Can Bidwell Mansion in Chico be rebuilt?

The answer rests with structural engineers and the politics of economic willpower

By Ken Magri

Ever since Bidwell Mansion became a literal shell of itself after the December 11^th fire, citizens of Chico have been wondering whether it can be rebuilt. Even though the third floor collapsed and the interior was completely gutted, its outer walls and tower are still standing after a blaze authorities are calling an act of arson.

But any successful rebuild needs to answer two crucial questions. Is the remaining skeleton strong enough to host a restoration or would a complete reconstruction be necessary? Secondly, where would the money come from to pay for it all?

“It remains too early to discuss the future of the state historic park,” is the official position of the California State Parks.

The agency’s December 14 press release only mentioned an excavator being brought in to “remove destroyed components of the building to allow investigators greater access to the interior as they continue their investigation of the fire’s origin.”

“That was pretty much done last Saturday,” said Matt Teague, district Supervisor for the Butte region of California State Parks. Now that arson has been identified as the cause of the fire, the next step is a formal investigation, which Teague told the News & Review is being led by the Cal Fire Office of the State Fire Marshal, in conjunction with allied agencies.

But the state is not yet in the position to properly assess the feasibility of a rebuild.

“The next priority will be the community’s safety,” Teague explained. “In the mean time, we are already starting discussions on forming our teams of designers, engineers, architects, safety, hazardous materials. Everybody is on the table right now, spinning our wheels and figuring out what direction to go and have those discussions.”

Several small restorations had already been performed on the mansion over the decades. In addition to the exterior work being done this year, the roof was restored in 2002, and in 2010 the first floor received a new paint job back to its original colors. The mansion’s small sewing room, where Annie Bidwell taught young girls how to sew, was refurbished in 2019.

“It’s not just a local decision and it’s not just a State Parks decision,” Teague acknowledged. “I think a lot of people are forgetting that this is a state park, and there is environmental law that defines preservation, and that’s handled by the state Office of Historic Preservation.”

Chico City Manager Mark Sorensen said that a supervisor from California State Parks will meet with the city council in January to address the mansion’s future status. But for now the structure will have to endure a cold, wet winter as investigators comb through its charred remains.

“It is not in a safe condition, so we really urge the public to stay out of the area,” California State Parks District Chief Aaron Wright stressed on December 17^th.

Determining the structural integrity

Insuring that Bidwell Mansion’s brick walls can withstand the weight of a rebuild is a big problem to solve. The skeleton needs to be analyzed by specialists to determine whether it could be successfully strengthened with a retrofit.

Bricks don’t burn, but they can suffer damage both from heat and water. Cracking happens through thermal expansion, when the bricks become too hot from the flames. Spalling is a type of flaking that happens when leftover moisture from fighting the fire gets deep inside bricks and begins to vaporize.

Cracking and spalling can compromise the wall’s ability to bear vertical weight as well as sideway pressures. If the bricks have cracked and pieces are splintering off, replacing the bricks can be the better decision. But if they are not too damaged, there are several new ways of adding more load-bearing capability and tensile strength.

“There are a few different ways to test the integrity of a brick wall,” noted Bret Rooks, a Principal at T&S Structural in San Luis Obispo. “Common methods involve ultrasonic or radar detection systems that can determine hidden details about the wall’s structure and locate hidden cracks, voids, or deterioration.”

While there are many ways to retrofit a brick structure, Rooks said that the mansion’s shape and configuration will tend to dictate which ones might be feasible.  

“There are aesthetic considerations involved too, as some of the more cost-effective methods, such as installing new steel columns adjacent to brick walls and anchoring to them at regular spacing, introduce new elements which weren’t there before,” Rooks mentioned.

Terminology may become important to the Bidwell Mansion’s future and Chico’s broader understanding of what comes next.

“In the world of historic preservation there is a huge difference between a restoration and a reconstruction,” observed CSUC history professor Michael Magliari, who pointed out that, if the mansion has lost its structural integrity and needs to be razed, reconstruction is the only option left.

“You’re building a replica,” Magliari admitted, throwing out the recent Honey Run covered bridge project as an example.

To encourage consistent practices, the US Department of the Interior and the National Park Service have developed standards that regulate preservation work at the national, tribal, state, and local levels.

Magliari said that these standards differ between renovations, restorations and reconstructions.

Replacing the interior furnishings

Ninety percent of the mansion’s interior furnishings were already replacements or replicas, according to Matt Teague.

Likewise, the carriage house, which was unharmed in the fire, is a replica.

But the little square architect’s office attached to the carriage house is original. So are the mansion’s textiles, which include curtains, quilts, linens, tablecloths and doilies. Before the current exterior restoration started, they were sent to California State Parks for cleaning and safe storage. These original family textiles could be the starting point for rebuilding the interior.

There is no shortage of photographs to illustrate exactly what the interior spaces looked like throughout the mansion’s different eras. Would it be possible to salvage that old marble table top or wood-burning stove? Can the same vintage furniture, kitchen items, hinges, knobs, and other hardware of that period be saved from the wreckage or re-acquired?

“It may take a number of years to buy all of those period pieces, but I think it can be done,” added Magliari, who co-wrote “John Bidwell and California: The Life and Writings of a Pioneer 1841-1900.”

Raising the funds for a rebuild

Funding an effort to bring the Bidwell Mansion back is another X factor at the moment.

“As for cost, that depends a lot on the approach chosen, so there’s a wide potential range,” Bret Rooks told CN&R. “A rebuild won’t be inexpensive, though, especially if you’re investing in maintaining historical methods and detailing.”

Regarding the financial challenge, the North Valley Community Foundation, or NVCF, has already established a ‘Rebuild Bidwell Mansion Fund’ with a hefty seed grant from Tri-Counties Bank.

“We decided to seed the Bidwell Mansion fund for $50,000 because the mansion is one of the most historic landmarks in Chico, where Tri Counties Bank was also founded. It’s important to us to preserve the history of Chico, as we, too, are part of that story,” Rick Smith, President and CEO for Tri Counties Bank, said of the decision.

The North Valley Community Foundation characterized those particular funds as essential.

“When people receive bad news, they want to know how they can help,” NVCF President and CEO Alexa Benson-Valavanis emphasized. “We are grateful to partner with Tri Counties Bank and Chico State on a fund to allow us to do just that … We understand State Parks officials are still trying to determine whether Bidwell Mansion can be rebuilt and that might take some time, but our fund and our community are here to help however we can. Regardless of what happens next at the site, the people have demonstrated through their donations that they would like to help with whatever is next.”

The public can donate at: https://www.nvcf.org/funds/bidwell-mansion-fund

Likewise, California State Parks might be willing to toss some leftover funds into the kitty, under the reasoning that their ongoing restoration of the mansion’s exterior was already funded, but only two-thirds complete.

We asked locals “Should the mansion be rebuilt?”

The News & Review went to social media to ask the public if the mansion should be rebuilt. There was no shortage of interest, as hundreds of comments came in over the first several hours until the post was taken down.

While some locals are against rebuilding, the overwhelming answer was “Yes!”

Several called Bidwell Mansion “the heart of Chico,” saying that it is simply unimaginable to not rebuild it.

But those arguing against a rebuild had some interesting reasons. Some felt that, with so few original materials leftover, any rebuilt structure without its original history would be “a fake mansion” or a “copycat representation.” Many also mentioned that Chico has much greater needs that deserve priority funding over a rebuild, like filling potholes and creating affordable housing.

Whether the mansion is rebuilt or not, many who commented want more attention and respect for the Mechoopda and other Native American tribes that first occupied that land.

“Let the native communities, the ones whose ancestors built those walls originally, have the final say,” wrote Lauren O’Conner. “I suggest a memorial museum of sorts where the history can be discussed in a real and honest way for future generations.”

Bud Paige wrote, “Bidwell Mansion stands as a vital piece of Chico’s history, but its story is incomplete without honoring the enduring legacy of the Mechoopda Tribe.”

Paige felt that the Mechoopda story could be told right alongside the Bidwells.

“Imagine a restored mansion that actively incorporates the voices and the history of the Mechoopda Tribe,” Paige mused. “Such a project would foster greater understanding and connection among all residents of Chico.”

William Shelton, whose cousin was a groundskeeper at the mansion for 34 years, estimated that there were probably a million bricks forming those walls. He felt that they might to be too damaged to withstand a restoration. Instead he suggested harvesting the old bricks and selling them as souvenirs to raise the funds for a reconstruction using locally made bricks.

“The bricks were made by the Chinese at two different locations, where [Highway] 99 meets 8^th Street and on the way to Oroville on the right, on the hill where Bidwell found clay deposits,” wrote Shelton, who added that the Chinese laborers also deserved historic recognition in any new rebuild effort.

Pat Rennison offered to donate a set of period furniture from the 1870s that have been in her family since the 1880s.

“It includes a hand-carved walnut love seat, rocking chair, captain chair and an oak table with claw feet and four side chairs,” Rennison wrote.

Byron M. McLaughlin mentioned the different sized lumber pieces in the 19^th century.

“Many resources are available to provide the properly sized lumber to match the original. Even the millwork, all the pretty detailing both inside and out can be replicated locally,” he said.

Finally, regarding the general onrush of all social media comments since the fire, Professor Magliari reflected, “I think you can look forward to a lot of community discussion over these issues. Hopefully they will be calm, rational and respectful of historical accuracy.”