The historical Honey Creek shop, a bright yellow two-story structure atop a hill on Clintonville’s Main Street, has been gifted to the Clintonville Historical Society.
The announcement was made Thursday at a meeting at the Clintonville Community Center when Honey Creek’s owner, Ann Fuge, presented the society’s president, Marilyn Berkvan, with the agreement papers.
“Positive things in the community will come from the grass roots,” said Fuge.
According to Berkvan, the society’s board of directors voted to accept the gift. They have discussed ideas for the historical building, but its use has not been decided.
Honey Creek is a Clintonville landmark that has previously been known as the Finney House. The late Dr. W.H. Finney was a prominent figure in the community, and Honey Creek was his residence.
Finney also held his medical practice in the building. He and his wife had no children, so he willed the building to the city. He also donated land across the street for the public library, now O’Connor Realty.
Ann Fuge and her late husband, Dave, purchased the building from the city in 1984 and spent a few months remodeling. After 30 years in business, Ann Fuge decided to retire, and she had a sale last fall on the specialized wildlife and outdoor art and collectibles.
“I thought about what had all happened in the building,” Fuge said. “I thought a lot about the history and what happened here, and I thought this belongs with the historical society. The historical society established a museum fund in 2011, and I thought maybe this could be the catalyst to go forward and plant a seed for ideas.”
All Berkvan could say upon learning of the gift was “Wow!”
“Ann asked first what our needs were, and then she said perhaps her building would help,” Berkvan said.
The historical society has items stored in the Old Armory on 12th Street, which has an uncertain future, so getting Honey Creek could give the group a little breathing room for storage.
There still needs to be an appraisal of the property, a transfer deed and title search before the gift is complete.
Berkvan said the gift presents challenges and opportunities, and society members will consult with experts as they look for the future use of Honey Creek, which sits on an acre of land. The building had been named after Honey Creek which runs through the property to the nearby Pigeon River.
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