OSWEGO – The Pound Store Museum, perhaps the oldest commercial building in Kosciusko County, is getting its first fix in 20 years. Built in 1838, the former Native American trading post, general store and post office is currently undergoing exterior repair and repainting. Wooden siding is being replaced on the front of the building as well as the west and north sides, and the white paint will be replaced on those patches when weather allows. “It’s not going to be sided completely on any side, but it’s in bad condition in many spots,” said Ken Fawley, second vice president of the Kosciusko County Historical Society and chair of the committee in charge of property upkeep. The repairs are needed mainly due to age, he said, noting that the museum received its last major renovation in 1993 when the leaning structure was braced and straightened. Restoration at that point was based on a 1910 photograph of the exterior. The interior is based on a 1920s photo with then-owner Harold Pound, who later donated the building to the county historical society. The 1993 restoration was covered by a matching grant, but Fawley estimated the current siding replacement to cost the historical society between $13,000 and $14,000. He said he expects work on the siding to be completed in two or three weeks, and the museum will open for its regular summer season in May. Located at the corner of Armstrong Road and Second Street in Oswego, the museum will be open on weekends through Labor Day.
