Improving our Museum and Museum Experience

County Historical Museum Seeks Approval for an Operating Levy
 
Urbana, Ohio – July 7, 2016  - For 82 years the Champaign County Historical Society (CCHS) has preserved the heritage and artifacts of Champaign County.  Its mission is to display to the public Champaign County’s history at its museum at 809 East Lawn Avenue, Urbana. 
 
The Society is now seeking to augment its donations and dues with a three-tenths (0.3) of a mill operating levy in order to open the museum to the public more often, to improve its youth programs, and to improve the displays of Champaign County history.
 
The CCHS Museum is currently open to the public on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10am to 4pm.  The artifacts on display include a wide range of relics including: prehistoric Native American relics, relics of Simon Kenton and Tecumseh, the first United States Medal of Honor presented, the former Spring Hills log jail building, historic period clothing, military uniforms, agricultural implements, aviation items from Grimes, and pans manufactured by the American Pan Company.
 
CCHS President Dan Walter explained the purposes of the levy in this way:  “For 82 years we have preserved and supported the collections with volunteer support, society dues, and generous donations.  We  have created a very good museum, but our ability to be open to the public is limited to two days a week.   We would like the museum to be open to the public more often, at least five days a week – in order to tell the Champaign County story” 
 
CCHS Treasurer Larry Headlee explained that if the voters of Champaign County would approve the 3/10th of a mil levy, the museum would be able to fund the pay of a professional curator/director who can help preserve and improve the care and display of our artifacts.  It would also  allow the museum to have a greater presence in the community and permit the  introduction of new youth-based programs linking Champaign County youth with their history.
 
President Walter noted that the levy request would equate to an annual tax increase of  $10.50 per average household and would allow the museum to be open up to five days a week.
 
He noted that it is not unusual for a county historical museum to be partially supported by public funds.   The Clark, Logan, and Miami County historical museums are funded by tax levies larger than the one proposed in Champaign County.
 
The CCHS has established a Campaign Committee, appointed former County Commissioner Max Coates of North Lewisburg as Campaign Treasurer, opened a campaign account at the First Central National Bank in Saint Paris, and filed all appropriate federal, state, and local forms.
 
The Champaign County Historical Society Museum is the local agency responsible for preserving the historical artifacts that record the memories of the past citizens of the county in order that their contributions to our county’s progress will never be forgotten.
 
For more information on the CCHS and proposed operating levy, please call the museum at 937-653-6721.   Contributions to the “CCHS Museum Campaign” may be sent to P. O. Box 65, Urbana, OH 43078-0065