Friday, July 09, 1999
Museum expands to old post office
Society hopes to renovate by 2002
BY RICHELLE THOMPSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LEBANON — The year 2002 in this city is expected to be one of parades and festivals, of reflection on the past and anticipation for the future. The Warren County Historical Society hopes to have another reason to celebrate Lebanon's bicentennial: the addition of about 6,000 square feet of exhibition space at the museum.
The group hopes to com plete renovation of the former U.S. Post Office next to the museum at 104 E. Broadway. The addition will boost the museum's exhibit space by more than 20 percent and allow it to accept larger, donated items that it has been forced to turn away in the past, said Dixon Maple, president of the society.
“We still won't be able to take very many sleighs or buggies,” Mr. Maple joked, “but we'll be in the position to be able to expand and accept more things.”
The historical society bought the building from the city in March for $220,000. The society has hired an architect, Roth Partnership of Cincinnati, and plans to meet later this month to devise a campaign to raise an estimated $1 million for the project.
For Mr. Maple, the purchase of the post office is the culmination of four years of lobbying. When the federal government opened a new facility in 1997 on New Street northeast of downtown and closed the 1930s-era building on Broadway, Mr. Maple started campaigning to transform the mail center into exhibit and office space.
The historical society, which has an annual operating budget of $140,000, borrowed from its endowment fund to buy the building. It also entered into a lease-swap with the city: For $1 a year, the society will lease a small park on the south side of the building to convert into about 14 parking spots, while the city will pay $1 a year to use the front lobby of the former post office as a visitors' center.
An expansion into the old post office would accent the existing museum, that is a converted gymnasium donated to the community in 1913.
Housing demand near stadiums expected to rise
Study: Ohio in 25-year decline
For sale: Lake Erie island
Gap yawns between whites, black on Net
New-trial petition says Bible led jury
Zoo babies take the stage
THE ZOO MOMS
Casino's security reviewed after theft
Central State warned of defaults
Chief pleads guilty, resigns, but may keep job
Child loses Tay-Sachs fight
City crime rate drops 13% but experts restrain cheers
Councilmen question purpose of gun suit
Boy rescued from hotel pool
Dress code spiffs faculty
Man survives car crash by ducking
Parole in Partin case undecided
Smooth jazz has cool comeback
GET TO IT
Candidate calls for federal probe of shooting
Children's, Good Sam on best-hospitals list
City cable systems irk private business
Ex-official seeks Edgewood job
Father, son sue Cheviot over arrests
Girl, 10, calls 911 after fleeing fire
Kids play, learn in parks
Lawsuits claim Middletown violated open-meetings law
Mediation project wins Clermont courts $74,180
Museum expands to old post office
N.Ky. Homefest puts builders' best on display
Park helps residents celebrate officer's life
Safety, comfort priorities in Ross schools' face lift
Sewage-plant fight brews
Shopping center to shorten a food trip
Talawanda schools to receive $1.5M from state
Tax-credit bonds idea behind bill for school repair
Teen taking year to learn in Germany
TRISTATE DIGEST
Warren landfill issue moves to courtroom
