Canton Historical Museum Takes Important Step Toward Greater Accessibility, Long-Term Goals

The recent completion of a new vestibule entrance at the Canton Historical Museum signals more than just an accessible way to enter the building. 

While it’s far from the only improvement in recent years the entryway is the first part of a plan designed to vastly improve the museum’s accessibility, attractiveness and long-term viability.

Those planned changes include handicapped accessible bathrooms, improved and code-compliant stairways, an elevator, a climate controlled storage area and more.

The new entrance is also a step in the direction toward the museum’s goal to create a Collinsville visitor’s center within the building.

“We’re trying to be more visible and become more involved in the community,” said Canton Historical Society President Donald Scott.  

While some in town wanted the entrance to stay where it was, many at the museum felt it was the only way to move forward. 

Moving it from the side of the building to its front porch area will allow the museum to begin preparing for those improvements, since the bulk of them are in the vicinity of the old entrance, said Donald Tarinelli, a local architect.  

“By getting the entrance moved, it makes it possible to isolate the area and do it in phases,” Tarinelli said.  

Building upon preliminary volunteer work by the later Roger Clarke, Tarinelli completed designs about three years ago. 

The entryway, which also included improvements to the upper porch, electrical work and more, cost about $75,000.

Canton-based Fillian Brothers was general contractor.

The museum raised money though memberships, donations and special events such as the Gallery of Trees and first-ever Oktoberfest.

“We appreciate the support we’ve gotten,” Scott said.

Now the museum is looking to raise the funds to begin the rest of the work and is essentially starting from scratch, board members said. Likely the stairway improvements will be next.

The museum is planning to once again hold its popular events such as Oktoberfest, which in its first year last October, brought an overwhelming response. It was so successful, the museum had to stop selling tickets during the event.

But one doesn’t have to wait that long to help.

The web site contains Membership and donation information. 

Museum directors and volunteers also hope people will just come visit. While the historical museum, housed in the former Collins Company plow building, features numerous artifacts, photos and dioramas from the company that spawned the village, it contains much more.

“That’s only a portion of what we’re about here,” said Gordon Harmon.

One dominant feature of the museum are entire rooms that showcase life in the 1800s, such as a Victorian barbershop, village store, children’s room, Victorian bedroom and more.

Numerous Indian artifacts are also on display as well as old photos, artifacts, town annual reports and more. Of course, there are plenty of tools and other items made right in Collinsville. 

“It’s just a phenomenal place for what it contains, not only from our local history, but our state and nation as well,” Harmon said

The museum is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday April through November and Saturday and Sunday December through March.

Admission is $4 for adults, $3 or seniors and $1 for children ages 6 to 16.

Find out more at http://cantonmuseum.org/ or https://www.facebook.com/CantonHistoricalMuseum