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Pleasant Hill School House
Historical Museum year in
review -- impacted by COVID
STEUBENVILLE -- Things didn't go off as planned during 2020 for most organizations, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, and the Pleasant Hill School House Historical Museum on state Route 213 had that experience as well.
Their most recent newsletter notes that because of COVID-19 precautions, all of its fundraisers from March through the end of the year were canceled.
That included the Christmas in July fundraiser, the fall festival and craft shows, open houses, field trips and the annual Christmas cookie sale.
Still, donations and memberships from the community are accepted and needed, according to the newsletter. "We greatly appreciate your help and patronage in the past, and we hope to be able to bring back all the fun fundraisers and community gatherings as soon as possible," the newsletter reads. "The running of the museum is still ongoing, and bills still need paid so any help would be greatly appreciated in helping to keep the Pleasant Hill School House Historical Museum operational and ongoing until the country can get back to normal."
All donations to the museum are tax-deductible and are greatly appreciated by the museum, it adds. "All donations are used to help us continue to make renovations and allow the museum to stay open to the public to share our history with the entire community."
There are varying levels of membership support available: Student, $5; alumni, $5; family, $10; friend, $20; principal, $50; superintendent, $100; and lifetime, $150. Checks can be made payable to the Pleasant Hill School House Historical Museum and mailed to Lara Finney, 151 Lovers Lane, Steubenville OH 43953.
In July, however, members were able to have the flag pole reinstalled with a flag-raising ceremony held at the August board meeting.
"We would like to thank our wonderful volunteers Chad Brown and Everett Grimm for donating their time and supplies to install the flag pole next to our sign," the newsletter reads. "The flag pole needed moved due to the car accident that took out our sign and damaged the building and because of the addition of our new ramp entrance. We are happy to once again have it raised and a light on it for all to see and enjoy on the hilltop."
The museum welcomed a new board member in Deborah M. Hendricks, according to the newsletter. Hendricks has worked in the Edison Local School District as a librarian in Richmond, then taught special education 20 years at Springfield Middle School, finishing her final five years teaching science at Edison High School.
She and her husband, Tom, have two children and four grandchildren.
Hendricks volunteered to make a digital history of the renovation of the museum for the 10-year anniversary and produced this history as a DVD. She also has served as a substitute "school marm" for museum tours with local grade schools traditionally hosted in May. The newsletter quotes Hendricks as commenting that she "absolutely loved what was done to preserve this piece of our history and is thrilled to be part of this work."
The museum's board of directors includes: Ryan Finney, president; John Finney, vice president; Connie Crawford, secretary; Karen Lundquist, corresponding secretary; Lara Finney, treasurer; and board members Hendricks, Avis Henry, Kay Kempler, Kasey Kuntz, Dave Nicholson, Gloria Renda and Joyce Zimmerman.