MONTOUR FALLS, N.Y. (WENY) -- In an effort to increase accessibility and longevity in the 'Brick Tavern Museum' in Montour Falls -- The Schuyler County Historical Society is reaching out to the community to help fund their 'Uplifting History' campaign.

A series of grants and public contributions have helped the Schuyler County Historical Society get closer to the threshold needed to begin the renovations. The community now has an opportunity to contribute in order to preserve local history.

Built in 1828, The Brick Tavern Museum in Montour Falls is a piece of history in itself, but as the structure approaches its 200th birthday, much needed renovations are needed to improve the longevity and accessibility of the location.

"The majority of our exhibits are on the second floor and currently we have a pretty complicated stairwell to get up to there, so anybody with mobility issues actually can't reach our archives and cannot reach the majority of our exhibits. this project will rectify that fact and it'll make our entrance also handicap accessible," remarked SCHS Executive Director of Museums, Heather O’Grady-Evans.

The museum is just 3 years younger than the Erie Canal, one of the current exhibitions on display. Partners and exhibitors have collaborated with the Schuyler County Historical Society for decades, highlighting the importance of proper preservation.

"Our history in Schuyler County around Seneca Lake and its key transportation through central New York through that whole time period is key to a lot of the transportation that went on to become later the Barge Canal. Today you can end up at the end of Seneca Lake, take off and end up anywhere in the world because of the canal system that still connects our lake with everywhere else," added SCHS Trustee Martha Evans.

The project's cost has risen to a total of $1.3 million, but grants still left three hundred thousand to be separately fundraised. Once funded, hopes are high that renovations can begin in November of this year.

"They'll be able to take the elevator to the upstairs and once they come out of the elevator, they'll be in a brand-new exhibition space. They will also have a brand-new archive on the other side of that exhibition space and then be able to enter into what are currently our second-floor exhibits, but there will be two additional exhibits on that floor for them to explore," added O'Grady-Evans.

The official public campaign goes live on March 20th, but so far one hundred eight thousand of the remaining three hundred thousand has been donated. Those interested in donating can call the Schuyler County Historical Society directly at (607) 535-9741 or mail in a donation to P.O. Box 651, Montour Falls, NY 14865.

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