Greene County Historical Society and Museum to reopen in June
After sewer system issues at the Greene County Historical Society and Museum threatened a lengthy delay, it will reopen next month thanks to an influx of community support.
Just before its opening weekend at the start of May, the museum in Franklin Township announced an indefinite closure after members of the historical society discovered a backup of raw sewage in the basement.
A GoFundMe page created to assist with the repairs had raised more than $18,000 as of Friday afternoon. The historical society also received large-scale help in the form of a $10,000 donation from EQT and $5,000 from the Greene County commissioners.
Built in stages between 1857 and 1889, the museum building was originally the Greene County Home, which served as a poorhouse for the county.
The museum is now scheduled to open for the year on June 6, opening for the day at 10 a.m. and closing at 4 p.m. It will resume normal hours thereafter.
“It’s been very humbling and nothing short of amazing,” said Matthew Cumberledge, executive director of the Greene County Historical Society. “I thought there was a chance we’d be closed for months or most of the summer trying to fix this stuff. It’s simply amazing we’ve been able to raise the money so quickly and reopen so quickly.”
On June 6, the museum will host a community cookout with free food and drinks.
Local artist Danielle Nylund will also be there for a special meet-and-greet, along with the bell she designed and created as part of the America250PA’s commemoration of the sesquicentennial. The bell, which depicts a tableau of scenes from throughout Greene County’s history, was unveiled at the museum last fall.
“I think that’s going to be absolutely fantastic,” Cumberledge said. “It’s a beautiful bell. I know Danielle’s excited to show it off, and we are here as well.”
The first phase of repairs is already underway. It consists of upgrades to the cast-iron pipes that service the bathrooms in the building, which date back to the installation of its indoor plumbing in 1886.
Some pipes had to be excavated in the work, which included internal resurfacing and lining, Cumberledge said.
A second phase immediately after will include outside work, and will be followed by a third phase later in the year, Cumberledge said.
Fundraising to cover the repairs continues. At the June 6 reopening, the historical society will also have a table selling tickets for a Cash Bash fundraiser being hosted by the Eagles Club on Aug. 2.
Proceeds from that and future fundraising will go toward remaining sewer and foundation repair costs, and hopefully move the museum closer to replacing several of the roofs at its complex, the historical society said.
The Eagles became involved almost immediately after news of the closure spread, Cumberledge said.
“They already had a plan together and started acting on it,” he said. “They were just wonderfully amazing people.”