The Onaway Area Historical Museum (OAHM) has had the utilities switched over, gotten insurance and signed the deed giving them ownership of the Masonic Lodge building on Washington Avenue.

However, OAHM president Kelli Stockwell says it will be a couple of years before the museum and its artifacts are actually moved to the new location. “We are hoping to be moved in within two years. In the meantime the building needs some restoration and maintenance work to be completed. We are hoping the hardwood floors under the carpeting are still good,” said Stockwell.

The museum board met this week to discuss raising money to offset the costs of restoration as well as serve as matching funds for any grants they may be able to secure to restore the building to what it was in the early 1900s.

The board discussed various ways to make money and will be doing their membership drive in February. As a part of the membership drive they will hold an open house at the Masonic Lodge building in the spring, allowing members to take a look at the museum’s future location.

As it stands now, the museum has many treasures on display on the second floor of the courthouse, in an area not large enough to showcase everything they have to offer. The move into the bigger building will make it possible to showcase more of the museum’s artifacts.

The museum will be looking for donations and volunteers to make the restoration of the building possible as well as the eventual move of the museum.