Barnesville Rotary Club News

(Barnesville Rotary photo)

Ron Fuller and Rotary member Patty Riemenschneider

By Nancy Napolitano, Barnesville Rotary member  

April 22: Ron Fuller, who was the Vocational Agriculture teacher for Barnesville Schools for over 35 years presented the meeting program. Now retired, Ron lives on a farm near Fairview in Guernsey County. He feels fortunate in many ways: he has benefitted from the Oil & Gas industry and has been able to build his own home; more importantly, Ron is blessed to be a stroke and “flat liner” survivor (suffered a stroke and was in the Cleveland Clinic during the Covid pandemic).

Ron relayed his experiences of traveling and seeing all 50 states and many other countries. He really enjoys hunting travels and advises everyone to “Go-do-see!” all you can while you are able. He feels very blessed to be able to do and enjoy all he can. Last summer Ron hunted turkey right off his front porch. He brought his prized trophy grizzly bear display which Ron hunted and killed southeast of Anchorage, Alaska.

Answering member questions Ron told us he did have more than a couple scares while on hunting trips.  He related a scare while moose hunting in Ontario, and while camping on another trip was really surprised and scared by a beaver dragging brush. His favorite places to visit are Hawaii and Alaska—Ron said, “nothing like them.”  He feels those two states are unique and beautiful.  

Cathryn Stanley

(Belmont County Heritage Museum photo)  

 April 15: Cathryn Stanley, curator at the Belmont County Heritage Museum and former editor of the former Barnesville Enterprise, was the program presenter. She was introduced by Mary Sidwell, president elect of the club.

Cathryn is in her 5^th year with the museum and 8^th year as an employee of the Belmont County Tourism Council.

The museum has an interesting history as the former county Sheriff’s residence that was used from 1890 to 1976. The residence portion of the building was then used as offices until 1996 when it was vacated.

Preservation efforts to save the building were successful with the building eventually turned over to the tourism council for use as a county heritage museum. Today, housed in the building’s two floors of exhibits and artifacts related to the county, the building still serves a public purpose.  

Cathryn also manages an evening history program of speakers highlighting aspects of area history including the National Road, industry, retail and culture of Belmont County.

The museum is open for the season Thursday through Saturday from 10:00-4:00 (closed from 12:00-1:00 for lunch). Group tours are welcome. Stanley may be reached at (740) 695-4359 or via the museum’s Facebook page or website.