Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 11, 1995 TAG: 9505110014
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHARLES STEBBINS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
In a request to Vinton Town Council, museum officials said they would like to receive $10,000 to $12,000 from the town in the fiscal year that begins July 1.
The town's budget for the coming fiscal year is now being prepared.
The money would be used to hire a part-time director, said the two co-presidents of the Vinton Historical Society, owners and operators of the museum.
Margaret K. Wood and Madeline S. Forbes said the museum also needs office equipment, such as a computer, a telephone and air conditioning. The museum directors are willing to help pay for these, they said, but are not able to bear the full cost.
Wood and Forbes said financial help from the town also would allow the museum to stay open more days for more hours. Currently it is open only two days a week - Thursday and Saturday - from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
During 1994, Wood and Forbes said, the museum had more than 620 visitors, including groups of elementary school pupils and a group from the Virginia Veterans Care Center in Salem.
The museum also opens for special tours upon request.
The co-presidents said the museum has good support from people in the community. More than 150 families, they said, have donated or loaned items for display.
All of the work at the museum is done on a voluntary basis by members of the society, Wood and Forbes said.
They do all of the repairs on the building at Jackson Avenue and Maple Street in downtown Vinton, all the yard work, cleaning and changing of the exhibits.
The Society now has about 90 members, they said.
by CNB