New Year, New Director for the GCHS Musuem
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by Danielle Nyland
att Cumberledge has a passion for history. “I’ve had a love of history my entire life,” Matt shares. That love of history propelled him to apply for the open Executive Director position at the Greene County Historical Museum this fall. That love of history – and Greene County - shines through whenever Matt talks about his appointment as the new director of the museum. Unlike previous directors, Matt is a Greene County native. He currently resides in Brave and his Greene County roots go back generations, with ancestors living in Greene County since 1778. Before becoming the Greene County Historical Museum’s new director, he worked as a master draftsman, then spent seven years in the US Army. After his time in the Army, he worked six years as a Corrections Officer, where he was elected as Vice President of the Union – a position that developed his administrative skills and revealed something else about himself: “I know it’s weird, but I’m a person that likes paperwork,” Matt admits with a laugh. “I find it relaxing.” Although Matt doesn’t have any formal history education, he is an avid historian and has dedicated much of his life to local history. He’s been a member of the Cornerstone Genealogical Society for over 20 years, joining the group at the age of 13. Matt has been instrumental in preserving two local historic cemeteries and has assisted on research projects and publications highlighting Greene County. He works on the preservation of his family cemetery, The Greene County Historical Society Museum loacated off Rolling Meadows Road is home to wide selction of Greene Co. history. the Cumberledge Cemetery in Brave, near the PA/WV bortive activities. The museum has a wonderful the community happy.” ders. He has a special interest in and varied collection of Native American The museum’s digital presence is also growing. The Facebook Revolutionary War history and artifacts that Matt hopes to get on display page has introduced an Artifact of the Week, bringing pieces of the local Native American archaeto visitors. museum into community homes every week. Matt has hopes to exology, and serves as a Civil War One large project that has gotten some pand into a YouTube channel, with mini documentaries about items re-enactor as part of the 31st new energy is the library. Over a decade in the museum or historical events. Virginia. ago, the old boiler house behind the mu“At the end of the day, before it’s time for me to leave, I spend Prior to his appointment seum was renovated and set up with plans some time wandering around the museum and looking at all the difas director and before working to turn it into a library, but that was as far ferent things,” Matt shares. “You could do that for a decade and still for the Department of Correcas it got. Why it was never finished isn’t not quell your fascination with the items that we have here. We have tions, Matt volunteered at the clear, but some of the difficulties were the artifacts that represent every aspect of history, from prehistoric times museum. He worked with Canlarge amount of material and the lack of to modern times.” dy Buchanan to archive photos anyone with the ability to properly develThe mission of the Greene County Historical Society is to “prothat had been kept in storage. op a catalog. Now the museum is working mote an understanding of Greene County history through the presHis love of history, the museum, with volunteers as well as Rea Redd from ervation and interpretation of local artifacts and stories in order to and the time he spent in the Waynesburg University to sort and catalog educate the public and future generations through a narrative of the union gave him the courage to Matt Cumberledge was appointed as the new director in Decemeber. the library materials. The library is a very rich heritage of Greene County and its surrounding areas.” With Matt apply for opening for director. large project and expectations for comple- Cumberledge as Executive Director and a dedicated and enthusiastic “After my experience as union Vice President, I thought, ‘I could aption are anywhere from 6 months to a year. board of directors, the GCHS Museum is gearing up to show just how ply for this job, I could do it.” He adds, “I love this place, I love Greene “I’m very excited about the library,” Matt says. ”It’s not just wonderfully it will continue to fulfill its mission and bring Greene County history, and it’s an opportunity to preserve history.” The new year will be a new beginning for the museum, allowing books, there are documents, ledgers, JP dockets… some of the items County history alive. Matt and the board of director’s to start with a clean slate. “We’re haven’t seen the light of day in decades.” Another ongoing project for the museum is their barbershop making a fresh start with everything. Everything‘s going to be new,” Matt says about the museum’s future. “We’re going to explore things exhibit, located in one of the museum’s outbuildings. It’s a construction project meant to showcase the museum’s extensive barbershop that are positive for the museum.” The museum is closed for the duration of the winter. During this collection. Matt would love to see the barbershop display finished and time, Matt plans on organizing, cleaning, and starting the process of available for barbershop demonstrations in the future. Other possibilities for the future include looking into the viabilrevitalizing the museum. “This may be some of my busiest times, of ity of the barn for hosting large events, bringing back the junior histhe year,” Matt says, referring to the museum’s closed months. While the museum is closed, Matt will work on re-cataloging some of the torian/archaeologist program or something similar, and adding more collections and putting together a strategic plan, which will include interactivity to the museum’s exhibits. A walking trail will be devela few new projects that Matt and the board want to see get moving. oped along the museum grounds and Glenn Toothman has donated “The museum has sat still for a while,” Matt says. “We’re bringing 50 Memory Medallions that will be used along the trail to provide historical information about a person, place, or event. The goal is to some new energy into it.” The museum will continue its usual annual events, with a few open the trail in October, coinciding with the Harvest Festival. The changes, but will build on those events, making them bigger and add- museum also hopes to work with other organizations to reach the ing new events to the schedule. “I really want to build something big- museum’s full potential. About 20 to 30 volunteers are currently involved with the muger around archeology month,” Matt says. Archeological month for seum and the number is growing every day. “I’ve been contacted daily Pennsylvania is October. The museum’s annual Harvest Festival falls within that month, and the museum is hoping to add more events with people wanting to help. It’s been hard to keep up,” Matt says. Matt is an avid historian and preservationist. He is pictured at his family’s for the entire month, including weekly speakers and more interac- “We’ve been receiving an overwhelming amount of support on everycememetery, which he has worked to preserve and restore. thing with lots of community backing. That’s what it’s about – making
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GreeneScene Magazine •
FEBRUARY
2019
