By Janet Jacobs
Almost a year ago, Sept. 18, 2007, the past president of the Navarro County Historical Society, Bill Young, got up during a Corsicana City Council meeting and read the council the riot act.
“What right does the city council have to approve changes in Pioneer Village’s admission price?” he asked. “The Board of Directors of the Navarro County Historical Society sets and makes admission changes at Pioneer Village.”
This fall, those questions are likely to be answered.
The city has reached an agreement with the board to lease Pioneer Village from the society, and operate it.
“We agreed with the Historical Society several years ago to provide a curator for that facility, and it evolved into the city operating the village, and insuring the buildings, and everything entailed in operating the village,” said Connie Standridge, city manager. “There was a discussion between the city and the historical society as to whether or not they wanted to take over operation of the village, and they decided it would be better for the city to lease the village.”
However, when the society pointed out the city didn’t own the buildings, insuring the village became a problem, Standridge said.
“We need a document to provide the insurance, the general liability for people visiting the village,” she said.
Bobbie Young is the current executive director of the society, and is also the curator of the village, and a city employee.
“There were a lot of things in the past not spelled out,” she said. “It would just be continuing on the way it was al these years, but we’d have something in writing.”
The contract isn’t completed yet, Standridge said, but it’s in the works.
Pioneer Village, 912 W. Park Ave., is a collection of historical buildings, artifacts and documents that are viewed by hundreds of school children and tourists each year. The collection sits within Jester Park, which is owned by the city, but the artifacts belong to the society. In 2007, the city conducted a bond election and voters agreed to spend $120,000 on improving access and security at Pioneer Village.
—————
Janet Jacobs may be reached via e-mail at jacobs@corsicanadailysun.com
