(Photo provided) The Wetzel County Museum is reminding people that it accepts tax deductible donations. The free museum operates from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Shown here is the museum’s new neighboring structure it is expanding into.

NEW MARTINSVILLE – The Wetzel County Museum is reminding people that those looking to make a tax deductible donation can do so at the museum.

“If you’re looking for a tax deductible donation to make, please consider donating to help us continue to grow,” the museum said on its social media page.

The museum, which is free to enter, has been busy expanding into a new space this year, thanks to the purchase of a neighboring structure.

“It has been a busy year. In February we purchased the adjoining building to expand our space by three times,” the museum noted.

“The original building housed Wells Hardware in the 1890s. The ‘newer’ building was constructed in 1900 to become Wells Hardware and Furniture Company.

“In the early 1960s the doorways, both upstairs and downstairs, were blocked off, separating the two buildings. You can see from the photos that we have opened up the doorways once again.”

The museum also began repairing and refinishing the wood floors on the first floor of the new space.

“We have been delayed because of a furnace fan box that needs to be replaced. It has simply been too cold to apply the second coat of polyurethane,” the museum added. “The furnace should be fixed by next week. Hopefully we can get the second coat on before the end of (2024).”

Donations can be brought in or mailed to Friends of Wetzel County, 136 Main St., New Martinsville, WV 26155. In the memo line, write “Museum Building Fund.”

The museum is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday and is always free. It contains exhibits of photographs and items related to the history of Wetzel County.

Just this past fall the museum was able to salvage items from the old historic Bruce Pool before it was razed. The museum saved two lifeguard chairs, two diving boards, a metal frame from the low diving board, and a globe from a light pole.

The front entrance of the swimming pool remains standing and is expected to be used in the design of a future splash-pad-like area for the park.