Volunteers on the Move
    scrape, clean, paint

EMBARQ Offers Help

Porter Drywall

Sunbury United Youth Group Painted the Garage

Community Foundation of Delaware County

Youth Mission Team Works at Inn

Brothers Make Sure Inn Keeps up Appearances

Myers Inn Down Granville Street

    
One of the oldest structure in Sunbury, the Myers Inn faces Sunbury Square.  Enclosed in this structure is the first one room house of Lawrence Myers which may date to 1816 (when he co-founded Sunbury) and the two story stage coach inn built by Lawrence Myers in 1820. Both frame structures were enclosed into this large building by Jeduthan Skeels in the 1870's.

The property was purchased by the Hosea Hopkins at the turn of the century and became known as the Hopkins House which was run as a boarding house and later an apartment building.

In 1978, Harold McMillan gave the structure to the Community Library in memory of his wife, Mapledell. The library put on a new roof and replaced the brick pillars with wood

  like the original.  When the rotten sill was replaced, the windows broke and were replaced.  Wood siding replaced the shingles.
The library used it until they moved to the new location when they transferred the ownership of the building to the Big Walnut Area Historical Society. For historical purposes the name Myers Inn was given to the house.

Efforts are being made to renovate the building as quickly as possible. The Planning Committee for the renovation of the building completed its work in May 1996. The goal is now to put the plans into action.

The Board of Trustees moved into the Fund raising phase of the program. In addition to many small donations, Joan Lawrence got $100,000 in state monies for the renovation of the Myers Inn in 1997.  Architect Don Hoover, of Schooley Caldwell and Associates, was hired to oversee the work.

Meanwhile the Society has continued to use the grounds for educational purposes. Public archaeological digs on the property have provided educational opportunities as the history of our area is explored. Children and adults enjoyed several digs and artifacts are being labeled for eventual display in the museum.

Volunteers removed the added walls, the pest infested plaster, modern paneling and other things used to hide the true construction of the building. Materials were removed from the building so it is ready for workman.

 
Larry Mitchell was hired to be the Construction Manager of the project. He is supervised by Brian Kiggins of Schooley Caldwell and the Historical Society Board of Trustees. In 2003, our Ohio Representative Jon Peterson got $50,000 from the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission to continue work on the facility.  
 To date the following have been completed:
Once again in the fall of 2006, volunteers combined efforts and put in 300 hours in 30 days to put finishing touches on the rooms with drywall.

Installed
Utility
Sink

Scraping woodwork

Trimming Door and Windows

Painting

  

More Cleaning
Vacuuming Cleaning floors Scrubbing steps, Washing windows Cleaning exterior
The Society is making a big push to complete the building. On October 12, 2006, EMBARQ sponsored a Sunbury / Big Walnut Area Chamber of Commerce After Hours to promote the Myers Inn Project.
After Hours Photos by
Lenny Lepola

Photos
by Polly
Horn
 

Roger
Roberts
Photos

Drywall Prep

Drywall Arrives

    

Drywalling
     
2007 All hand hewn beams on the second floor were covered with paper to protect them during the drywall insulation. Porter finished installing the drywall in January 2007. 
  • Drywall in all rooms
  • Primed all drywall and final coat on the ceiling
    •

In the spring, volunteers once again began scraping and painting. 
 

Funds from the Community Foundation of Delaware County were used to purchase a new door for the Meeting Room and to buy paint materials so the volunteers could seal the new drywall.
Jon Peterson secured $25,000 through the Ohio Cultural Arts Facilities Commission to replace the roof and refinish/replace floors in the Inn.
  • Weisenstein Roofing won the bid to replace the roof
  • Quality Hardwood Floors from Fredericksburg did the floors
  
Clint Keener, president of Sunbury-Big Walnut Area Chamber of Commerce and Polly Horn, president of the BWAHS led their boards into negotiations designed to rent the south east room on the first floor to the Chamber.  The push was on for an Occupancy Permit from the State of Ohio.
Finally after 30 years,
                    Myers Inn is ready to be occupied		 2008
The Sunbury / Big Walnut Area Chamber of Commerce had wanted to move in by the first of January but the floors were not dry enough for traffic until the 17th of December.  Unable to get the Occupancy Permit, put off the CoC moving into the Myers Inn until Feb.1st.  However this time was not wasted.  There was much to do to make the room ready for the Chamber.  They were able to begin operations in the Myers Inn the first of February, 2008.
Now for the rest of the Myers Inn. . . .
Lanny and Carol installed a mirror in the restroom - perfect for changing costumes! Polly painted trim for Lanny to install in restrooms
 

Jeff installing hardware on restroom doors
A $25,000 Community Development Grant through the Delaware County Office of Economic Development will put an A.D.A. ramp on the meeting room door.
         

Next Project is the Meeting Room!Section of the wall in the photo at the right
was repaired with concrete causing a
very big bulge which must be removed
to get wall behind baseboard.
 

We've come a long way but there is still much to do.  There's a spot for your talents.

  
   

Join Us!

  
     

 (updated 02/19/08 )