Great Bend Museum Summarizes 2023

Hello from the Great Bend Museum in Ravenswood! We were founded in 1972 by the Jackson County Historical Society to share the history of our county and the Ohio River’s Great Bend region with objects, photographs and archives. In 2020, the Historical Society gave the museum and collection to the City of Ravenswood to carry on its mission of preserving and promoting county history. We want to dedicate this month’s column to reflecting on our achievements from the past year.

In January, we received a $4,000 grant to frame our large 1796 map of Jackson County, now hanging in Ravenswood City Hall’s lobby.

In February, we opened our new gift shop, which has generated over $2,000 in sales. We also installed our first interpretive signage for our ongoing exhibit upgrades. And, we represented West Virginia at Museums Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C.,, urging our legislators in Congress to support West Virginia museums.

In March, we installed a new fire detection system and began upgrading the electrical throughout the museum.

In April, we were awarded Institution of the Year by the West Virginia Association of Museums, recognizing our progress and potential since reopening in 2021. We used the award money to treat our volunteers to an appreciation banquet, which we are making an annual event.

In May, we built a historic walking trail around Riverfront Park. Seven signs tell visitors about the history of Lock 22 and the Sayre Log House. We also installed blackout window shades throughout the museum to protect our valuable collections from light damage.

In June, our volunteers, Brenda Webb and Carol Crow, completed cataloging the entire main floor of the museum and are now moving on to materials in storage. This was about 2,000 objects!

In July, we surveyed the Poor Farm cemetery at the Jackson County Fairgrounds. We’re looking to identify the precise locations of the graves there, although we’ll need another scan to finish the project — 2024 goals! We also hit a record of 87 attendees at our ice cream-making event, which we will make an annual event.

In August, we hit a record 200 visitors during the Ohio River Festival in one day. We also received an 1832 hand-drawn map of Ripley, which had been loaned to the library by Gay Duke.

In September, we joined other small museums nationwide at the American Association for State and Local History conference in Boise, Idaho. We learned about grants, apps and other resources to help us with some of our ongoing projects.

In October, we repaired the museum’s roof and received a $3000 Community Foundation of Jackson County grant to restore our newest David Homer McFarland painting. We also received a large blueprint cabinet from Constellium, which allows us to better preserve our newspapers, diplomas and advertisements.

In November, we received a $2,500 Parkersburg Area Community Foundation grant to upgrade the lighting in the museum. We finished our “In Memoriam: Jackson County in America’s Wars” exhibit just in time for Veterans’ Day. We also hosted Dr. Ric Dias, professor of History at Northern State University, who gave an online lecture about the history of Kaiser Aluminum here.

In December, we received a generous $500 donation from Judy and John Walker, and we finished the year with 1,939 visitors, up 58 percent from 2022! Here’s to a great 2023 and an even better 2024.

At 6 p.m. Jan. 19, we’ll host a Jackson County History Trivia Night! Join us at the Ravenswood Annex, 600 Mulberry St, for an evening of trivia questions about our county’s history, including Ravenswood, Ripley, Cottageville, Millwood, Silverton, Sandyville and more. Play individually or as a team. There will be snacks and prizes. Admission is free.

Our object of the month is an 1875 Welch Mantle Clock. Abijah and Ellen Hartley Sayre bought this clock in Pomeroy on January 25, 1875, riding a horse-drawn wagon over dirt roads and crossing the river on a ferry. Ellen carried the clock home on her lap and placed it in a position of honor on the mantle of their new Cow Run farmhouse. It was more than a time-keeping tool; mantle clocks were finely crafted statement pieces that brightened the home and showed off their owners’ taste. The Sayres would have been very proud to own this clock.

We hope this column has inspired you to explore, learn and appreciate the beauty of our museum’s offerings. We are a museum of all of Jackson County, for all of Jackson County. Please share your experiences with us, bring your friends, and help us spread the magic of our history.

Located at 220 Riverfront Park, museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Follow on Facebook, visit www.cityofravenswood/museum, call 304-273-1999 or email museum@cityofravenswood.com.