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The Massillon Museum will be a repository of art and history- educating, preserving, and displaying. The museum will not only be the cultural center of the communities it serves, but a key destination of cultural enrichment and a respected member of the museum community. (adopted March 2007)
The Massillon Museum, a local art and history museum, has major collections
of photography; costumes and textiles; china, glass and pottery; domestic
appliances; and circus memorabilia. The Museum was first accredited in
1972 by the American Association of Museums and has continued to be accredited
by the AAM since that time.
James Duncan built his home in the early 1830s overlooking the booming
canal town of Massillon, Ohio, which he had founded in 1826. In 1880,
Dr. and Mrs. J.P. Barrick bought the house, which was later passed on
to Mrs. Barrick’s son, Frank Lee Baldwin. As she and her husband
had planned, Mrs. Baldwin bequeathed the house and grounds for use as
a museum in the late 1920s.
(The photo at left shows the Duncan house as it was in 1935)
The Baldwin Museum opened in 1933, exhibiting Captain Baatz’ Native
American artifacts and the Pease Archaeological and Ethnological collection.
The Museum closed in 1936 for remodeling and the construction of the adjacent
library wing. The building reopened on April 3, 1938, exhibiting Abel
Fletcher photographs, the Ella O. Shoemaker shell collection, the “Vigilant”
hand-pumped fire engine, paintings and furniture. Its new name was the
"Massillon Museum."
(The photo at right shows the Museum and Library building after construction in 1938)
If you would like to read more about the reopening of the Massillon Museum in 1938, please click here.
Stationery used in early 1930s
The Museum was, from its inception, funded by county intangibles tax that
was directed through the Massillon Public Library. When it became apparent
that the Museum could not continue its quality service to the community
within that budget, the Museum director and board members succeeded in
working with state legislators to pass legislation permitting Ohio museums
to place tax issues on the ballot. As a result, the Massillon Museum passed
a tax levy within the city of Massillon and is now supported by property
taxes from the citizens of the community.
In 1991, it became evident that more room to house the collections was
imperative. The State of Ohio had given $750,000 towards a new building
so plans were formulated to either build or buy a new museum. In April
1991, the Board of Trustees purchased a former department store in the
center of town called the Giltz Building. A capital campaign fund drive
for funds to remodel was launched in 1992.
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Glitz building in the 1930s as Gensemer Brothers Dry Goods Store
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Massillon Museum 2007
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The architectural firm of vanDijk, Pace, Westlake and Partners of Cleveland
was contracted for remodeling plans and a $1.9 million dollar renovation
was begun in 1994. On May 12, 1996, the new “state of the art”
contemporary Massillon Museum opened its doors to the public with a “Gala
Opening” and exhibit.
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Glitz Building in the 1990s
during remodeling
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Massillon Museum 2007
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