Historical society opens former lodge

Vienna group debuts new location with community tours

VIENNA -- After acquiring the former Copper Penny Lodge earlier this year, Vienna Historical Society members have spent several months remodeling and cleaning the building for use as their headquarters.

The society opened its doors for the public to see. It also will be used for meetings and other events.

Christine Novicky, society president, said there was a major cleanup on all three floors by historical society members and community volunteers.

"We did a lot of work here, especially in the basement. We filled a dumpster," she said.

Novicky said the society is waiting to hear if its request to the Trumbull County commissioners for $60,000 of American Rescue Plan funds has been approved. The funds would cover work on the building's roof, gutters, insulation, windows and for a wheelchair ramp to make the building handicap-accessible.

Plans are to begin having monthly meetings in the building this month.

Novicky said a new furnace and air conditioner have been installed.

WHAT'S INSIDE

The first time the public was able to come inside was at the recent Vienna Home Day in August.

"We will have all of our collection of items here inside a display case or two. We can rotate displays of items during the year," Novicky said.

Jeff Ford, a society member, was able to get into the cupola on the roof with a tree-service bucket lift to remove the Masonic glass that was there, which he gave to the Masons.

Novicky said the society plans to put a school bell in the cupola.

The society members said they would like to eventually rent the building to the public.

"People who have come in say they can't believe how big it is inside," Ford said.

Novicky said the upstairs has a large meeting room that people like to visit. She said plans also include having an archives room for historical artifacts and nostalgia items.

Pam Clower, society vice president, said the building was constructed in the 1870s. She said she takes people upstairs where they can see the blue carpeting and old-style chairs used by the Masons.

"Who better than a historical society to get this historic building? People love coming in here, with many seeing it for the first time," Clower said.

She said photo albums were put out for the open house, as well as historical memorabilia.

Pam Klinger, society treasurer, said the building is in an ideal location next to the Vienna Cemetery, where the society often has walking tours or does projects such as restoring the markers.

"On the second and third floors, there is a good view of the cemetery," she said.

Fred Ebinger of Vienna said it was the first time in more than 30 years he has been inside the building.

"It's really nice what they have been able to do inside. I was in here years ago when it was used as the Vienna Grange," Ebinger said.

PAST USES

The building was used as a school, a grange and a Masonic Lodge.

Because of dwindling membership, members of the Copper Penny Lodge in the spring 2022 moved toward closure of the chapter.

Since the building is historic, lodge members thought it would be fitting for the Vienna Historical Society to take ownership.

In May 2022, Copper Penny Lodge secretary William Saylor contacted Novicky to discuss this possibility.

The Vienna Historical Society Board of Directors had lengthy discussions and several meetings about the potential acquisition and, at the Aug. 11, 2022, board meeting, voted unanimously to purchase the building.

The lodge officially was closed on Jan. 10, and was sold to the Vienna Historical Society for $1 on Feb. 11.

Novicky presented the payment of 100 pennies for the lodge to Saylor.

After the dissolution of the lodge in Vienna, many of the Copper Penny Masons joined the Cortland Masonic Lodge 529.