T-L Photos/CARRI GRAHAM Margie Young, secretary for the Belmont County Historical Society Victorian Mansion Museum and chairwoman of the fundraising committee, points to a form that is available for residents to fill out with their favorite recipes. The museum is working to collect 200 recipes to form a cookbook that will be up for sale later this year.

BARNESVILLE — The Belmont County Victorian Mansion Museum is working to compile recipes from “friends of the museum” in order to form a cookbook that will be up for sale later this year.

Margie Young, secretary for the museum, said organizers are hoping to gather 200 recipes from county residents and former residents to complete the book, which will be used as a fundraiser for the museum.

“We operate from donations, tours and grants. … It (the cookbook) has a two-fold purpose: is a fundraiser to raise funds for the museum as well as provide something for people to purchase. A lot of times people come to the museum and we don’t have a souvenir shop and they want to purchase something to remind them of their visit,” she said, adding that the book will also contain photos of the museum.

So far, she has gathered around 80 submissions that include an array of beverages and dishes.

“We’ve got a mixture of recipes. We’ve got everything from beverages, appetizers, main course, salads, deserts, snacks. We’re getting a very nice variety, and we’re getting a lot of recipes that I haven’t seen in other cookbooks,” she said.

“I’m impressed by the fact that we’ve got so many different kinds of recipes.”

This is a first-time project for the museum that was prompted by museum visitors inquiring about recipes from different events it hosts throughout the year.

“So many times we’ve had functions at the museum, and anytime we have something board members usually bring appetizers and stuff. I don’t know how many times people will ask for the recipes of the things that they ate. I had a mystery dinner and I had two appetizers there and everybody said, ‘I’d love to have the recipe.’ Well this is one way of getting the recipes out,” she said.

Young plans to have the book printed by the end of October and available for sale in November, just in time for Christmas.

“So people can buy them as Christmas presents for the holiday, if they’d like to,” she said.

The funds made from the sales of the cookbook will be used for the museum’s operations, upkeep and projects.

Young said they are also holding two other fundraisers including a meat raffle and quilt raffle, both of which will be drawn in December. She said they experienced tough times during the COVID-19 pandemic when they were unable to host tours, and the fundraisers will help make up for that financial loss.

Those interested in submitting their recipes can find forms at the museum, from board members and at the Barnesville Hutton Memorial Library. Submissions are due by Aug. 1.