After delay, Greene County Historical Society Museum opens
Later than planned but earlier than feared, the Greene County Historical Society Museum opened for the season Saturday.
After a fundraising drive helped back necessary repairs to the building, the Historical Society thanked the community with a cookout and meet-and-greet with the artist behind the Greene County-themed Liberty Bell replica created to celebrate the semiquincentennial.
The traditional opening Rebellion Weekend, with re-enactors and other historical demonstrations, had been slated for early May. That got delayed after the discovery of sewage issues that led to a backup in the basement of the museum building, which still had the original pipes installed in the 19th century.
In response, community members donated more than $18,000 to the Historical Society’s GoFundMe page, augmented by private and public donations.
“It’s nice that we were able to do it so quickly,” said Matthew Cumberledge, executive director of the Greene County Historical Society. “When we initially closed, we had no idea of how long it would take, but our fundraising went extremely well and extremely fast.”
The community cookout had snacks, drinks and food — like the chicken Cumberledge cooked up in an oven that had been there since it was built into the wall in 1886.
“It’s actually really, really fun, and it’s convenient, because it’s surprisingly easy to use,” he said.
Outside the museum entrance, people stopped to look at artist Danielle Nyland’s Liberty Bell, part of America250PA’s project to create bells in every county decorated with artwork celebrating local history.
Nyland used outdoor acrylic paints on the bell, which was also topped with an automotive clear coat to withstand the elements. It will be mounted in front of the museum for at least the rest of the year, excepting its upcoming visit to the Greene County Fair in August.
“I’m excited that people will really be able to see it whenever, basically whenever they want now, as opposed to having to wait,” she said. “Drive by, and you can just see it just hanging out there.”
Drivers get to see her favorite side of the bell — the one with the Nemacolin Mine. Nyland is from Nemacolin, and her father and grandfather both worked there.
“I could submit whatever I wanted, so I made sure that I had my own personal connection to it, in addition to all the other things,” she said.
Nyland’s piece also includes rolling hills, sheep, and a Mail Pouch barn. While America250PA required the barn be left logoless, Nyland incorporated subtle nods to the familiar sight through yellow streaks in the paint.
Dave Jones of Brave stopped to talk with Nyland on the porch. A volunteer at the museum for the past five years, he was excited to see it back open. It’s got many pieces of local heritage, he said, including the last surviving engine from the Waynesburg-Washington Railroad, which discontinued service in 1929.
“This is what the county needs,” he said. “We need to get the local history.”
The bell also interested Jeff Taylor of Mather, who walked around it in a circle to catch everything. A member of the Greene County Historical Society, he’s also come many times to participate in the Civil War re-enactments.
“I’ve been a member, and I donated to the GoFundMe,” he said. “I was glad to see it opened so quickly. I was figuring fall.”
A stream of people picked up food, chatted with Nyland about the bell and popped in to see Cumberledge and hear about the repairs.
The first two phases of work — lining the pipes and dealing with the septic tank — have been completed, Cumberledge said.
The work also uncovered the fact that the museum is not connected to the public sewers, which no one had known before now, Cumberledge said.
“We will have to do that eventually, but we’re in good shape for now, which is very, very good,” Cumberledge said.