Mount Holly museum to move off of Main Street
The Mount Holly Historical Society Museum will move from its current location in downtown Mount Holly to the city's municipal complex.
The museum, home to a variety of historical artifacts, is currently housed in a building that was once city hall, located at 131 S. Main St.
City officials have been discussing the possibility of moving the museum for more than a year. Mount Holly City Council voted to move the museum on Monday, with four council members for it and two against.
In February 2022, the Mount Holly City Council voted unanimously to approve approximately $85,000 in architectural design for the proposed site at the municipal complex on East Central Avenue.
In October 2022, the City Council approved $85,000 to conduct a facility condition assessment of the museum building, and the mayoral-appointed task force, called the Old City Hall Facilities Committee, was formed. This group includes representatives from the Historical Society (including its current president and three former presidents), City Council liaisons, city staff members, and residents, according to a press release.
"So they have vetted that whole process. This committee has been given the authority to select the architect, to get all the information, and then the city paid for that evaluation of the old city hall building," said Mount Holly Mayor Bryan Hough.
The assessment of the museum building found serious problems, including mold, asbestos, and lead paint. Renovating all three floors of the building would cost the city $3.5 million.
On Oct. 2, 2023, the Old City Hall Facilities Committee unanimously agreed to give the City Council direction to sell the Old City Hall and move the museum to the municipal complex.
The building housing the museum will be posted for sale in December, and at that time it will be subject to a public bidding process, Hough said.
The Historical Society asked for a month to raise funds to buy the building, and they were given 50 days, Hough added.
Richard Browne, a member of the Historical Society, said in an interview that while the Historical Society is reluctant to move, they may have to do so.
"We'd rather not move, but we may have to, you know? If we had our choice, they would sponsor, they would say, 'yeah, we'll fix it,'" he said.
He said that the Historical Society would like to raise money to buy the building, but it will be difficult.
"That's a pretty good reach there. … They have to raise a lot of money. It's a lot of money to raise in a short period of time," he said. ""As far as moving, if we don't get it, then they'll move into the space allotted down there at the city complex. That's probably where we're headed."
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Mount Holly museum to move off of Main Street
