For the past four years, the Colfax Historical Society has had a desire to have a local history museum to house the history of Colfax into one facility. This past weekend at the Old Hickory Days celebration, that vision has now become a reality.
“In 2019, the American Legion wanted to get rid of this building and we also had lost the opportunity to buy the Rosenberger Building which we had been trying so hard to acquire,” said Colfax Historical Society President Amanda Boksa. “It worked out that the American Legion was willing to make the donation of the property. We took possession in May 2019 and we have been renovating and repairing ever since.”
The Rosenberger Building was built in 1865 and was possibly the oldest building in Clinton County as well as being on the National Register of Historic Places. The Colfax Historical Society began its quest to purchase the building in late 2017. However, a couple from Greenwood bought the building earlier this year.
The American Legion building, which is located at the corner of Main and Meridian in Colfax, has been unoccupied for six years when a pizza business left the building. So what was the building like when the project started?
“It served as a bar, as a dance hall and it smelled as a bar and dance floor,” said Boksa. “It was dark, dingy, smoky and dirty as well as a critter was living in a room. We took us taking out all the insulation, all of the ceiling, doing all new floors and doing a lot of work trying to recover the good bones.”
Boksa also said they got the place ready with a lot of volunteer work plus some grants, including a $4,418 grant from the Clinton County Community Foundation to install flooring, and a grant for putting in all new lighting.
Boksa added the majority of Colfax’s local history had been archived and on display at the Colfax Perry Township Public Library.
“Community members and board members have worked tirelessly on this,” said Boksa.
The new museum is open from 2-4 p.m. on Mondays and by appointment at this time.