Byesville Rotary visits renovated Byesville Museum

 

Pictured: Jordi Harding, Mike Port, Jim Bacos, Dennis Harding, Tammie Archer, and Jan Wilson checking out the smart TV screen presentation.

 

Donald Marlatt, Dennis Harding, Jordi Harding, Chuck Fair, Mike Port—Display case at Byesville Museum.

 

Closeup of items in display case.

Jay Jackson, mayor of Byesville, and Mike Port, Byesville councilman, took Byesville Rotary members on a tour of the newly renovated Byesville Museum. And Welcome Center. Step in the door and your eyes are drawn to the educational resource center and its wall of smart TVs displaying digitized pictures of Byesville’s history. One screen is devoted to veterans.

 The next thing a visitor notices are the display cases. One exhibits samples of products manufactured in Byesville—cute plastic toys, handy kitchen utensils, and pottery. Another display holds memories of local schools.

An Open House for the museum is scheduled for October 28.

Jackson reported that work on the museum was instigated by a water leak three years ago. Much of the village’s paper history was damaged. The village decided to use the insurance money to renovate the museum--the walls were repainted, new lighting and new flooring was installed, CARES money was used to develop an education center containing smart TVs and six research stations linked to the internet.

The educational resource center provides internet access to people who want to look for a job, work on a school project or take a class. The museum also serves as the village Welcome Center. Rack cards and pamphlets about area business and tourist attractions are available.

Jackson and Port indicated that continuing plans for the museum include increasing access to Byesville’s history by developing a small back room which currently contains a small, old-fashioned and very heavy printing machine. Additionally, they are planning to develop the upstairs room into a meeting space. Jackson wants to re-establish the Historical Society and create various types of activities centered on the museum.

Currently, the museum is staffed by volunteers. Open hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Hours may vary. Please call to confirm we are open at 740-260-3088 or watch our Facebook page.

People interested in volunteering can connect with the VIP (Volunteer Impact Program) by going to www.ByesvilleOH.gov.  Look for the volunteer link under the “Our Community” button.

Connect with #ByesvilleRotary at: www.Byesvillerotary.blogspot.com or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Byesville-Rotary/256548047818283. Join us for a meeting—most club meetings are live streamed to Facebook and Zoomed. Watch the Byesville Rotary Facebook page for details.