Pike Heritage Museum Inc.

The Pike Heritage Museum, a non-profit public museum located in Waverly, OH, has taken possession of the largest artifact in its 41-year history - an antique fire engine. The 1930 Chevrolet engine served the residents of eastern Pike County for over two decades before being retired in 1957. It has been in storage for nearly seventy years. The museum will be completely renovating the engine so as to use it in displays, festivals, school events, and car shows. Though the plan is to keep the truck as original as possible, a unique addition is to make the bed compatible to carry caskets. The museum wants the vehicle to be available to any former county firefighter who may wish to be carried to their final resting place in an authentic fire apparatus.

Pike Heritage Museum is Pike County's only historic museum and operates on an annual budget of less than $13,000. So, anyone with an interest in historic preservation, firefighting, or the betterment of our community can give here. Anyone donating to this effort is asked to share your contact information so preservation updates can be communicated. In addition, once completed, the refurbished truck will be unveiled at a private reception for the project supporters.

The Pike Heritage Foundation, founded in 1983, operates Pike County’s only museum dedicated to the preservation of local history. 2023 marks our 40th anniversary! The museum, located at 110 S. Market Street in Waverly, is one of the oldest structures in the community. Constructed in 1859 as an Evangelical church, it served the area’s earliest German immigrants and their descendants. The structure is recognized as a key component of the Waverly Canal Historic District, identified on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition to housing countless artifacts from Pike County’s history, the museum houses the original century-old pipe organ which is still operational.

In 2022, the foundation was awarded funding from the state to complete much needed improvements. This funding was received through the leadership of Representative Shane Wilkin with support from the Pike County Commissioners and the Pike County Chamber of Commerce. The award comes from the Ohio Biennial Capital Improvements Fund, and was earmarked for a new roof, gutters, downspouts, and a handicapped accessible entryway. In preparing for this work it was discovered that a large colony of bats had made the museum’s attic and bell tower their home. After consulting with various public officials and remediation companies, the Board of Trustees has elected to temporarily close the museum until the problem can be resolved. We have already engaged a company to assess and relocate the bats, eliminate their means of ingress, and dispose of any waste. This process will include identifying the species as some are federally protected and must be removed following approved protocols.

The sole purpose of the museum’s closure is to ensure the safety of our volunteers and visitors. Once the bat nuisance is abated, the facility will be professionally cleaned, and our capital projects recommenced. In addition to notifying the community about the issue, we must explore funding options for the associated costs. The estimates to alleviate the issue are estimated to be $25,000 which is approximately triple the museum’s annual budget. The foundation is funded by memberships, fundraisers, and donations. No tax revenue is currently used to fund Pike County’s only museum.