FUTURE IN DOUBT — The late Frank “Digger” Dawson, board president, is seen inside the Upper Ohio Valley Museum at the Lou Holtz Hall of Fame. The facility needs the community’s help to remain open, officials explain. -- File photo

EAST LIVERPOOL — What the future holds for the Upper Ohio Valley Museum at the Lou Holtz Hall of Fame in East Liverpool is in question right now as the museum facility faces uncertainty over its ability to remain open through the end of the year.

The financial situation for the museum, which showcases the city’s history and culture, houses a learning center and serves as a community gathering place for several organizations is in dire straits and is asking for the community’s help so it can remain open.

Director Michelle Roberts said the museum is down to its last $8,000, and that is approximately what it takes to stay open for a month due to the utility bills, with the electric bill running approximately $2,000 a month and the gas costing $1,000 a month. Insurance runs $500, plus there are salaries.

We have the expenses and no funds coming in for them, Roberts said. With the museum having free entry due to the by-laws stating admission cannot be charged and must always remain free, the center has been functioning on donations.

The museum used to hold annual induction ceremonies where between 500 and 600 people would attend at approximately $150 a person. According to Roberts, this event would provide the museum with enough money to cover operating expenses for a year.

“With Coach’s (Frank “Digger” Dawson) advancing age and health concerns we couldn’t count on having the induction ceremonies, so we haven’t had one for a while,” Roberts said. “We had a small one three years ago, but since then we haven’t been able to have them and so we have depleted our resources.”

Roberts said the museum is seeking community support now to raise money to at least get the museum through the end of year and give them time to find grants and other ways to raise money to keep it open.

Roberts said they are attempting a grassroots fundraising effort which involves giving out 1,000 envelopes and asking people to give $20 in the envelopes to keep the hall of fame in town and keep the doors open.

Envelopes can be picked up at the Upper Ohio Valley Museum at the Lou Holtz Hall of Fame, 102 E. Fifth St., East Liverpool, Ohio, 43920. Anyone can go in and request an envelope. Roberts is handing out five envelopes at a time to anyone who requests one so they can share them with their friends. The envelopes can be dropped off at the museum or mailed in. The museum is also taking donations at the museum or by mail.

Local artist and resident Craig Wetzel has set up a Venmo account to accept donations with the link to that found on his Facebook page.

Roberts said if 1,000 people each donate $20 it will keep the museum open into next year and give them the time they need to plan other fundraisers.

“In the past week and a half, we have had a lot of people stop in and say here is $20 and I am so appreciative of them giving us their hard-earned money,” Roberts said.

If the funds are not reached, the museum will face closing in early December. In that scenario, Roberts said she will have to call a meeting of the board of directors who will have to make the final decision on what to do.

The board has been operating without a president since Dawson, who held the position, died June 20 at the age of 90.

Roberts noted the displays at the museum were donated by many people and she doesn’t know if contractually they have to be returned to them, but she feels like they would need to send them back or let the donors know they can come pick up their display if the museum has to close. The building could possibly be sold with the money being used to pay for any outstanding bills.

“I feel like the downtown is on the precipice to be turning the corner to do some really good things and this would just be such a blow to have this building, to have the hall of fame leave the downtown area,” Roberts said.

“The museum is our history. The Ceramic Museum covers the ceramic industry here, but this covers our local history and the history up and down the Ohio Valley,” Roberts said. “So many people don’t realize what a rich history we have and then they come in here and they are so surprised and appreciative of everything that has happened here in East Liverpool. It lets them see people from the Ohio Valley who have achieved great things because we their cases and we have the flags for them.”

Roberts noted that a lot of educational activities take place at the museum in the STEM room and the Make It Hands on History Room. The museum has grab-and-go bags for classroom visits and workout shops for students.

The museum serves as a meeting location for the East Liverpool Beautification Committee and the America 250 Committee. The Rotary has met there at different times and there is a cooking club that meets there once a month.

Roberts invites everyone to come into the museum and see what they have to offer so people can realize what they could be losing.

“People come in from out of town all the time, but we take for granted what a gem we have here, so I would love for people to come in and do the tours and see what this offers here.” Roberts said. “it’s not a sporty museum and it’s not a Lou Holtz Museum; it is a history museum and a learning center.”