New Historical Museum Eyed

PETERSBURG – Upper Township Committee resolved March 12 with a formal action to move forward with support for a proposal to establish a historical museum. 
The proposal is the initiative of the Historical Preservation Society of Upper Township which would include the township as a co-partner in the establishment of the museum.
The committee has been weighing how to institute the museum for several months. It is planned to be in the municipality’s former town hall in Tuckahoe in a structure built in 1908.
One of the issues that committee needed to address was that of asbestos mitigation of the building that was scheduled to start March 12.
According to Township Engineer Paul Dietrich, that date needed to be postponed due to recent storms. “I expect the work to start March 19 which will take about a week. So by our next meeting, I think I’ll be able to report we have a clean bill of health on the asbestos,” Dietrich said.
Both Mayor Richard Palombo and other committee members intend to pursue grants before the township provides any financial support. Committee member John Coggins suggested a federal grant that supports historical buildings and museums with an application first made to the state that the building is a “legitimate historical site.” Palombo added that not only is the site the former township hall, it was also a school before that time.
The Historical Preservation Society is also pursuing a grant, this one from the county.
Palombo said committee’s resolution is to indicate support of the museum “in principle” by the township rather than an indication of any upcoming financial support from the municipality which will require another resolution.
Committee member Hobart Young noted that society members have invested a great deal of time to get the concept of the museum up and running and that they also have made a financial commitment. “They have collected $10,000 for architect’s fees, and the expectation is that the township will split the total cost of the $20,000 architect’s fee with (the society),” explained Young.
Society Museum Committee Chair Robert Holden expressed thanks during the public comment portion of the meeting to the committee and said that he and his colleagues already are gathering photos and artifacts that can be exhibited at the museum.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.