Harpers Ferry Area Heritage Society continues moving forward with its plans for museum that would share the history of the Harpers Ferry area
Scale model replica of proposed Harpers Ferry Area Museum ... Photo above shows a model replica of the Harpers Ferry Area Museum being proposed by the Harpers Ferry Area Heritage Society (HFAHS) in the Martelle Heritage Park, next to the Oil Springs School, which is the smaller white building on the right in the above model. The replica was built to scale by HFAHS member Wayne Hasek to offer an idea of what the museum would look like once completed. Submitted photo.
Planned location of proposed Harpers Ferry Area Museum ... The empty green space in Martelle Heritage Park in Harpers Ferry to the left of the Oil Springs School in the above photo is the proposed building site for a new Harpers Ferry Area Museum being planned by the Harpers Ferry Area Heritage Society. A 60-foot x 120-foot structure is being planned for construction in that location, with a capital campaign fund getting underway. Standard photo by Brianne Grimstad.
by Brianne Grimstad
The Harpers Ferry Area Heritage Society (HFAHS) is moving forward with plans to build a 9,000 square foot museum dedicated to preserving and displaying the history and heritage of the Harpers Ferry area. The idea of building a museum is something that has been in the works since 2014, when the group began to look for a place suitable for building a museum.
“It’s important to tell the Harpers Ferry area story,” HFAHS President Jane Hasek said.
Hasek explained that over the years, the group has acquired many artifacts related to the Harpers Ferry area. These items have been scanned or cataloged, but there really isn’t a place to display them. Some of the items pertaining to rural schools have found a home in the Oil Springs School transplanted from its original home north of Harpers Ferry and restored in its home community within Harpers Ferry several years ago, but there is still a lot of other history to be shared with the public.
The proposed building site for the museum will be next to the Oil Springs School, in the Martelle Heritage Park in Harpers Ferry. Hasek noted that the school has been very successful in attracting and educating visitors about the one-room schools of the past. HFAHS tried to find an existing building in Harpers Ferry for its proposed museum, but couldn’t find one that met the needs for such a facility. The decision was made to begin plans for a new building.
“There is so much to share,” Hasek noted. “The stories are out there, we have to capture them before it’s too late.”
Planning for the museum began prior to COVID, but when the pandemic happened it put a halt to the planning stages. However, things are now moving forward once again.
The proposed building would be a 60-foot by 120-foot structure with a wrap-around porch. There would also be a viewing window through which ice harvesting equipment would be on display year-round. The plan is to make the front of the museum look like the former Harper Hotel, which was built and run by Harriet and David Harper, whom Harpers Ferry was named for. Prior to becoming Harpers Ferry, the town was originally called Vailsville, and was also known as Winfield.
David Harper received land from the Federal government to settle and establish businesses. He ran a ferry that took items such as produce and lumber between Iowa and Wisconsin. Harpers Ferry has since grown and evolved from a small fishing village to a bustling river town.
The museum will feature exhibits from local groups and organizations important to the history and identity of Harpers Ferry and the surrounding area. Exhibits will include organizations like the American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, local churches, local schools and alumni, businesses, the Harpers Ferry Fire Department, the Rescue Squad, the Harpers Ferry Boosters, Inc. and City and civic groups.
There will also be exhibits focusing on river history, the story of the City of Harpers Ferry, Paint Rock and Emma Big Bear, among others. Some exhibits will be interactive and some will be changeable. The museum will also feature a radiant heat floor, in order to help maintain a constant temperature.
In addition to exhibits, the museum will have a library and archive research room, for visitors who may want to do some work on family history. The museum will be staffed by volunteers.
The HFAHS has begun a capital campaign to raise funds for the project. Hasek noted that it’s been challenging to get bids for the project, as prices have been increasingly high for building materials and some materials are hard to come by right now. The project is going to be funded mainly through gifts and donations, as well as through the services of individuals, businesses and organizations of the area and elsewhere. HFAHS is also pursuing grants. The projected price tag for the project is $800,000.
The HFAHS will be hosting an Old-Fashioned Pie and Ice Cream Social this Sunday, October 16 from 1-3 p.m. as part of its fundraising efforts. Those wishing to make a donation can send that gift to the Harpers Ferry Area Heritage Society, P.O. Box 224, Harpers Ferry, IA 52146. Donors are asked to include “HFAHS Building Fund” in the memo line of checks. If anyone is interested in other ways to give, such as a gift of grain, bonds/stocks or from an IRA, contact Jane Hasek at 319-240-2460.
