for its survival. The fact that a small coterie of alleged history buffs and retirees allegedly constitute the Friends of Rockwood serves to prove my point that it’s basically a middle upper class indulgence, not unlike the Kalmar Nyckel, which also shouldn’t be receiving taxpayer funds. If you all want to make an effort to save Rockwood, be my guest, I’m all for it. I just don’t want public monies expended on this money pit.

~*~