The Phoenix Mill Women's Museum moved one more step closer to reality this month, with the release of a feasibility study commissioned by Wayne County and a proposal that names a number of new public and private partnerships.
    Among other things, the study indicated the building is not really suited a traditional stand-alone museum, with the requisite and expensive climate controlled storage, security and space. The nearby Plymouth Historical Museum, as well as the Henry Ford and a University of Michigan automotive history center also provide services for document and artifact preparation and storage.
   However, as consultants pointed out, Phoenix Mill has a story to tell, and it's an important one, for a variety of reasons.
    Completed by The Mannik & Smith Group, Inc., which is based in Ohio, the study includes a look at the historical significance of the Plymouth Township site, outlines its current condition and proposes a number of configurations for possible use of the site as a historical museum. What began as a dream at the beginning of this decade certainly looks doable now, especially in light of several proposed partnerships that would help cover the $1.6 million cost of renovations.
    The study recaps the history of the building, which was one of Henry Ford's Village Industry plants. Built on former mill sites, these small factories employed local workers, and Phoenix Mill had a female work force. It's place in women's history is secured by the fact that Ford paid the women high wages, equal to those of male workers, which was rare in the 1920s.
    According to a history of the plant provided by Phoenix Mill Women's History Project Executive Director Beth Stewart, Ford's egalitarian approach only went so far. Women employees had to be single, childless and properly attired in dresses, stockings and heels - despite the fact that they were making parts for cars and, eventually, B-24 bombers.
    The Phoenix Mill building also has historical significance, in that it was designed by one of the 20th century's finest architects, Albert Kahn. The study examines architectural features of the building that should be preserved in the restoration process.
    After the plant closed in 1948, it was turned over to the Wayne County Road Commission, which recently moved everything stored there to a yard in Livonia. The Wayne County Parks Division has since been tasked with determining a future use for the building, according to the feasibility report. Most of the building is still sound in structure; consultant estimate a total price tag of up to $1.6 million, with the bulk of the money spent on interior renovations and to restore deteriorated windows.
    The report concluded by mapping several redevelopment scenarios for use: office and community, recreation and restaurant. Most included space for museum/interpretive space, with one entirely devoted to it. Ultimately, the report recommends combining Phoenix Mill's "outstanding historical legacy with teh commercial possibilities inherent in the location and with community entrepreneurial efforts...".
   A proposal released at the same time as the study does just that. The partnership includes the Museum, Wayne County, the U.S. Parks Service and Plymouth-based ad agency The Concept Factory. The county would lease the site to the Museum for $1 per year, with Museum backers responsible for raising funds to renovate and run the property. The Concept Factory would locate its offices in the building, which would be open during business hours for self-guided tours.
   Additionally, DTE Energy may be tapped to help reinstall a hydroelectric generator, similar to the one that originally powered the manufacturing facility.
    To keep up with the progress of the project, or to learn more, visit the museum project Web site.