Andrew Mizsak is surrounded by history while he is at work.
Pictures and books around his office highlight interests in Civil War history and modern government. Stepping outside his office at Century Village Museum in Burton Village, the surrounding buildings and grounds testify to 200 years of Geauga County’s history.
As the Geauga County Historical Society’s manager of external relations and government affairs, Mizsak is part of a team that is working to keep the living history museum alive for future generations. But they are looking for community help to make that happen.
“Our leadership team is dedicated to the mission of making this – and this is our sole focus – making this Northeast Ohio’s preeminent historical organization, history education center,” he said.
Mizsak began helping the historical society last summer after media reports highlighted the Burton-based museum’s financial difficulties, and he joined the team in October.
At a recent press briefing, he said that Century Village is “on the upswing.”
“That’s a relative term, because we still need to continue to raise more funds,” he said. “We need to continue to rekindle relationships throughout the county.”
Mizsak said that individuals can support the historical society by purchasing a $40 annual membership. He said that the society would love to add 40,000 of the county’s approximately 96,000 residents to its membership rolls.
The historical society is also running an 800×365 campaign this year. The museum says that its operations cost about $800 per day, so it is looking for individual, group or corporate sponsors to provide one day’s worth of funding. It offers different perks for those who contribute different amounts.
Mizsak said that the group is also open to corporate partnerships. He said that the museum made the “hard decision” to place sponsors’ names on buildings and exhibits, something he described as a “professional norm” within the museum community.
He added that the historical society hopes that the community will help it be “the preeminent historical education center” and be a place where residents can bring guests from out of town.
Mizsak is also looking to raise funds from federal and state sources.
“I’m going to all possible sources, private and foundational grants, other nonprofits, the state, the feds, local,” he said. “If we can make the case – and I get email updates a couple times a week on what grants that are out there – if it fits our mission here, we’ll find a way to apply for it.”
Mizsak said the museum has also worked to professionalize its staff over the past year and a half.
“The challenge is, giving a person a why as to why they should get involved here,” he said later. “I think I can do it. I think this team can do it. There are folks who are interested in old maps. We have old maps. They’re interested in old Bibles. We have a 350-year-old Bible, for example, here. The challenge is also finding what they’re interested in, but saying, we probably have it.”
A number of annual events will be returning to Century Village Museum this year, including its pancake breakfasts on Sunday mornings in March, a Civil War Encampment and Re-enactment on May 24-25, the Raccoon County Music Festival on Aug. 9 and the Apple Butter Festival on on Oct. 11-12.
“We had these longstanding traditions here that we don’t want to give up and we don’t want to lose because the thought is in the back of our mind, if we don’t make budget, the possibility is still real that our doors could close,” Mizsak said. “But, I try to tell folks, we’re making that progress, but reality is still reality.”
The historical society is also hosting a number of new events this year.
The museum is planning a re-enactment of the Revolutionary War’s Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 26-27, shortly after the 250th anniversary of the battles.
“There is a Revolutionary War organization, they’re coming in from literally all over the country. They are recreating the Battle of the Lexington Green and the retreat from Concord, and they are using the script that is used annually in Lexington, Massachusetts,” Mizsak said.
“That’s a great way to kick off our country’s America250, the 250th birthday,” he added later.
Mizsak said that the center will be a “focal point” of America250 celebrations in Geauga County over the next year.
Besides serving as a venue where people can attend community events and learn about history, he said that he is looking at attracting private dollars to expand the center’s community garden.
“To grow fresh fruits and vegetables here, that will provide a wonderful community resource,” Mizsak said.
Community value
Mizsak said that Century Village provides families with opportunities for local family activities.
“We can provide that staycation, that mini-respite,” he said. “We have folks who will come here and just walk their dogs on the grounds because it’s quiet and peaceful, and you might see a bald eagle occasionally, you’ll see a red-tailed hawk occasionally.
“To get in touch and history on our own we love that, and yeah, we love when the place is packed with people at the big events, but we also love doing those tours and those family gatherings and holding those weddings and all the things that people like doing here,” Mizsak added. “And if we’re not here, we can’t do that.”
While he expects the museum to need a couple more years of rebuilding, he said that he and the team are committed.
“I’m in this for as long as it takes,” Mizsak said. “This place is that important to me. I’m in it for as long as it takes. And I know my colleagues all feel the same way.”
“We provide that linkage to those prior generations but people in this county already know that, and they know that for generations this place has been a part of that,” he added later. “So my hope is in the good people of Geauga County who always had a love and affinity and a respect for the history of this county.”
Century Village Museum is located at 14653 E. Park St. in Burton. More information is available at centuryvillagemuseum.org.
