Pike County Historical Society (PCHS) received a $15,000 grant from the Arcadia Foundation in June 2000 to make their Columns Museum handicap accessible. A wheel chair lift was installed and introduced to the public three years later. The PCHS initially reallocated the grant monies for other purposes until the Tri-State Unity Coaltion brought the issue to light in June/July 2001. TSUC then involved the Center for Independent Living (CIL). The wheel chair lift was only one component of the plan to make the Columns accessible. Hopefully, the PCHS will continues with the rest of the original plan without pressure from other groups. See Handicap Access Project page for complete outline and timeline of events.

Photos of the Inaugural -

Photo 1. Member of the Pike ADA Committee, arrives early and sits on the recently painted steps and gets paint all over herself. What was the Society trying to cover by slapping a last minute coat of paint on the steps? In 1999, this member provided the Society with information on a grant of up to $50,000 to install access - which the Society rejected indicating it had no handicapped employees - when in fact the director at the time was receiving a military pension for a disability. See PCHS Minutes.

Photo 2. Ken Baumel, who wanted to create a video tape of the Columns and then take it out to the car of any person who couldn't climb the steps, prepares to cover the event as publicist for the Society. Previously, Baumel offered to personally carry anyone into the Columns who couldn't climb the steps so that the Society could use the $15,000 grant for operating expenses instead of installing the lift. According to the Chamber of Commerce, Baumel's work for the Society includes maintaining its website. Note that the person discussed above is still stuck to the painted porch.

Photo 3. The Ribbon Cutting - President Mike Billig jokes about installing a catapult instead of a lift to propel wheelchair patrons into the building, gives Fred Burke all the credit and fails to let Keith Williams speak or recognize Keith's role as a Statewide Advocate for the Center for Independent Living (CIL). The lift would not have been installed without Keith Williams insistence - which included filing a complaint with the U.S. Justice Department. In typical Milford fashion, Billig comments: "It's in and it looks good!"

Photo 4. Keith Williams exits from the lift and is about to be the first wheelchair user to visit the Columns. There is still another obstacle to overcome. Note the 30 degree "ramp" that has to be cleared before entry into the museum. There is barely enough room for Bill Kiger to close the door. Kiger, one of two operators required for the lift, said: [quote "not in keeping with historical" and "we've had little call"]. Bill Kiger has previously used the "historical objectives" argument to justify not making the Columns handicap accessible - see here.

Photo 4 - Click Image to Enlarge

Photo 5. Keith Williams becomes the first of 4 wheelchair users to visit the Columns on "lift inaugural day."

Photo 6. Keith Williams tours the Lincoln Flag Room. The infamous Lincoln Flag was called a "legend" by the director who applied for and received the the $15,000 grant to install the wheelchair lift. The director was fired and the Society decided not to install the lift saying it was not in keeping with historical objectives of the building and they had no call for handicapped accessibility - see here. Kiger was proved wrong.

Photo 7. Cliff Jorgenson is the second to arrive on the lift. For a moment the lift wouldn't operate because Cliff's chair was too big and the door wouldn't close. A good hard kick on the door got the door closed and Cliff rode up to the porch level. Upstairs lift operator Bill Kiger opens the door to let him out.

Photo 7 - Click Iamge to Enlarge

Photo 8. Cliff and Mary Jorgenson get to see the Lincoln Flag Room.

Photo 9. A nice reception followed - hosted by Curator Lori Strelecki (right). All told, four wheelchair users visited the Columns on the lift inaugural day. True there were some problems - but the completion of this first phase is an accomplishment - though, without public protest, nothing would have been done.

Photo 10. Alas, there is still more work to be done. The crowded library has not been made wheelchair friendly. Many of the resources in the room have not been placed in proper archival storage (which would reduce the clutter and make the room more available to all patrons). The door has not been widened on the restroom. The sink has not been replaced with one that is handicapped accessible, and a peek inside shows that this area still needs a lot of work. Hopefully, the Historical Society will re-commit to the full plan that was approved in 1999.

Photo 10 - Click Image to Enlarge