By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Dana Nemeth remembers wanting to show her father-in-law, a World War II veteran, the new exhibit about the war at the Wood County Historical Center. But when they got to the museum, she quickly realized it was not possible.
The WWII exhibit was on the second floor, and her father-in-law could not climb the stairs.
“I was really excited for him to see it,” Nemeth recalled. “It was such a disappointment.”
That was a decade ago, before Nemeth became director of the museum, and before the state gave the site a $600,000 grant to help pay for a $1.2 million elevator and accessibility accommodations.
By this summer, no aging veterans, no families with strollers, no people in wheelchairs will be limited to the first floor of the museum.
“It’s been a long time coming,” former Wood County Commissioner Jim Carter said Friday as the museum opened new exhibits and kicked off the construction of the elevator.
Former history teacher, State Senator Randy Gardner, R-Bowling Green, spoke of the need to make all floors of the facility accessible. “So all citizens could value and learn at this great community asset.”
The elevator has been a long time coming, first being discussed in the late 1970s. State Rep. Tim Brown, R-Bowling Green, spoke of the contributions of history buffs like Lyle Fletcher, Clark Duncan and the countless “barn bums” that helped preserve the site that was built in 1868.
“This was on the path perhaps for the wrecking ball at one time,” Brown said.
But public officials and historical society volunteers saw the value of the rambling brick building that was once used to house the county’s poor, elderly and ill.
The price tag, however, for an elevator was out of reach, Nemeth said.
“The cost was too much,” she said. “And since we’re a historic structure, we’re not required to make the building accessible.”
But the elevator remained a goal – even though it seemed distant at times.
“We wanted to make sure everybody could enjoy the museum,” she said.
So now, 10 years after bringing her father-in-law to the museum, Nemeth gets to oversee the installation of the elevator in the “fabulous old building.”
“My hard hat is my favorite accessory this winter,” she said.
The elevator will be located on the back of the west wing of the building. A carport will be located near it so people with disabilities can pull right up to the elevator, and easily access the building. The elevator will take visitors to the first and second floors. It will also allow the staff to access the basement and attic, which will make it much easier to move exhibits.
The $1.2 million total will also pay for the installation of handicap accessible restrooms at the museum. Care is being taken to maintain the historical quality of the building.
The historical society is still $300,000 short of meeting its goal. Anyone wanting to contribute to the “Join Us at the Top of the Stairs” project can look at fundraising opportunities at stepup@woodcountyhistory.org.
