RESTORATION work in excess of $100,000 is underway on the the porch and other exterior parts of the Belmont County Victorian Mansion Museum, which was built in the late 1800s at a cost of $65,000 in Barnesville.

The award-winning showplace was purchased by the Belmont County Historical Society in 1966. Before being transformed into its present Victorian splendor, the 26-room mansion at that time had a leaking roof, falling plaster and its third floor was occupied by numerous pigeons.

Emory Stewart III, president of the Belmont County Historical Society, said the exterior restoration work now being done will be “in excess of $100,000 easily,” and final figures will be known this summer.

That’s more the first estimates on the project, which started at $50,000. “It kept escalating,” Stewart said. “We wanted to do a historical restoration.”

Extensive wood rot was found in the main sections of the porch. He also said the porch of the mansion originally had 12 columns, and seven were removed in the 1950s. These couldn’t be located so a restoration company fabricated seven to match the ones which disappeared.

Some electrical outlets also have been installed, and work is being done about the ceiling fixtures. Stewart pointed out the importance of having Edwardian ceiling fixtures to be in keeping with the elegance of the mansion on which construction began in 1888 and was completed in 1893.

With the new fixtures, it will be possible to light up the whole front porch, and “this will make the evening functions really nice,” according to Stewart.

Also included in the project are replacement of gutters, downspouts and surrounding wood. Painting also will be necessary as part of the project.

The porch project began last fall, but Stewart added “the winter didn’t cooperate” with the project.

Referring to a grant from the Belmont County Tourism Council, he said, “The Tourism Council was just wonderful. We couldn’t have done it without them.”

Stewart also pointed out funds are forthcoming from the Belmont County commissioners.

The society also receives an annual grant from the Wilson Shannon Questers, and plans are to use the current money for lighting.

A large rock with a plaque about Shannon, who was Ohio’s first native-born governor, stands in the yard of the mansion museum. It was transported from its original location near his birthplace in Mount Olivet, a small community near Barnesville.

In addition, a historical marker about the Shannon family stands in front of the museum. Among the other notable members of his family was his brother, George, who was a scout for the Lewis and Clark Expedition ant later was a Kentucky judge and senator. The youngest member of the expedition, George also had a reputation for getting lost – but he eventually made it back to join the others on this momentous expedition.

Referring to the restoration work on what he described as “beautiful old place,” Stewart added, “It’s a labor of love, truly.”

Pokas can be reached at bettypokas@yahoo.com.