Westcott House 2025 Volunteer Training

Frank Lloyd Wright's Westcott House is one of Springfield’s most prized artifacts, and the opportunity to join the team which keeps it full of life is presented to the community every Spring. Built originally in 1908 and restored to its former glory at the turn of the 21st Century, this year marks the 20th anniversary of the abode being opened to the public as a museum.

The walls of this structure tell stories of art, culture, and the Springfield residents who had the home commissioned for their family. Burton Westcott and his wife Orpha worked with Wright’s studio, based out of Chicago, to construct their family home at 1340 East High Street, right here in Springfield. While residing in the home, Burton ran family businesses, hosted social gatherings, and ultimately became Mayor in 1921. This doesn’t even scratch the surface of the rich history concealed in the foundation of the Westcott House, but who better to act as a docent of these stories from the past other than the modern community members who call this area home?

Since the building was restored in 2005 the Westcott House Museum has offered a volunteer training program. Today, there are over 60 volunteers who support visitor services. Nonetheless, additional volunteers can help ensure that the Westcott House legacy goes on as a tourist destination and as a community hub for activities for individuals and organizations.

Current volunteer, Cecil Fields, has this to say about his experience in the program; “I have been a volunteer tour guide at the Westcott House since 2017. I’m from the Columbus area and drive about 35 miles to reach the Westcott House. There is nothing else like this house in Ohio. It is the only Prairie-period Frank Lloyd Wright building in the state. You would have to travel to Michigan, New York, or Illinois to be able to tour a place like this. Volunteering as a docent has been a rewarding experience for me. We get visitors from all over the country, occasionally from other countries. I enjoy connecting with our guests, showing them the architecture, and telling them the history of the Westcott family and Springfield. Being a volunteer at the Westcott House has provided me with many learning opportunities. I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the community.”

The program’s curriculum has been curated and sharpened over time by Westcott staff & research committee, including Marta Wojcik, Executive Director & Curator, and Kevin Rose Historian; The Turner Foundation. Much of the research committee has been volunteer-based as well, demonstrating the pride in their community and the history which brought it to what it is today.

This notion is reflected in the mission statement of the institution: “To preserve and interpret Frank Lloyd Wright’s Westcott House and to serve as a catalyst for creativity, inspiration, and experimentation.”

Wojcik, hopes to encourage people to join in the program, saying, “Our volunteer schedules vary from 4 hours a month to 5 hours a week, so people are able to make a commitment that best fits their schedule.”

Passionate volunteer recruits come from as far away as Cincinnati, Columbus and other outlying areas. Benefits of volunteering include continuing education opportunities, Westcott membership, gift shop discounts, new and lasting friendships, the joy of engaging with regional and international visitors, and helping to advance one of Ohio’s cultural treasures.

Reaghan Doppelt, current Operations Assistant at the Westcott House, comments on her observations of those who complete the instruction: “Our volunteer training is a unique experience. It reflects the wide array of reasons both volunteers and visitors are drawn to our site. Whether they are interested in architecture or history, our community or the national context of the site and everything in between, there is something for everyone at Westcott. Our volunteers are vital to the organization. Working with our volunteer team has been a wonderful experience. Seeing them from day one of the training to the first day volunteering is something special. I appreciate how our current volunteers welcome the new members of our own “Westcott family,” encouraging them, as they were once in the same place. It’s a very supportive community.”

Docent training and classes will take place on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on March 15, March 22, March 29, and April 5. Attendance at all sessions is strongly encouraged in order to successfully complete the course.

Each session will start at the Westcott House, providing an opportunity to experience the space before visitors arrive. Their core values give clues of the characters in the stories being shared— connecting diverse audiences through the experience of art, architecture and design. Inspire creative ways of living in the spirit of the Westcott family, being that the Westcott family themselves were exceptionally innovative. And, lastly, striving for excellence in the spirit of Frank Lloyd Wright.

The registration fee for docent training is  $35, which includes course materials and refreshments, and can be found at this link, or at westcotthouse.org.