A group of local historians and friends came together at the Butler-Clear Fork Valley Museum to celebrate a milestone in preserving the history of the Village of Butler and the Clear Fork valley. A celebration honoring the 25 anniversary of the completion of the original portion of the museum was held on Thursday.
Chuck Lifer, a former president of the Butler Historical Society, spoke to the members who gathered for the celebration and said, ”I would like to give thanks to who have volunteer through the years. Your continued support is greatly appreciated.”
The Historical Society was formed in 1978 by local residents who wanted to preserve the historical records of the village, and family and local businesses. Through various measures of fundraising the group formed a committee with the goal to construct a building for the purpose of housing historical artifacts.
When $25,000 of the $30,000 goal was reached, construction began July, 1987 and the grand opening was July 1988.
Jim Lifer, the current president and brother of past president Chuck Lifer, spoke in recognition of the volunteers and donors who made the project possible from the start. “The local village has been very supportive through the years. As we added to the building and grew the society, I thank everyone who made it a possibility,” said Lifer.
Del Mellott, Historical Society member and builder of the original portion of the museum said, ”Butler is a great town with great people. People with a great work ethic and who support one another. There wasn’t a person we asked that didn’t do something in the making of this dream, this project, come true.”
Donors and volunteers were recognized for their contributions, those in attendance and those who have passed were mentioned.
The museum is an all-volunteer organization with exhibits that focus on Butler and Worthington Township. Artifacts include antique household goods of local families, school memorabilia, local manufactured goods, business advertisements, military material, woodcarvings of Harley Ward and an extensive toy collection of Hal McCuen and Harley Ward.
The research collection includes files on local families and other genealogical and historical resources. Albums of historical photographs, original family papers, scrapbooks, Bibles, village and township records, and oral historical recordings are also preserved and available to view.
The museum is open to the public with scheduled open houses twice a month April-October. Guided tours are available by appointment. Butler third graders tour the museum once a year as part of their local history curriculum. The library, office and archives are open for research one day a week.
Those interested in visiting the museum and viewing artifacts or using the research facility and materials may contact museum curator Peggy Mershon at 419-989-1679.
”Butler is a great town with great people. People with a great work ethic and who support one another. There wasn’t a person we asked that didn’t do something in the making of this dream, this project, come true,” said Del Mellott.
