There are so many things of import occurring nationally, on the state stage, around the county and within local governments that, on one hand, the fate of the Hancock County Museum hardly seems worthy of attention, yet, on the other hand, it is of utmost importance.

It is a fine example of life in the late 1880s and has served as a teaching tool, as a gathering place, as a repository of valuable artifacts and as a place to hold receptions.

Yet, it appears to be falling into ruin as noted by the boarded windows. Is the roof leaking?

If so, it is leaking rain and dust onto a truly unique collection of vintage clothing representative of fashion from the Civil War era to the 1960s.

There are ball gowns similar to those worn in “Gone with the Wind,” and flapper dresses, both short-beaded ones and a gorgeous long-beaded one of brown velvet with painted design along the hemline. There is a two-piece dark purple woman’s suit with black spots, balloon sleeves, short skirt from the 1960s; a two-piece, hand-made, woolen “walking suit” with bustle on the back, the kind women wore while walking shaded from the sun by an umbrella, though this one is made for walking in wintry weather; two fur coats; several items of clothing for infants and toddlers, including a child’s christening outfit; a man’s cloak and top hat; and many capes and hats worn by women while singing Christmas carols.

Then, there is the furniture. Several original pieces grace the rooms: A vintage living room settee with matching chair, a player piano (not original) sits in a corner of the room. It has been known to play some of a large collection of music through the use of piano rolls, music such as “In the Good Old Summertime.” The study was the office of Oliver Sheridan Marshall, the home’s builder and assessor of Hancock County. In the study are four rows of glass-fronted bookcases sheltering original law books collected by Marshall during his years as an attorney. He served as a representative of Hancock County in the West Virginia Legislature. His picture hangs in the Senate office building at Charleston. He built the home in 1887.

Going upstairs to the second floor, one can view four bedrooms. Two have the children’s names written on the glass transoms above the doorways — Olive and John. Olive’s bedroom has her original furniture and some period articles of clothing. John’s room now serves as a display area of collected military uniforms, including one from World War I that was kept in a tin container and came to the museum moth free. It includes the felt hat with Stetson marked on the inner label. There are other artifacts of note in this room, including a bottle of “Evening in Paris” perfume and a pair of women’s nylons with the seam up the back (those ones that needed a garter belt to keep them up.) When one could not have a pair of these, the woman had access to “leg makeup” and after applying the makeup she could draw a line with ink to represent the seam.

There is a collection of newspaper clippings pertinent to World War II that was donated by a local woman who was faithful to the task. Also, there are the images of local World War II military members used in the printing of the local newspaper, The Hancock County Courier.

Keeping to John’s history, he became an attorney like his father, Oliver. John served as an assistant attorney general during the Calvin Coolidge administration.

There are a set of back stairs leading from the bathroom area to the kitchen.

The bathroom has a claw-foot tub, a sink and a toilet with a water tank on the wall above it. On up to the attic, one finds more treasures.

So, it seems that the Hancock County Museum is worth saving to, once again, serve the people.

The COVID epidemic interrupted the use of the museum for a while. Before that, there were ice cream socials, tea parties for young ladies, fundraising fashion shows, Christmas caroling visits to local hospitals and some shut-ins.

The Hancock County Commissioners have withdrawn their funding. The museum board exists. There were bylaws written during its creation. What do they dictate?

The museum board treasurer still has funds to administer. How much and what are they used for?

(McNeil, a resident of Steubenville, previously served as a member of the board of directors for the Hancock County Museum and mayor of New Cumberland)