EXPLORING — Six-year-old Hugo Stutzman stands on tip toes to get a closer look at an art piece recreating Jefferson County’s early days. -- Linda Harris

STEUBENVILLE — When most people were home with their family on Christmas Day, Dan Mayhugh and his painter, Jeremy Grant, were up against a deadline, staining the dark cherry panels and trim pieces that would frame Jefferson County’s new historical museum display in the courthouse lobby.

Mayhugh, owner of Dig It Man Excavating, Briar Ridge Auto and several other local businesses, donated the hours he and Grant put in over the holidays.

“We shut my shop down over the holidays, so we worked Christmas, the whole weekend, getting it all stained and everything while the shop was down, so it didn’t disturb all the other workers,” he said. “They were on a timeline, so we came in and got it done.”

The display, the work of the county commissioners’ America 250 committee, opened Thursday with a ribbon cutting hosted by commissioners with county employees, volunteers and courthouse visitors crowded into the lobby. It’s free-standing so it can be easily removed if necessary and will house exhibits telling the story of Jefferson County’s past — each one showcasing a different decade in the county’s 250-year history, beginning with the 1790s, and featuring items on loan from private collectors and area historical museums.

Exhibits will change every two weeks.

ON DISPLAY — Jefferson County Commissioners Jake Kleineke, left, and Eric Timmons check out the new history showcase on display in the courthouse lobby. They were joined by Jefferson County America 250 Committee members Jodee Verhovec and Aaron Dodds as well as Aidan Summit. -- Linda Harris

“This space, right here at the front entrance of our courthouse, was once unused,” Commissioner Eric Timmons said prior to the ribbon cutting. “Today it has been transformed into something meaningful — a place that honors the people, places and stories that shaped Jefferson County and made it special. This museum is not meant to tell every story or capture every detail of our past. Instead, it highlights moments, voices and experiences that help us better understand who we are and where we come from.”

It was built with donations from the business community — Cardello Electric and Lighting Supply, Steubenville, provided all the wiring, accessories and the lights; Weirton Lumber, the framing wood to build the shell; DeNoon Lumber, the fine wood and trim; and Nelson’s Fine Art & Gifts, printing the art work, making the frames and crafted the “Jefferson County” lettering atop the frame.

Mayhugh’s Dig It Man Excavating/Briar Ridge Auto put its paint booth and experience spray coating to work for the project.

“They saved us a great amount of time and labor,” Jefferson County America 250 Committee member Aaron Dodds said. “Each board took (them) over 10 hours from start to finish so in order to meet the deadlines they actually worked on Christmas Day to get the first coat down.”

He said the donated materials alone were well over $13,000

“Everyone we asked eagerly participated and donated,” he said. “As the project progressed and we needed additional items, the donors came through and continued to contribute. Everyone was excited to contribute to this meaningful project.”

Commissioner Jake Kleineke described the makeover as “transformational, truly historic, (you see it) the moment you enter the courthouse.”

“I’ve (been coming) here since I was a little kid and it’s always been the same,” Kleineke said. “I’m just happy to be part of seeing this happen.”

Commissioner Tony Morelli, who served on the county’s America 250 committee, said he was disappointed he couldn’t be there for the ribbon cutting “but I loved this idea from the very beginning.”

“Since I was a member of the America 250 committee, I was happy to get it over to Eric and Jake for their opinion and, like me, they liked it very much,” he said. “We had donors who were very excited to help the county bring it to fruition. A big thank you to Jefferson Soil and Water’s Aaron Dodds and Aidan Summat, Director Wendee Dodds and her board members.”

Dodds said when he and Sammut pitched it to commissioners on behalf of the committee, Timmons and Kleineke didn’t hesitate to get on board.

“The credit goes to Aidan,” Dodds said. “He was going in before and after work to build the project. While doing the demo, we found a portion of the original stone and marble floor from the 1870s and Aidan tirelessly removed all the carpet and glue from it. He also developed the material lists and worked to get the donors. He made sure the work got done and was ready for our tight deadline–he was a largely one-man operation on the build assisting our America 250 Committee.”

Dodds said all of the exhibits will be generically named: The first is simply “Jefferson County 1770-1780.” It tells the story from the perspective of Native Americans–like Koonay Shickellmany Gibson, a victim of the Yellow Creek Massacre, and her brother, the Mingo popularly known as “Chief Logan,” who delivered a speech after his family was murdered “that Thomas Jefferson considered the greatest speech ever given — and he had heard Patrick Henry deliver his ‘Give me liberty or give me death’ speech” Dodds said. Also covered was George Washington’s visit to Mingo in 1770, and there’s a Pennsylvania long rifle displayed in the showcase, which has round-the-clock security.

“Every other Thursday throughout the year we will highlight a new decade in chronological order,” he said. “The displays won’t be a comprehensive telling of the history of the county but highlighting stories of people, events, and places.”

Dodds said it’s been “extremely gratifying” to see the reactions of those that have seen the completed project. “The feedback the entire time during construction was very positive,” he said. “It is great to see such a positive response from people and to see them engage with the artwork, historical items, and stories. One of the most rewarding parts is seeing some of these people and stories either return to the spotlight or capture it for the first time — like Sunnah Tilton — the cofounder of Tiltonsville.”

Dodds said the goal “is for people to embrace the stories and go visit locations like Rush Run where James Maxwell lived or walk the banks of Yellow Creek where Koonay Shickellmany and her daughter Polly lived.”

“We hope that people crave to learn more and visit the local museums and libraries to see how diverse and rich the history is here,” he added. “There is so much in Jefferson County to be proud of and embrace, we just need to tell our story, and the sense of pride will become contagious, and others will want to come.”

Timmons said they couldn’t have done it without the community’s help and donations.

“That’s what this is all about, the community coming together,” he said. “I’m looking forward to seeing it as it progresses throughout the year. People want to be involved, just like with our trail, with the hell vendor preserve … People stepped up and helped. There’s a lot of good going on in this county.”

Mayhugh said they’ve made a believer out of him.

“I saw the (sketches) before, I didn’t think it would turn out like this and it did,” Mayhugh said. “It turned out great.”

He said it’s not the first time he’s worked without pay on a county project, saying it’s “something I like to do.” Nor is it the first time he’s been surprised at the results.

“I wasn’t a believer when I was building the first trail down at Hell Bender,” he recalled. “I remember thinking, ‘This is a lot of money to spend for nobody to walk.’ And now, 40,000 people have already walked it and it’s awesome.

Helping, he said, is fun.

“I love running my machines; I love helping out,” Mayhugh said. “And I love it that people and kids can get out and enjoy it, too.”

Dodds, meanwhile, said the county’s America 250 Committee is “looking for items to display and stories to tell for the remainder of the year.” Items will be kept under glass with around-the-clock security.

Anyone interested in participating should email Dodds at adodds@jeffersoncountyoh.com