Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1938-04-28
NEED FOR MUSEUM
STRESSED
McConnelsville, Ohio,

first settlement in the Northwest
Territory, as we saw it here at Nc
Connelsville-Malta, was certainly
one Of the best and most satisfac-
tory events, from every point OF
view, ever 1'pullcd of" by local tai
ent. 1t would be very hard to de-
termine which part was Of the most
interest, as everyone, regardless OF
age, could find something's. seem
own personal interest, amusement
or education. Were / to say which
part of it appealed to everyone, /
would say the wonderful window
displays Of relics Of pioneer days.
Regardless of weather conditions
you would see people looking at the
exhibits any time you were on the
streets. On Sunday preceding the
day of celebration, it was estimated
the state, and many from other
states, were parked on our streets,
than ever before were seen here,
and the number of persons from
other towns who stopped to view
our exhibits was conservatively es-
timated at more than thousand,
many of whom had been at Mariet--
ia and stopped on the advice Of
those whom they had met, by
our truly wonderful displays.
The remarks made by these Wis
itors were most fattering to our
citizens and community They were
truly astounded at the display of
such a large and varied collection
of articles used by our forefathers.
But it was not the visitors, alone.
who were surprised at the exhibits.
While some few of our own citizens
old ,fvy
could produce a very satisfactory
display, should the occasion de
mand, few, if any, had even dream
that such a wealth of antiques
were to be found here When the
old Scientific and Historical So
ciety was founded many years ago,
one of the objects of the founders
was to provide some place where
just such articles as we saw on dis
or damage, but open to the public
at stated times. Being one of the
founders of the old society, l am
able to state that it was the idea of
DR.. True that we start in a small
way with a room in some building,
and gradually grow into a museum.
The late Captain Irven Travis was
of the opinion that we could, some
day, have enough of collection to
ii
though of Irv during the days when
the exhibits were being viewed by
hundreds, and wished that he We're
here to see them and, though he
knew fairly we'll we had in the
county much of interest, I felt that
he, as much as any other person,
would have been surprised at the
collection.
Thirty years ago, before the rage
ntIy
it would have been possible to Sc"
cure collection that would fill the
largest building in town, and l am
not eXag operating in saying this, as
we all know what a large number
of articles have been sold and TAX
en- out of the county. Also, every
year, something is lost to us for
ever, either through the accident of
fire or high water, or taken from
cure the articles by distribution of
an estate on the death of some of
our old residents. | believe the eX-
hibition of these "relics" has arous-
ed new interest in the securing of
some place where they could be
kept, safe from loss or damage, and
if We are ever to have a museum,
maintained for, of and by the peo-
pie of Morgan county, the time to
In many of my articles in the
Side Lights series, being publish
ed in the Democrat, at the present
time, | have noted our lack of q
museum here in McConnelsville,
and spoken of the value it would be
to us in various ways. In recent
issue of the Herald l had a letter
on this same subject, and within a
few days after the letter was pub
icI tn
from people in the county and from
other states, all endorsing, most
heartily, the proposal, and some
have offered to donate articles for
it and even cash to build it. The
most generous offer, up to the time
am writing this letter, comes
from Mr.. Dloph Hook, well known
to nearly all of us, who offers log
cabin, complete with everything
which is said, by those who have
seen it, to be the most completely
equipped exhibit that has ever been
But Mr.. Hook does not M stop with
just the offer of the exhibit, he of
fers to donate cash to start the
project and assist in it's main
tenance. Surely everyone who had
the good fortune to see the exhibits
permanent collection be established
for the benefit of the future genera
tions, and the pleasure of the pres
ent age. To do this would require
some money, much time and not a
little labor on the part of many per-
sons. 1t is a project too vast for
any one person to handle. But to
get it under way requires the time
and attention of some one or more
h h va
writing and talking museum for
many years, it has been suggested
that I act as a temporary chairman
of committee, yet to be appoint
ed of some kind Of an organization,
like corporation, not for profit, to
be called something like Morgan
Countyana, Inc, and through the
local newspapers, ask the coopera-
ton of every citizen Of Morgan
county, to the end that our long
It will be a pleasure for
me to so act, and so take this
means to ask that every citizen of
Morgan county, resident or nom
resident, study this proposal and
then write me giving me the result
of your study and make any sug-
gestions you think will assist in at
tanning our detectives. Morgan !
county mas demonstrated, III Lie |
past, many times, that when it has |
really desired anything, ways and |
means have been found to carry out |
the proposal.
Surely no objective has been any |
more worthy of our efforts than the !
one under discussion. The first
question to be answered Is, do we
iesire a museum in Morgan cOun-
~? Unless large majority of our
citizens are in favor of it, any ef-
tort to effect an organization for
he purpose would be in vain. So
,hink it over. Then write me what
you think about it, either for or
against. If for, send me sugges-