FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 5, 2009
Contact:
Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission: Jessica Fagan – 614.995.7552; jfagan@culture.ohio.gov
Fayette County Historical Society: Beverly J. Mullen – 740.335.0149
Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission Approves
$150,000 for Fayette County Museum
Columbus, Ohio – The Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission approved $150,000 at its quarterly meeting today for the Fayette County Museum.
The Fayette County Museum is housed in the former Morris Sharp estate, built in 1875. The Victorian-Italianate mansion was restored by the Fayette County Historical Society and opened as a local history museum in 1965. The 14-room, 3,600-square-foot home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The state appropriation will fund reconstruction of the side porch foundation and floor framing, creation of a side entrance, installation of a downspout drainage system and a basement dehumidification system, improvements to the carriage house, and construction of an ADA-compliant entrance ramp.
The Commission approval, coupled with the signing of legal agreements, allows the Fayette County Historical Society to be reimbursed on a pro rata basis with funds appropriated in Am. Sub. H.B. 562 of the 127th General Assembly. Fayette County General Assembly members who voted in favor of the bill include Senator John Carey and former Representative John Schlichter.
The Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission is a state agency that helps enhance the quality of life for Ohioans by improving the state’s cultural facilities. Since 1988, the Commission has disbursed more than $400 million in capital funds appropriated by the Legislature and Governor for facility improvement projects at nonprofit theaters, museums, historical sites and publicly owned professional sports venues. The Commission partners with nonprofit groups and local governments on more than 300 projects in 72 of Ohio’s 88 counties. For more information on the Commission, visit www.culture.ohio.gov.
