Submitted photos Shirley Covert, a volunteer at the Tuscarora Academy Museum, wipes the glass of one of the displays.

By GREG WILLIAMS

Sentinel reporter

gwilliams@lewistownsentinel.com

PORT ROYAL — The Tuscarora Academy Museum has been closed for the winter months, but it’s still been bustling with activity.

Major renovations and cleaning have been taking place at the Juniata County Historical Society’s museum in Academia, near Port Royal, in preparation for the upcoming summer season.

“We’d like to thank everyone who has contributed,” said Jessica Eaton Guyer, curator for the Tuscarora Academy.

Guyer said a climate control project will better regulate temperatures in the museum during warmer weather. The attic was also insulated to help with heating and cooling costs.

“These two projects will enable us to better preserve the building and our wonderful collection,” Guyer added, “with the added bonus of a better level of comfort for our touring visitors.”

Interior work on the windows was also completed by volunteers Austin Willi, who spent many hours scraping, sanding and repainting.

“Austin is a volunteer who can always be counted on to use his skills to lend a helping hand,” Guyer said. “He and Charlie Marshall also worked with meeting contractors and presenting information so the board could make informed decisions about our historic property.”

Several cast iron pieces on exhibit were restored by expert Shawn Kunkle, who visited the museum last year. “One of our pieces caught his eye because of the rareness of the short-lived foundry where it was made,” she explained. “We are thankful for kind-hearted guests who volunteer their expertise to help us keep our items preserved.”

New signage was placed around the museum that was designed by Guyer. These signs were printed on more sustainable and durable material.

Finally, a small army of volunteers gave the museum its annual scrub down. “A huge thank you … as a non-profit volunteer historical organization, volunteers are our lifeblood,” Guyer said about those who donated their time this spring. “They wipe all the winter dust bunnies and cobwebs away, scrub floors, clean glass and anything else that needs done to get ready to welcome our guests each season.”

“And you, our supporters and visitors, are the heartbeat,” she added. “Together, we help to keep the history of our great county alive.”

The museum applied for a Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission grant with the hopes of completing the window work on the exterior of the building and installing new ultra-violet filters.

“It is a 50/50 grant, so even if we get it, we will still have to pay half of the total project cost,” Guyer said. “We will learn if we are a recipient of the grant in June.”

She added the completion of the work earlier than expected has opened the door to private tours to any small school groups or organizations.

“Since we’ve been blessed with all this volunteer work and completed projects a little earlier this year … we may be able to accommodate, pending volunteer availability.”

The museum is scheduled to open on Sunday, June 4 and will have a special one-day-only event to celebrate the return of three historical items that were stolen from the museum 45 years ago: Sharpe flintlock pistol, Colt 45 and Albert System fife. The event will be from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Tuscarora Academy.

For more information, call (717) 436-5152, visit www.juniatacountyhistoricalsociety.org or find them on Facebook.