The Donald R. Lobaugh Museum in Rimersburg was hit by a flood in 2019, but volunteers hope to open the museum for Memorial Day after extensive renovations.
“We had a sewer pipe that broke,” said museum board member Charlie Brothers. “We thought we had it fixed but it wasn’t. There is not someone here every day to check on things. The carpet seems to have absorbed the water.”
“We do need help from some of the original volunteers so we can put everything back the way it was,” said Pat Brothers, who is a museum volunteer.
The damaged drywall at floor level also had to be replaced.
“We were lucky that the water didn’t get high enough to damage any of the mannequins,” said Charlie Brothers. He said even used mannequins cost $100.
While the drywall was being replaced the museum board also decided to paint the walls. That meant removing all the displays including the “Wall of Honor.”
The wall is dedicated to those killed in action from the Rimersburg area.
“One of our members made wooden signs to designate the various conflicts,” said Charlie Brothers.
The story of the Rimersburg Military Museum began 75 years ago in the jungles of New Guinea where on July 22, 1944, private first Class Donald Lobaugh earned the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Jim McCullough, one of the museum’s founders, said the organization started about 12 years ago and the museum opened on Memorial Day 2007.
McCullough said when the Southern Clarion County Development Corp. occupied the building; the organization had a small “restroom-sized room” in memory of those who served their country. When the SCCDC moved they donated the building at no cost.
The collection has grown by word of mouth.
“Our funds are pretty low right now,” said Charlie Brothers. Donations keep the doors open and can be made to Rimersburg Military Park and Museum, 707 Main St., Rimersburg, 16248.
The museum is open by appointment, and appointments can be made by calling (814) 473-6179.