The Hancock County Museum on Ridge Avenue in New Cumberland is a house full of history. Walking through the doors of the Oliver Marshall home, now the designated museum for Hancock County, one can relive the history of the County and see firsthand how residents lived in another era. Built by the Sen. Oliver Marshall, the home was most recently home to Virginia Marshall, a school teacher at New Cumberland High School schoolteacher. The home was turned into the Hancock County Commission and the original furniture and artifacts from the Marshall family, was soon joined by pieces of history donated by residents throughout the County. Each year a $10,000.00 has been critical to ensuring that the Museum was able to continue to educate future generations on the areas past.
The loss of $10,000.00 in funding from the Hancock County Commission is a blow to the Museum and according to Museum Commission Treasurer Marcus Trelaine, the money from the Commission has been used to reimburse the museum for much-needed repairs and upkeep. Trelaine said the Museum operates through donations and does not currently receive money from Federal Sources or the State. A small endowment also supports the operation of the museum. The Museum is operated by the Museum Commissioners who are appointed by the Hancock County Commission. Those Commissioners volunteer their time to offer tours, conduct a speaking series and other programs.
But, the Hancock County Museum may not be able to operate with the loss of funding from the Hancock County Commission. While $10,000 had always been the amount designated for the museum, the Commission is forced to cut donations to a variety of programs . The loss of the 1 percent racetrack video lottery revenue amounts to a 10 percent of the Commissioners annual budget and that means that many organizations that depended on the funding from the Commission will be forced to make difficult choices in the near future.
The Museum is not alone in its concern for the future. Next week Hometown News will publish a list of those organizations and programs that have received funding from the Hancock County Commission.