Rotary club members tour newly renovated Byesville Museum and Welcome Center

Special to the Daily Jeffersonian
·2 min read

BYESVILLE – Mayor Jay Jackson and Councilman Mike Port recently took Byesville Rotary members on a tour of the newly renovated Byesville Museum and Welcome Center. The center houses an educational resource center and a wall of smart televisions displaying digitized pictures of Byesville’s history. One screen is devoted to veterans.

Display cases exhibit samples of products manufactured in Byesville, including plastic toys, kitchen utensils and pottery. Another display holds memories of local schools.

Jackson said the museum was instigated by a water leak three years ago. Much of the village’s paper history was damaged. The village decided to use the insurance money to renovate the museum. The walls were repainted, new lighting and new flooring were installed, and CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act money was used to develop an education center containing smart TVs and six research stations linked to the internet.

The resource center provides internet access to people who want to look for a job, work on a school project or take a class. The museum also serves as the village Welcome Center. Rack cards and pamphlets about area businesses and tourist attractions are available.

Jordi Harding, Mike Port, Jim Bacos, Dennis Hardding, Tammie Archer and Jan Wilson check out the Smart TV screen presentation at the Byesville Welcome Center.
Jordi Harding, Mike Port, Jim Bacos, Dennis Hardding, Tammie Archer and Jan Wilson check out the Smart TV screen presentation at the Byesville Welcome Center.

Jackson and Port indicated that continuing plans for the museum include increasing access to Byesville’s history by repurposing a back room used for storage and developing the upstairs room into a meeting space. Jackson wants to re-establish the Historical Society and create various types of activities centered on the museum.

An open house is scheduled for Oct. 28. Currently, the museum is staffed by volunteers and is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, but hours may vary. It is recommended to confirm the center is open by calling 740-260-3088 or watching the Facebook page.

People interested in volunteering can connect with the Volunteer Impact Program by going to www.ByesvilleOH.gov.  Look for the volunteer link under the “Our Community" button.

Submitted by the Byesville Rotary

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Byesville Rotary Club members tour village's recently renovated museum