The Jefferson County Heritage and Historical Society will hold a grand re-opening on Sunday, April 16, at its new headquarters, the former Victoria United Methodist Church, 5321 Chouteau Ave. off Hwy P, between Festus and De Soto. The event will run from 2-5 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
“It’s going to be an open house format,” society president Bernard Laiben said. “We’ll have brochures explaining the history of our organization and how we got this new place. We’ll have some refreshments, and everyone in the door will get a small gift as well.”
The JCHHS had been headquartered in the lower level of First United Methodist Church in Festus for several years. Society members and other volunteers have spent the last few months moving to the new location after the 160-year-old church closed its doors in June 2022 and the Missouri Methodist Conference donated it to the historical society.
Membership in the church had dwindled to less than a dozen when officials made the difficult decision to close the church. Laiben contacted church officials, inquiring about the space, and the deal was struck.
The Rev. Nate Berneking, a Jefferson County native and the director of finance and administrative ministries for the Missouri Methodist Conference, said transferring ownership of the old church building to the historical society was a win-win.
“They will keep the building, which will always be associated with the Methodist movement in Missouri,” he said. “Even though worship will not continue, the preservation of the building will, in some way, further our Methodist witness.”
In the months since the church closing, the JCHHS has made some improvements to its new headquarters.
“We’ve been able to raise the money to replace the entire roof,” Laiben said. “We have new front doors – painted red to keep the same look – and a new ceiling and lights in the foyer.
“There wasn’t a whole lot to do on the building, repair wise; they had really taken good care of it.”
Laiben said more than 50 people donated money to the society for the move, raising about $7,000, and there were some big in-kind donations as well.
“No. 1, of course, was the Missouri Methodist Conference for the building,” he said. “Arrowhead Building Supply in Pevely donated the shingles and supplies needed for the roof, and Hulsey Roofing in Arnold gave us a great deal on hiring roofers.
“We had some big wasp nests out there, and Miller’s Pest Control of Festus came out and took care of that for us for free. McPherson Lawn and Tree of Twin Cities helped us out with hauling and moving, especially larger items.”
Laiben said there was a regular roster of volunteers who donated their time.
“A lot of members have worked really hard to help me get it ready,” he said. “Lisa and Rick Gendron, Scott Hammond, Ken Bahr, Tim Ogle, several others. It’s always nice when you find people willing to do things like that.”
Now that the historical society has more space it can expand its scope.
“We have everything we had at the (Methodist) church plus more,” Laiben said. “We also now have an area for research with newspapers, photos, things we haven’t been able to put out in the past. Nearly a third of the building will be devoted to that.”
Society members will continue to honor the building’s original purpose.
“We have a few pews still there and a display case devoted to the Victoria Church,” Laiben said. “We’ll be hanging pictures and displaying memorabilia about the Victoria area.”
He said a lot of visitors have dropped in during the moving process.
“A lot of folks have stopped by, people who went to the church their entire lives,” he said. “They always have lots of great stories. I think they’re excited about something coming in the building and it not just closing up and going away.”
The JCHHS plans to hold events in the new headquarters once everything is settled in.
“We have some displays that will be coming through our area, different collections at other museums, that they’ve let us know we can have temporarily,” Laiben said. “We will also have seminars, lectures, maybe other events.”
The Jefferson County Heritage and Historical Society meets at 2 p.m. on the second Sunday of even-numbered months at the headquarters.
Laiben said dues are $20 annually and new members are welcome. One-time donations are always welcome and are tax-deductible.
“This (donating to the historical society) might be a nice way to remember someone who has passed away, instead of sending flowers or something,” he said. “Everyone who donates will get their name on the donor board, and you can put ‘in the name of’ a loved one.”
For more information or to donate, go to jeffcomohistory.org or visit the Jefferson County Missouri Museum Facebook page.