Belmont Legion calls on community to keep museum afloat

BELMONT -- Belmont American Legion Post 312 is making a public call for help as construction of the new Belmont Volunteer Fire Station continues to affect attendance at the Belmont County Military Veterans Museum.

The post shares a home with the museum, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the history of military veterans. Post Commander John Waugh said attendance has dropped sharply during construction, resulting in fewer donations and putting the museum’s future in jeopardy.

In February 2023, the Belmont Volunteer Fire Department was awarded $3.4 million through a Congressional Directed Spending grant secured with the efforts of then-U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Ohio, and then-Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio. Ground was broken on the new fire station in July 2025.

The post said construction initially resulted in construction vehicles filling the museum’s parking lot, making it difficult for visitors to find parking.

The new fire station will include sleeping quarters and four double bays capable of accommodating two trucks each, with drive-through entry and exit.

"We’re not blaming the fire department. I mean, this is something that they got a grant for and the village needs it. We don’t have a complaint against them. It’s just where they’re at, it’s a situation," Assistant Adjutant Kurt Turner said.

Waugh said construction workers and firefighters have been polite and generous throughout the project but the parking situation has affected museum attendance.

"It's not affecting as much but it affects the museum because there is no parking," Waugh said.

Post 312 owns the land where the museum is located and pays its expenses.

Belmont Volunteer Fire Department Chief Bob Mills disputed the claim that construction vehicles are currently using the Legion’s parking lot. He said the construction crew initially used the lot but stopped after the post raised concerns.

Mills said construction crews now use the Hillcrest Bible Church parking lot next door, along with areas along the street, the fire department and the construction site.

"They park over by the church, up and down each side of the street, over here at the fire department, and they park on the site. I mean, if you come out here now, you take all the pictures you want. There won’t be one vehicle parked in the Legion lot," Mills said.

Unlike many American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts, Post 312 does not have a bar or electronic gaming machines. As a result, it relies primarily on donations and fundraisers.

Its biggest fundraiser is its annual spaghetti dinner, scheduled for Oct. 4 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Belmont Gym, 209 Brown St. The event will feature a silent auction, desserts provided by Nuts For Donuts and a spaghetti dinner available for a donation.

Businesses and residents interested in donating or sponsoring the event can contact Waugh at 740-310-7345 or Vice Commander Andy Wildman at 740-312-5444.

"We’re not a traditional post. Obviously, you don’t see a bar or gambling machines," Post Adjutant Jared Greenwood said. "We’re kind of special here when it comes to only relying on spaghetti dinners and donations to get us just through to pay our bills and the couple little scholarships that we are able to provide."

Waugh said the success of the spaghetti dinner each year helps determine whether the post can financially survive another year.

He said he fears that if the post closes, the museum would struggle to cover its expenses because the post pays its utilities and insurance.

"Before this happened, the donations that they got from the visitors helped carry them through the winter. Now they don’t have that because no one wants to come because of the construction," Waugh said.

The museum recently mailed about 300 to 400 donation requests in an effort to offset lost revenue, Waugh said. The museum also has donation jars at locations throughout the area.

Wildman said the post takes community involvement seriously and tries to give back to the community that supports it.

"The community helps us out and supports us so we also try to help the community," Wildman said.

Last November, the post donated $500 to Union Local Elementary to help provide a happy holiday to students in need. The money came from the previous year’s spaghetti dinner.

Waugh said the post currently has 22 members and hopes the fundraiser will help attract additional members.

He also urged residents to visit the museum despite the parking difficulties.

"We’re just hoping we can get people in here to keep this museum," Waugh said. "The museum is really important to us. It’s history, and like most of this country, people don’t seem to care about history, and it’ll repeat itself."