The fate of the Cherryville Historical Museum has changed

Kara Fohner, Gaston Gazette
·2 min read
The exterior of the Cherryville Historical Museum on East Main Street in Cherryville Monday afternoon, June 12, 2023.
The exterior of the Cherryville Historical Museum on East Main Street in Cherryville Monday afternoon, June 12, 2023.

The Cherryville Historical Museum will stay where it is currently located in downtown Cherryville, and two leaders of the historical association board are stepping down, according to the city.

The announcement came after a months-long period of negotiations between historical association leaders and the Cherryville City Council. In August, City Manager Brian Dalton ordered the Historical Association to return the keys and vacate 109 E. Main St. no later than Dec. 31.

The city wanted to sell the museum property to Patrick O'Leary, the investor behind Cherryville Main Street LLC, who has purchased more than 20 building parcels in and around downtown Cherryville.

Patrick O'Leary addresses the Cherryville City Council, asking them to accept his offer to buy the building that houses the Cherryville Historical Museum
Patrick O'Leary addresses the Cherryville City Council, asking them to accept his offer to buy the building that houses the Cherryville Historical Museum

Former Historical Association Al Putnam attempted to fight the sale in court, asking a judge to declare the Cherryville Historical Association the owners of the property. The city asked that a judge dismiss those claims.

Jill Puett, a member of the Cherryville City Council, said a judge eventually said that the lawsuit would be dismissed if Putnam did not back down.

On Jan. 16, the city announced a resolution: the museum will remain where it is, and Putnam and historical association treasurer Lorie Pruitt will both resign from the board. Furthermore, the City Council will appoint new board members to the historical association, a matter that was at the heart of the conflict between city council members and the historical association.

Putnam said in an interview that although he resigned, he feels like he won because the sale isn't happening.

"I'm told that we won. I'm not gonna be so open and brass to say that we won. I still think that we could've worked out some better organizational issues or problems with things, but again, we won, because the museum isn't being sold," he said.

Puett said that the City Council has already received applications for the museum board, and the city is preparing to replace the roof of the museum. Applications for the board can be obtained from Cherryville City Clerk, Paige Green.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Newest development in Cherryville Historical Museum's fate