Apr 26, 2024 By Amy Fauth 5 min read

Over the winter months, the staff of the Greene County Historical Society Museum has been busy doing maintenance, and making repairs and renovations in anticipation of an even busier spring and summer at one of the county’s most unique sites.

The museum, located in the former Greene County Home, a former almshouse or poor farm, will kick off its season with an Opening Day celebration from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 27.

According to Matt Cumberledge, executive director of the historical society, there’s a lot on tap for opening day, including something really special that the community will not want to miss. For only the third time, the historical society will have a variety of historic documents on display, including letters by George Washington, Patrick Henry and Abraham Lincoln, and documents signed by Benjamin Franklin.

An avid historian and researcher, and lifelong Greene County resident, Cumberledge said these unique artifacts are amazing pieces of the historical society’s collection of 30,000 artifacts it houses at the museum.

According to Cumberledge, the Washington letter details a time when the United States was attempting to acquire a triangle-shaped plot of land that bordered Lake Erie and mentions “hostilities with natives.”

Although a pretty significant letter, Cumberledge said his favorite document is a letter from Patrick Henry to Thomas Mifflin, former president of the Continental Congress, a major general in the Continental Army and the first governor of Pennsylvania.

While these letters and documents are always in the museum’s possession, they are kept off-site in a secure facility and they are not often displayed due to how fragile and sensitive the documents are. So, Cumberledge said, it’s an excellent opportunity for families to see these pieces of history firsthand.

There will be self-guided tours available inside the museum, featuring the new doctor’s office on the second floor, where Cumberledge said it would have been located, an infirmary room, and a new nursery room.

The museum also boasts historic bedrooms, Victorian parlors, a general store, poor house cells, a military room and chapel. On the grounds, the property also features a cabin, print shop and historic barn.

In addition to many of the maintenance and normal repairs, Cumberledge said several rooms on the second floor have undergone complete makeovers, like the sitting room, which had to be replastered, painted and furnished.

The second floor also got an electrical overhaul to replace bad wiring. The attic (third floor), which has been sealed for years, also was rewired and is undergoing renovations, but isn’t quite ready to welcome the public.

Outside the main building on opening day, there will also be plenty of activities. Visitors can take a step back in time at the Revolutionary War-era tavern and an encampment by the 140th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment reenactment group.

The Waynesburg and Washington Railroad locomotive will also be on display.

In addition, there will be a number of groups doing demonstrations on the grounds and vendors offering food and refreshments on-site.

As families pull into the museum parking lot, they will notice one of the most time-consuming and necessary updates that took place this past off-season — the repair and restoration of hundreds of the museum’s historic windows in the main building. Work crews have completed 120 of the 150 windows that need work, and the rest will be done soon.

“The plan is to get them done this year, but we are taking a break (for the opening),” said Cumberledge.

Cumberledge said the museum will have 10 to 15 volunteers working April 27 to assist with all the activities, and he’s excited for the community to see all of the off-season upgrades.

“This is really one of the most unique places to see in Greene County,” said Cumberledge.

The home was once known as an almshouse or poor farm, which were institutions used by rural counties to provide support and care for the rural poor and other groups of people dependent on the public for help.

He added that the staff really feels fortunate to be stewards of such an incredible home.

“Not a lot of historical societies have a museum like this,” said Cumberledge. “Most county historical societies are located in a Victorian-era house, and this is so much bigger and there’s so much space.”

While it is a great opportunity to have the space to do so many programs and exhibits, Cumberledge admits that because of its size, there is a lot more maintenance required.

The museum — formerly called the Greene County Home — was opened in 1862 and operated for a little over a century, seeing well over 6,000 residents in that time.

“There’s few buildings like it,” said Cumberledge. “Not only do you get to have an unforgettable experience, but you get to learn the history of what life was like in an institution like this.”

Later this year, the museum has some other special events planned in addition to its normal business hours, including the Cruisin’ the Museum Car Show on June 8, Christmas in July on July 20, the Harvest Festival Oct. 5 and 6 and Christmas Open House Dec. 7 and 8.