Collections and staff return to restored Zane Grey Museum

By SANDY LONG

LACKAWAXEN, PA — Museum contents, collections and staff members returned to the Zane Grey Museum last week, after a long absence due to the facility’s closing following heavy flooding in June. The museum has remained closed since, and is scheduled to reopen on Memorial Day, 2007.

Home of the “Father of the Western Novel” from 1914 to 1918, the National Park Service (NPS) preserves the historic structure and offers guided tours of the museum. The building sits at the confluence of the Lackawaxen and Delaware rivers.

When June floods buffeted the Upper Delaware region, the museum was not spared. Strong currents carved a hole into the stone foundation, necessitating the repair or replacement of the heating, electrical and fire suppression systems. To prevent mold and mildew damage, the museum’s collections were relocated to the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, while repairs were completed.

Costs of the restoration totaled $180,700, supplied through federally-funded flood recovery money. More than $100,000 of this total was required for salvaging and protecting the archival materials and museum contents.

Museum curator Dot Moon received assistance this week from fellow curators who traveled to the site to help with unpacking and restoring the archival materials, furniture and displays.

Moon and fellow NPS employees Ingrid Peterec and Connie Lloyd were forced to relocate throughout the summer and fall to NPS offices in Barryville, NY, and Milanville.

According to Chief of Interpretation Loren Goering, during the museum’s closing, summer staff duties were adjusted to address other issues, such as additional river patrols and water testing. Educational programming was increased at offsite locations utilizing a collection of “traveling trunks” containing themed educational materials compiled by Peterec, who is the NPS Education Specialist. The programs offered through libraries, youth camps, scout groups and schools include “Birds of Prey,” “Lenape Culture,” “River Safety” and “Animal Tracks.”

The return of employees and museum artifacts to Zane Grey’s Delaware River home is another sign of the region’s recovery following the devastation delivered by the June 2006 flood.