A contract to build the new Tri-Motor Museum in Ohio has been awarded, with construction slated to begin next month.
According to Ken Benjamin chairman of the Tri-Motor Heritage Foundation, museum facility was awarded to Janotta & Herner Inc., an employee-owned company based in Monroeville, Ohio. The new 36,000-square-foot facility will be located at the Erie-Ottawa Regional Airport (PCW) in Port Clinton, Ohio. Construction will begin in June 2011 and is slated for completion by the end of the year.
Funding for the museum project was received through a private grant from the George V. Woodling Jr. Foundation. Ed Patrick, the George V. Woodling Jr. Foundation board chairman, stated, “It’s important to preserve the history of the Ford Tri-Motors, especially given its crucial role in local transportation to and from the Lake Erie islands.”
The new facility will include a dedicated Ford Tri-Motor museum, a classroom/conference room for educational programs and meetings, large hangar, gift shop and a fully restored, working vintage diner.
Volunteers from EAA Tin Goose Chapter 1247 and the Tri-Motor Heritage Foundation have been working for more than seven years on the ground up restoration of their 1929 Ford Tri-Motor aircraft and are thrilled their project will have a new home to showcase their work to the public.
“After all these years, this will be a fine place to display our volunteers’ efforts as well as historic items relating to the Ford Tri-Motor and its importance to this area,” stated Warren Cermak, restoration project manager. “Work will not end with the construction of this building. We’ll need help from everyone to keep the museum going.”
To that end, the George V. Woodling Jr. Foundation has also issued a Challenge Grant which will match $2 for each $1 in donations raised by the Tri-Motor Heritage Foundation and EAA “Tin Goose” Chapter 1247 through the end of 2011.
Tri-Motor Heritage Foundation board President, Jody Brausch stated, “Being a 501(c)3 organization, ongoing expenses are raised solely through private donations. This Challenge Grant is a great opportunity for us to raise funds to help with the completion of our Ford Tri-Motor restoration.”
Donations can be made online or by mailing a check to: Tri-Motor Heritage Foundation, 3575 E. Oak Lake Drive, Port Clinton, Ohio, 43452.
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