Presidential plea for help

FREMONT, Ohio (WUPW) - A fire at the Hayes Presidential Center in Fremont on March 6 has the historic site scrambling to replace nearly all of its maintenance equipment.

The presidential center is issuing a plea for help. They currently have no way to care for the property since all of their equipment went up in flames.

The March 6 fire inside the carriage house on the presidential grounds caused in excess of $200,000. The center fears that, combined with budget cuts, the loss could affect the Center's daily operations.

The smell of smoke still lingered Friday afternoon around the charred remains of the carriage house of the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center. It housed all of the site's maintenance machines, including saws, mowers, snow blowers, a tractor, even a 1-ton truck with a hydraulic bed.

"We have 25 acres of grounds and one-mile of walking paths at Spiegel Grove, so that means if it snows it takes quite a while to remove the snow, plus mow the lawns," said Kathy Boukissen, Hayes Center Development Director. "If the tress come down due to a storm we need to take care of that. We have defiantly immediate needs."

The March 6 fire was ruled accidental, sparked by a child playing with a propane torch. But it could be some time before insurance money will be freed up. With the delay of insurance funding, combined with no federal funding and a budget cut by the Ohio Historical Society leaves the Hayes Center in a tight spot, with no way to replace the equipment.

"We were cut this year 45-percent of the funds to the Hayes Presidential Center," Boukissen said. "That's why we are now closed of Mondays but the work still goes on so that means it's that much tougher."

Several events and weddings are planned for the coming months at the center, so, now the historical society is asking for help.

"If you know of any one or a business that might be ready to get rid of some equipment contact us because we're open to all kinds of ideas right now."

The City of Fremont has already offered to help in the short term, so have some community groups.

Boukissen said the presidential center is in need of machinery to help maintain the presidential grounds. You are asked to call the center at 419-332-2081 or contact Boukissen directly.