Work continues on site of new home for Clay Museum

The updates continue at the future home of the Clay Capital Heritage Museum at a two-story building on the corner of East Third Street and North Main Street in Uhrichsville.

“We are currently working on phase four at the museum,” said Wendy Zucal, director of the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum, which manages the Clay Museum. “It is a $450,000 budget, of which $300,000 is state capital budget dollars, and we are required to match $150,000.”

New glass windows, mullions and doors were recently installed by Miceli Glass, as was some new outdoor lighting by Wood Electric. An upcoming project is first-floor restrooms. Other projects already completed include a new roof, downspout repairs, brick repairs, awning repairs, demolition and a new HVAC system.

There is no set date for the new museum space to open as all the work is being done in phases depending on the funding they receive.

“The first floor is our primary goal. There will be a coffee shop and museum gift shop in the front of the building, and there will be a smaller theater inside a kiln,” Zucal said.

Once the first-floor improvements are complete, second-floor renovations will begin.

“Eventually, we will have a large community space upstairs for museum programs and community use,” Zucal said.

The entire project is expected to cost $2 million, and supporters have raised more than $1 million.

The name of the museum has been changed to the Clay Capital Heritage Museum, and a new logo was designed to better represent the purpose of the museum to remember the clay industry for its contributions and to honor those who worked in the clay plants.

Some of the new exhibits planned for the new site will be a history of clay and brick-making plants in the past and what is happening in the industry today. Another will highlight how the history of the clay industry ties into railroading and will tie exhibits to the Dennison Depot. The exhibits will focus on the clay workers, how the industry impacted the community and sewer pipe folk art.

Plans also include an expanded gift shop and a coffee shop. The Clay Capital Heritage Museum is currently open during the summer months and for tours. Guests have visited from all around Ohio and out of state.

Clay has been used since ancient times. Because of the rich clay deposits in the area, the clay industry grew from the 1800s to early 1900s. During that time there were 32 clay plants in Tuscarawas County, most of which were in the Uhrichsville area.

The industry has left its mark on the area with the long-running Clay Week Festival, which was last held in 1999, and the Miss Clayland Pageant. Miss Clayland began in 1950 and has had at least six Miss Ohio winners and one Miss America.

Clay Capital Heritage Museum site manager Becky Clough, whose grandfather worked at one of the clay plants, is excited for the future of the museum and the extra space it will allow them.

“We're going to have more room to be able to put out more artifacts because we have a lot to show,” Clough said. “So that's going to be a blessing.”

They’ll also have more room to set up activities for children including clay days where children can come in and carve designs into their own block of clay. They also have a scavenger hunt to keep kids engaged.

“They have to look for different artifacts throughout the museum. It makes them aware of a lot of history that they would never really look for. But because of that scavenger hunt, it makes them check things out,” Clough said.

Clough recently showed some of the more interesting pieces in the museum including some miniature clay pipe samples to make it easy for salesmen to show products to clients.

The folk art is among the most admired pieces at the museum including a grave marker made from a clay pipe and glazed. Many of these creative pieces also can be seen at the Union Cemetery in Uhrichsville.

“People don't realize just how interesting it is to come in and check out some of this history,” Clough said.

The Clay Capital Heritage Museum is holding a reverse raffle fundraiser on March 18, and proceeds will benefit the new museum site.

Tickets are available at the Dennison Depot and cost $20. The grand prize is $1,000, plus other cash prizes as the raffle is broadcast live on Facebook at 10 a.m. Call the Dennison Depot Railroad Museum at 740-922-6776 or contact any museum representative.

The raffle is sponsored by Superior Clay Corporation.

There are many other ways in addition to monetary donations to help the Clay Museum including becoming a member or volunteer to help at the museum or for special events or to donate an artifact. The museum welcomes donations of artifacts, photographs, school, business and other memorabilia.

Donations may be sent to the Dennison Depot Railroad Museum with Clay Capital Heritage Museum in the memo at P.O. Box 11, Dennison, OH 44621.