Westlake history marches on
During the first few months of this year, members of the Westlake Historical Society were preparing for and anticipating an incredibly busy 2020 season! We were pleased to offer tours of the Clague House Museum in February, and again in March with Mayor Dennis Clough as our guest tour guide.
We were planning our 50th annual Antique, Vintage, and Craft Show, as well as our Evergreen Cemetery Tour, Ice Cream Social, Pet Photos, and our very popular Rubber Duck Race and Silent Auction.
Instead, in an effort to help keep our community safe, we closed our doors to the public, following the Governor’s orders and recommendations to implement social distancing. Currently, a skeleton crew of volunteers are maintaining the Clague House and Lilly Weston museums.
As the president of the Westlake Historical Society, I implemented our Emergency Best Practices … something an organization never wants to do. However, circumstances like a pandemic make it necessary.
My first concern was our members and friends. Are they okay? Do they need anything? As time went on, and the phases of the health crisis changed, it was obvious that there would be a “new normal.”
We checked with many of our members to ask if they needed assistance. When the Memorial Day Parade was cancelled, we visited several members while standing in their driveway (socially distant with face masks).
Although most of our fundraising events for 2020 are cancelled, our fixed expenses are not. Through careful planning and budget cutting, your Westlake Historical Society should be able to move forward. Memberships and donations are welcome and appreciated.
As we look toward the fall and beyond, we hope to restore as many programs and fundraisers as possible. If not this year, our cancelled events, community programs, and open houses will return at some point.
As you drive by our museums, please remember we are available by telephone, e-mail, or U.S. mail to answer questions or fill your museum store orders. Our telephone number is 216-848-0680, and our email is claguemuseum@yahoo.com. The mailing address is 1371A Clague Road, Westlake, Ohio 44145.
We wish everyone a happy, safe and healthy summer!
Lysa Stanton
Lysa Stanton is a retired special education teacher and the President of the Westlake Historical Society. She lives in Westlake with her wonderful husband, Dave and her awesome pets.