Construction of the Hillsdale County Historical Society’s new museum at the Poor House grounds is on track to finish by this spring, according to member Kathy Fowler.
The new museum, Kathy Fowler said, will be home to the historic 1931 Seagrave firetruck and other artifacts like buggies, sleighs, and farming equipment.
“Finally having the museum built is exciting,” Kathy Fowler said. “It’s nice to be moving forward with the truck. The new building will also be nice because we can display many more artifacts than what we’ve displayed in the past.”
Foulke Construction began working on the project at the end of last year. Since beginning construction, workers have poured the floor, added the porch, attached the roof, inserted windows, added doors, and put up metal siding.
Matt Taylor, the project manager from Foulke Construction, said the winter weather has been the most challenging aspect of the building process.
“It’s difficult for carpenters and others to work in cold conditions,” Taylor said in an email. “Your fingers don’t quite work as well in the cold. Holding small screws either with exposed cold skin or added bulk from gloves is something that doesn’t immediately come to mind as a factor, but it becomes one when temperatures dip into the twenties or lower. Materials often don’t like the cold either. Some can become brittle or in the case of concrete, special provisions need to be taken.”
Taylor added that one of the more unique aspects of the building is its frame, as it resembles the appearance of a traditional barn rather than a typical pole barn.
“While its framing is not a replica of historical barns, I think its resemblance has pleased everyone,” Taylor said. “Pleasing clients is always among the most rewarding parts of the work.”
Historical Society member Tony Fowler said the construction team will insert original bricks from Broad Street in the floor where the Seagrave will sit.
“Several years ago when they dismantled the brick road on Broad Street, we had a lot of bricks from that project,” Tony Fowler said. “The old fire station used to be in City Hall. The bricks were from the road that went by City Hall. The firetruck will sit on those original bricks.”
Tony Fowler added that it will be nice for the Historical Society to have a display area where artifacts can be stored properly. The Historical Society cannot control the temperature in the old barn, where items are currently stored, leading to a moisture problem. Both Kathy and Tony Fowler agreed that the new museum will allow members to better preserve the artifacts.
In addition to the museum on the Poor House grounds, Kathy Fowler added that the Historical Society is trying to decide what to do with its barn on Wolcott Street.
“We’re getting an estimate of what it’s going to cost to fix, but we expect the number to be unattainable for us,” Kathy Fowler said. “The main part of the barn has some nice old-barn features and good woodwork. We’re hoping to find somebody to buy the barn and take it apart.”
Kathy Fowler said many of the items being stored in the barn at Wolcott Street are going to be moved into the new museum on the Poor House grounds.
As the society decides what to do with the barn on Wolcott Street, Kathy Fowler said the society is also working on developing a fundraising committee.
“We’re always looking for new members and financial help to help with our projects so we can continue to grow our displays and keep the history of Hillsdale documented and alive,” she said.
