Friends of Dickens seeks help to for new building

Bob Ley, creator of Dickens Victorian Village, and Tom Davey, president of Friends of Dickens, asked the Guernsey County Commissioners for assistance in obtaining a portion of the down payment needed to purchase a new building to house the Dickens Welcome Center and Souvenir Shop.

Ley said they are at at crossroads with the Dickens Village as they are in need of a new location as they building they used for shortage has been sold.

“We have been in three different buildings,” Ley said. “We set up somewhere and then someone buys the building and we are out. That has happened to us again this year.”

After searching for a new building in downtown they found only one that is available, the Alexander shoe building at 708 Wheeling Ave. is for sale for $190,000.

The owner Scott Bishop, according to Ley, is willing to hold the building until the Friends of Dickens find out if they can get the financing to purchase it.

The three-story building, with 3,000 square feet on each floor, will accommodate the welcome center, gift shop, offices and work space that the organization needs.

Currently there is a barber shop located on the first floor of the building, which would provide approximately $700 a month in rental income that would go to the Dickens Village, Ley said.

The Friends of Dickens is hoping the land bank could purchase the property and they would in turn finance it through them instead of the more costly traditional bank financing.

Friends of Dickens is asking several local groups, including the commissioners, to donate $20,000 each to help cover the down payment.

“We have never asked for money before. I'm not saying we haven't gotten money from different places,” Ley said. “We don't go out asking for money, but this time it's important and we have already proven ourselves as far as longevity is concerned.”

Commissioner Jack Marlin suggested the organization check into Governor's Mike Dewine's recent proposal to invest $500 million into Ohio's 32 Appalachia counties.

Ley noted that government grants and take some time and time is not on their side right now as they need to relocate by November.

Commissioner Dave Wilson noted that said they would have to research the request.