The Martinsville Henry County Heritage Center & Museum is celebrating two major achievements. The first is a new display depicting news through the ages. The second is an expansion, which will host one of the largest artifact collections on the East Coast.
On June 14, the new display opened, and a sneak peek of the first floor of the expansion was offered.
The museum has expanded to include a new section with three floors. The first two floors will house exhibits, while the third floor will be used for storage.
“We have the largest Martin Toy collection on the East Coast,” said Dr. Mervyn King, who is among the museum’s longest standing supporters. The collection will include several toy trains. King donated the toy collection and has been collecting antiques for years.
Many firearms will also be on display, with some as old as 500 years. Native American artifacts will also be on display, as well as a gambling parlor that is on display at Jefferson Plaza. The display will boast the sixth-largest collection of antique tools in the United States.
Previously, the renovated area housed the courthouse jail, but the renovations have turned it into a modern-looking museum which hopes to help attract tourists and business to the area.
“It’s good for the entire community,” said King. He believes that the size of the new collection will entice people from all around. “The more they get to see, the farther they come, the farther they come, the longer they stay, the longer they stay, the more money they spend.”
The expansion includes a kitchen, research room, meeting room, and entertainment area. The museum can be reserved for weddings and events. The completed expansion won’t be ready for another six months, but when it is finished, it will greatly increase the display area of the museum.
Holly Kozelsky, executive director of the museum and a former reporter, said “If there’s one thing I understand, it’s local media.”
She donated some items to the display, which features a tour of local news throughout the ages. Kozelsky helped create the new display by contacting the local media members and asking them to participate in the exhibit.
A large number of artifacts were donated by The Enterprise, and some tapes were sent by Charles Roark. An Amberola record player was also on display and donated by Walter Shepard, who had the piece in his living room for 50 years.
John Phillips, president, said he is especially excited about the new museum exhibit.
“To have something fresh, to have new reasons for people to come to the courthouse is nice,” he said, adding that he also looks forward to getting to know the new businesses around town.
“Once we establish partnerships and get to know one another and complement each other, it will definitely benefit everybody,” Phillips said.
