Society aims to preserve history for Polk County

Proposal suggest moving sunshine house to library lot for use as a museum

By Jeri Borst

 

Dedicating a space to preserve Polk County history is the focus of a proposed project steered by Polk County Genealogical Society.

Shirley Manning shared the society’s vision with the Polk County Quorum Court at the July 28 meeting.

“This would be a way to curate a museum to showcase the history of Polk County,” Manning explained.

The society proposes to purchase the original Polk County High School, which also served as a library, and move it to the current Polk County Library lot. The building, also known as the sunshine house, served as a daycare center in recent history.

 

Manning said the society plans on generating the funds to purchase and relocate the building through fundraisers.

“Because we are a non-profit, we are able to raise the money and then if the county will accept it, we would like to give the county the deed to the building,” Manning explained.

Quorum members expressed an interest in seeing the museum project come to fruition, but tabled action until more information could be gathered, including expected insurance and utility costs.

Manning said the society would be responsible for rehabilitating the structure and curating the exhibits.

“We have a plan to move it, set it up and know what our expected costs would be,” Manning said. “We want to create a museum that is for all of Polk County with interactive exhibits – something really nice that can be a feather in the county’s cap.”

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