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HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Printed From: MiddletownUSA.com
Category: Middletown City Government
Forum Name: Economic Development
Forum Description: Local government efforts to develop the local Middletown area economy.
URL: http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5392
Printed Date: Nov 15 2025 at 11:51pm


Topic: HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Subject: HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Date Posted: Jul 30 2013 at 7:46am
Posted: 3:45 p.m. Monday, July 29, 2013
MIDDLETOWN

Historical Society sells building to out-of-town artist

By http://www.middletownjournal.com/staff/michael-d-pitman/" rel="nofollow - Michael D. Pitman

Staff Writer

MIDDLETOWN —

The Middletown Historical Society has sold its building on South Main Street to an Iowa artist and composer of operas.

After the Middletown Community Foundation donated the former YWCA women’s shelter to the historical society earlier this year, society board member Sam Ashworth said the board decided to sell the Pickwick Building at 56 S. Main St. — a building they’ve been in for 13 years.

“When we were given the other building, that allowed us to put the Pickwick up for sale,” said Ashworth. “And that allowed us to put the earnings to help our endowment.”

Ashworth said the building was purchased by Christine Lohr, an artist based in Iowa. She could not be reached for comment, Monday afternoon.

The sales price wasn’t available Monday, but the historical society purchased the building in January 2000 for $190,000, according to the Butler County Auditor’s website. The auditor has placed a value of $148,370 on the building and land, according to the website.

The Middletown Community Foundation donated the yellow-and-white, two-story house at 23 N. Broad St., to the Middletown Historical Society because it is “in line” with the foundation’s work in assisting with downtown revitalization, according to Executive Director T. Duane Gordon.

The historical society will move 13 years worth of Middletown history on Aug. 1 and Aug. 5 into the recently donated building that’s a few blocks north of the Pickwick Building.

“The reason we bought (the Pickwick Building) is we had been given the Armco archives, which comprised of about 50 boxes — and we had no place to put them,” said Ashworth. “We’ve accumulated a lot of artifacts.”

The new building on Broad Street gives the society more space for exhibits, and there is an auditorium that allows for larger presentations and meetings.


Replies:
Posted By: Historic House Guy
Date Posted: Aug 03 2013 at 4:32pm
Vivian, how did you make out with the Vault a few years ago. Was it ever restored?

Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Aug 04 2013 at 8:09am

Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Aug 04 2013 at 8:56am

HHG
    After 60 years of total neglect by City Hall it is a miracle that it is still standing at all.
    The vault is not fully restored yet however the stonework and gutters have been repaired, the new steel doors have been completed and the entire frame of the roof has been replaced. So now we still need about 20,000 dollars in donations for the slate roof and cupola.
    After the roof we would like some type of patio area to the front and then we will start work on the interior of the vault that will hold the maps and records of the 7,000 people interred in this historic cemetery
    When the vault is completed it will be used as an informational and educational center for our community and those that visit the cemetery.
    The above 2005 illustration is what I hope it will look like when completed.


    Lots of work still needs to be completed at the cemetery.  I believe it will take about another 10 years to correct the records, reset and repair all the tombstones, replant the trees, repair or replace fences and repair the driveways.

Posted By: Historic House Guy
Date Posted: Aug 04 2013 at 9:20am
What materials is the cupola made of? My former residence was in West Pawlet, Vt. Also known as "Slate Valley" where all the quarrys are that makes colored slate for roofs. $20,000 dollars seems a bit high but that may be because Durable Slate has the market cornered in this area.

Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Aug 04 2013 at 10:05am
Cupola is about 5 foot tall at ridge of roof by 2 foot square at base


Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Aug 04 2013 at 10:29am

HHG
The total cost of the slate roof with copper ridges and valleys and cupola is about 29,000 dollars. Dura Slate’s quote was about twice this cost. The slate that was on the Middletown vault was weathering green. I believe the cupola that was on the Middletown Cemetery vault but slightly larger was the same as the Miltonville vault which is tin. To reproduce the cupola in either tin or copper is about 4,500 dollars…the real cost is in labor because of the design.
The Miltonville vault was built in 1882 and is smaller than the Middletown vault.
Thank goodness the Miltonville vault had been taken care over the years or my job would have been almost impossible.

 

Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Aug 04 2013 at 10:41am
Middletown Cemetery Vault 1-03-2004

Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Aug 04 2013 at 10:53am

HHG
The Middletown Cemetery also had a large 25 foot circular fish pond and beautiful fountain in the front area. I wish I knew where the fountain disappeared to….

Posted By: Historic House Guy
Date Posted: Aug 04 2013 at 1:10pm
Didn't the fountain at Smith park come from one of the cemeteries? I thought I remember being told that at one of the S Main St. Meetings. I have some training in stone monument repair and cleaning if you ever need another volunteer.

Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Aug 04 2013 at 5:12pm

The large 3 tier fountain on Main Street, at North Park, came from Woodside Cemetery.
I will give you a call and you can help me probe for all the downed stones also. John Walters from Indiana restored about 100 of the large stones at the cemetery last year. In fact he will be at the Dick Creek Cemetery the last week of September doing a workshop for Warren County.

Posted By: da120757
Date Posted: Aug 04 2013 at 6:53pm

We need a fundraiser idea to raise the money to complete the roof..  Hey Vivian since you are still so involved in the Cemetery how about you take on that task???

Posted By: Historic House Guy
Date Posted: Aug 05 2013 at 6:30pm
Originally posted by Vivian Moon Vivian Moon wrote:

The large 3 tier fountain on Main Street, at North Park, came from Woodside Cemetery.
I will give you a call and you can help me probe for all the downed stones also. John Walters from Indiana restored about 100 of the large stones at the cemetery last year. In fact he will be at the Dick Creek Cemetery the last week of September doing a workshop for Warren County.


Is the workshop open to volunteers? I'd love to learn more.


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