photo by: Emma Delk

The Marshall County Historical Society wants to move the Marshall County History Museum to the former Bloyd home on Tomlinson Avenue in Moundsville.

The Marshall County Historical Society has its sights set on the former Bloyd family home at 600 Tomlinson Ave., with plans to relocate the Marshall County History Museum.

Historical Society board members recently visited the Marshall County Commission and Moundsville City Council to request assistance for the purchase of the building. Historical Society member and former president Gary Rider said the move would increase the museum’s visibility and allow it to accept more items.

The museum has been located in a former church on 13th Street since 1995. Rider said the location is “basically invisible” to the public.

“I come to plant the seed today that it is our desire … to move the museum to a more visible and larger place where people can enjoy the history we have,” he told council members.

Rider noted the Bloyd home would provide more visibility, as it is across from the Marshall County Courthouse and between Central Elementary School and Moundsville Middle School.

The Tomlinson Avenue house is a 4,002-square-foot building currently listed for $259,000. Rider requested $50,000 from the commission and as well as any funding city council could provide.

Rider said the historical society would not buy the house at its current asking price, as the appraisal price of the house was $179,000. He noted that since the building was built in 1902, it would need a $40,000 roof installed and $30,000 in wiring upgrades.

Marshall County Commission President Scott Varner said it would be “difficult” for the commission to put funding toward the purchase if there would be a need later on to help with repairs. Rider responded that it would be possible for the organization to obtain grant funding to update the property.

Rider informed council members there was also another piece of property that may soon be available in the Moundsville Commercial Historic District that would also be a suitable place to move the museum. Rider said if this undisclosed property became available, the society would need the money ready to buy it.

Following his presentation, commissioners unanimously decided to table the request. Moundsville council members also did not take action after Rider’s presentation.

Rider said he understood that both bodies would table the idea to discuss the matter further.

“I am in no rush,” Rider said. “The longer the homeowner waits, the price may come down, but someone may also come along with cash and buy it. I’m not going to commit to buying something that I know in the long run is going to be a tremendous effort, so we have to get it to a reasonable price.”