My Nonprofit Reviews
castanfield-auctioneer
Review for Kentucky Gateway Museum Center, Maysville, KY, USA
As a local business owner (real estate broker and auctioneer), I consult with the museum staff and archives in order to obtain historical background information on historical properties that I have offered for sale/available for purchase in Mason County, KY whenever I list a property with historical significance. In 2009, I successfully sold two circa 1795 Mason County stone homes (which has to be rare as there are not that many stone homes within the county), both located in rural areas of the county (4.05 acres on Parker Lane at Mays Lick and 2.85 acre on Taylor Mill) and both situated on small acreage, both on the National Register of Historic Places (the Poague House Mays Lick and Milton Mills Taylor Mill Road, Maysville, were both added to the National Register Jan. 8, 1987), and I contacted the museum when researching some of the history of the properties for purposes of providing historical data to prospective purchasers, including those persons who ultimately purchased the properties (the purchasers were non-residents, one from Maryland, the other from Ohio). I have found the staff very helpful and accommodating. I also have donated my time to conduct charity auctions to benefit the museum (the Museum has a world class miniatures collection and I conducted an auction to benefit the museum in 2008, selling a miniature collection, and -- in addition to Kentucky and US bidders -- we had bidders/purchasers from several foreign countries including Switzerland, England, Japan, and Germany, and this was a "Live Auction", with these bidders actually present in the audience! I also conduct an auction on their behalf annually (March 5 will mark the fourth or fifth year of my involvement and I conducted two benefits auctions in 2008), volunteering my services as well as that of my staff, and I don't even live in Mason County, but in the adjoining county (that shows how much I appreciate the Museum as I am willing to travel outside of my county to support them!).
More Feedback
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
action, with staff aiding me in obtaining information on properties that I had listed for sale and successrul sold.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
try to obtain funds to acquire and display even more artifacts from private collections representing the early history and settlement of the area.
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
interaction/consulatation with staff and volunteers, observing historical items of local interest on display (the William Craig landscape scene is extraordinary as is Kenton's Ride; the tall case clock, the Tuttle chest are also favorites!).
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
courteous, friendly, and accommodating.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
add significantly to the collection of local historical artifacts! There is a treasure trove of artifacts in private hands that if the monies were available for acquisition could be placed on permanent display!
Ways to make it better...
there were even more historical artifacts on display from early tradesmen, manufacturers, businesses and historic figures. Maysville is home of KY's Oldest Bank and more examples of early banknotes should be acquired/displayed.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
increasing funds available for purchase and display of additional historical artifacts.
One thing I'd also say is that...
I am a big fan of the museum and wish we had such an impressive facility in Lewis County (we have a museum, but nowhere near the space and capabilities of the Maysville facility).
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every six months
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
