Newsworthy: Renovations Move Forward for Saline County Historical Society Museum

• October 9, 2023

• Local

• By Sarah Gray/Managing Editor

Several members of the Saline County Historical Society’s board of directors meet at the future site of the organization’s museum. Pictured are: Kathy Green, Arlene Borchers, Phyllis Moore, Jack Harvey and Connie Reagles (not pictured). The historical society currently has more than 50 members and is open to everyone. Historic items from Saline County can be donated for display. (Sarah Gray/Democrat-News)

On the northeast corner of Marshall’s downtown square, a building more than a century old is undergoing restoration.

Residents became used to seeing the old building closed down, with paper window coverings to keep the inside from view. After some transitions in the Saline County Historical Society, members of the nonprofit 501c3 are vibrant, and eager to open the main floor of the historical society’s museum to the public.

“Our objective is to do Phase 1, which is get this part of the building open,” Jack Harvey, the renovation committee chairman, stated. “We’re hoping to get this done in the next few months.”

Extensive work has been done to the Saline County Historical Society museum building, located on the northeast corner of the Marshall square, including scraping the brick walls, repainting the original ceiling tile, roof work, and a full basement renovation. The main floor is nearly finished, with the exception of

new flooring.

(Sarah Gray/Democrat-News)

A group of board members met in the main entrance. The floor – still covered in piles of debris after Harvey and several volunteers scraped plaster off the brick walls. The brick is in remarkable shape, save for roughly half a dozen small areas that will need to be tuckpointed. After that, a coat of sealant will be applied.

And don’t forget to look up. The original ceiling tiles boasting three different designs have been cleaned and painted, and support columns that run through the center of the main floor have also been refurbished.

Harvey and fellow historical society members Kathy Green, Arlene Borchers and Phyllis Moore discussed what work had been done so far. It has been an extensive project to date, albeit the public has not been able to see the progress. Work on the roof of the building is complete. It was paid for by the historical society’s insurance. Green stated two new furnaces and HVAC have been installed.

(Sarah Gray/Democrat-News)

“They cleaned up the basement,” Green noted. “We’ve got tons of light down there. They put in LEDs, and it’s so bright, and they’ve done a beautiful job. The shelving (from the main floor), they’ve taken it downstairs, and we’re going to put it up on the walls. Jack and his crew are going to put that up, and we

can get stuff off the floor and start archiving.”

Bathrooms in the basement have been completed, as well. The main floor includes the large front room that accounts for most of the square footage, and then a hallway and several rooms in the back.

Historical society members plan to create an office space and genealogy room in Phase 1. Green joked that the first time she stepped into the building, she nearly turned around and went back out.

“There was stuff piled six, seven feet tall,” she said. “And there was just one little lane going down this side, and one little lane going down the other side. So, we have stored all the display cabinets – Jack has, with the help of some of the guys from (Missouri Valley College). We sorted through everything up here. So we’re going to be very selective when people start bringing things in. There’s going to be criteria … it’s going to have to be related to Saline County.”

Harvey reiterated that several members of the MVC wrestling team gave their time to help move donated items and cabinets. Four of them would be coming in that weekend to help him clear debris.

The committee members said they would be compensating those volunteers for the debris cleanup, because of the labor involved.

“We have murals that were painted,” Moore added. “Our plan is to place them on the (covered) window spots.”

Moore was referring to several areas on the north wall where once-used windows had been bricked in. Historical society members considered opening them back up, but they were informed the additional sunlight could possibly damage artifacts. The large murals, painted by local residents, would hang high

on the wall with dedicated lighting. Additionally, Borchers stated flooring would be a combination of laminate in one area and carpet tiles in another.

The ceiling tile features three different designs, and was patched with saved tiling where the Gamble’s department store staircase originally opened to the second floor.

(Sarah Gray/Democrat-News)

The members do have some items they want to sell, and they have already begun a fundraising campaign. To complete work to the building, including renovations to the second floor, the Saline County Historical Society will need a considerable amount of funds to work with. Moore and fellow member Connie Reagles recently finished up a mailing for the campaign.

“No matter how little it is or how big it is, it’s important,” Green said of monetary donations. “And we want everybody to feel like this is their museum. It’s the community’s museum, not the board’s museum. We’ll have a membership meeting in November, and we’ll announce that we’re ready to take

on people to do archiving.”

Extensive work has been done to the Saline County Historical Society museum building, located on the northeast corner of the Marshall square, including scraping the brick walls, repainting the original ceiling tile, roof work, and a full basement renovation. The main floor is nearly finished, with the exception of

new flooring.

(Sarah Gray/Democrat-News)

Moore elaborated on that thought, stating the historical society and museum is not just a reflection of Marshall. It includes all Saline County communities.

“We want those people to get involved, as well,” she said. “We want their input. We want them to have things to show from their families.”

The Saline County Historical Society has approximately 50 members. Once the flooring is installed, they are considering hosting a soft opening of the museum.

“I know people are curious,” Green said. “We have a plan. So far, the board has done all the work that’s been done in here, along with the renovation team, Lee Reagles, Tim Musgraves and Darrell Evans … so we’ve had some expertise. We know there are other people out there that have expertise to help us put

up displays. We’re going to need volunteers to keep this place open – because this is our history.”

The organization is a 501c3 nonprofit, so donations are tax deductible. A membership meeting will be scheduled for 2 p.m. Nov. 11 at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church Fellowship Room in Marshall. For more information about the historical society, to see photos of progress in the building, and to find out how to

donate, visit https://www.facebook.com/SalineCountyHistoricalSociety.