My View from the Pilot house By Mike Boys Pilot News Consultant
Renovation of the newly acquired buildings began about a year ago this month. Visitors to the Marshall County Historical Museum in downtown Plymouth had to put up with the building crew’s noise and dust, but now that is in the past. 
Bright new paint, new wood trim, refinishing the original wood floors, new electrical fixtures and I don’t know what all. Staff members have been working hard to clean, sweep, move shelves, book cases, files, viewing machines, photographs etc., etc.
So, with all of this going on, the museum is closed to the public and will reopen Tuesday, October 13, 2009.
 

HOW THIS ALL HAPPENED
The whole project began in 2003 when the two buildings adjacent to the museum became available for sale. The Historical Society realized that they needed more space for exhibits in order to grow and be part of the economic development within the county. Additionally the museum has had an increased interest in genealogy and other historic information with researchers coming from all over the Unites States and even other countries. 
“It will be wonderful to have extra space when people come for research,” Judy McCollough said. “Some will spend over a week doing research at the museum,” she added.
 
HOW THEY PAID FOR IT
In 2004 the Historical Society applied for a grant from the Indiana Department of Transportation to develop a Historic Crossroads Center that focuses on the Michigan Road, Yellowstone Trail, Lincoln Highway, Dixie Highway and US 6 Grand Army of the Republic, all of which went right through — you guessed it — Marshall County. This new renovation project will house many of the transportation documents and photos of Indiana.  The Museum received a renovation grant of $680,000 for the adjoining buildings. The bid for the reconstruction was awarded to Michiana Contracting Inc., of Plymouth. Then an additional $300,000 was raised by the historical society.
 My congratulations to the Historical Society Board of Directors, the staff at the Museum and all of the volunteers that helped make this wonderful achievement possible!
 
POP QUIZ: Indiana History—Which of the following was created in Terre Haute, Indiana?
A) Pringles Potato Chips B) Childproof Pill Bottles  C) The Coca Cola Bottle  D) Fritos or  E) Tony the Tiger.
 Answer to last week’s POP QUIZ:  The question was: What is the name of a popular 1940’s comic book hero whose statue stands near the city hall of Oolitic, Indiana?  Answer: Joe Palooka. The statue was dedicated in 1948 and was carved from Bedford, Indiana limestone.
 Well, that’s it for now . . . so until next time . . . this is my view from the Pilot house.
Mike Boys is a lifelong Marshall County resident, former newspaper owner and former public officeholder. The dictionary defines a Pilot House as “an enclosed area on the bridge of a ship, from which the vessel is guided.”  His views, opinions and news appear Thursday on the Pilot News Opinion page.