Historical Society receives grant

Funds to help preserve textile collections, Moore House Museum

The Lorain Historical Society is the recipient of an Ohio History Fund grant to help preserve local history.

It received a $5,000 grant from the Ohio History Fund for “High-Density Shelving for Textile Collections.”

The Historical Society’s textile collection is stored in the Moore House Museum, 309 W. Fifth St.

Barb Piscopo, executive director of Lorain Historical Society, said the grant will allow the organization to purchase new shelving units for the collection and to hire an intern.

“The overburdened and stationary shelves holding the collections, are situated in a way that is undermining the floor joints that support them,” Piscopo said.

“The Society needs new, movable shelving that is better supported by the structure, and therefore, better preserves the house.”

The intern will be trained and supervised by the Historical Society’s curator, to assemble the shelves and rehouse the textile collection, Piscopo said.

The crowdfunded grant was made possible through Ohioans who gave donated from their state income tax refunds to the Ohio History Connection through line 26c of their returns.

Piscopo said the Historical Society is extremely grateful for everyone who donated and supported this effort.

“We would like to thank those that have chosen to donate their income on the behalf of wanting to continue to engage members of the community and their visitors in a shared and diverse history,” she said. “Through preservation, education, collaborations and programming for all ages, we learn from the past, develop civic pride and transform the future.”

The Ohio History Connection received $185,624 in grants this year.

Since the program started in 2012, the Ohio History Fund has made 122 grants to history and cultural organizations all across the state, totaling $1.2 million.

In order to increase awareness of the Moore House Museum, the Lorain Historical Society will offer tours at 10 a.m., April 18, and 11 a.m., April 22.

Reservations can be made over the phone by calling 440-245-2563 or emailing info@lorainhistory.org.