A local veterans and military museum is being planned to fill historical buildings next to Veterans Park on Yoctangee Boulevard.
The city is planning to move services out of several scattered facilities into the former “Pepsi Building” on East Seventh Street. One of those, the water department facility at the jog in Park Street, is the proposed site for the “Chillicothe-Ross Military Tribute Museum.”
The building is actually two buildings that were part of an industry that occupied the large lot between what is now the jog in Park Street and Chestnut Street.
The 1851 Chillicothe Gas, Light, and Coke Company produced lighting gas from coal and purified coke from coal, and was reorganized in 1881 as the the Chillicothe Gas, Light, and Water Company so it could build the Pump House in Yoctangee Park.
Its gas tanks have long since been replaced by the city’s second water plant, and later Veterans Park.
Bob Leach and Melody Lapzynski Hatfield, board members of the Military Tribute Museum, sat down with me after a meeting, and for 16 minutes explained the progress on organizing it and what it is all about. See the interview video below.
Leach taught history at Huntington Schools, is prominent in veterans groups, and coordinates the Memorial Day ceremonies at local cemeteries.
Hatfield authored her book on the Carlisle Building, worked on getting Chillicothe designated as a Purple Heart city, and now has a book on the Ohio Military Hall of Fame.
Other members of the board are Judge Jhan Corzine, Bob Barnhart, and Johna Pulver (of Ross County Veterans Services).
Until the website is up, they welcome communications: Bob Leach at robertleach@aol.com or 740 / 773-7609, and and Melody Lapczynski Hatfield at 740 / 703-9957 or melodyhatfield13@gmail.com.
Learn more, including seeing a couple of renderings, in my report on the September 25th Chillicothe Council.
Find more in the article on the Scioto Post, including a video interview.
Kevin Coleman covers local government and culture for the Scioto Post and iHeart Media Southern Ohio. For stories or questions, contact Kevin Coleman or the iHeart Southern Ohio Newsroom.
1 of 2 Bob Leach and Melody Lapczynski Hatfield, board members of the Chillicothe-Ross Military Tribute Museum, explain the progress on organizing it and what it is all about.
2 of 2 A preliminary rendering of what could be done with the city-owned building next to Veterans Park – a view up Park Street (from Water Street) of the renovated building.