On Sunday night June 28th, heavy flooding in the Cambridge Ohio area resulted in the flooding of the National Cambridge Collectors, Inc. Museum. Three days of heavy thunderstorms and hail caused heavy damage across much of Southeastern Ohio and West Virginia.

In total, approximately five and a half feet of water occupied the Museum building. A team of about 25 volunteers worked Sunday night as flood waters rose to elevate critical pieces of glassware to higher shelves. Without the efforts of these heroes to N.C.C., resultant damage could have been much more severe.

As of Saturday morning July 4th, the damage to glassware in the building is miraculously light compared to expectations earlier in the week. Fewer than one hundred pieces at this time are known to have sustained damage. That is not the situation regarding paper materials, resale inventory (such as NCC books), and the building itself including shelf units and cabinets.

Members of N.C.C. might expect some delays in club services as a result of the natural disaster that has occurred. Crystal Ball's for July and August are likely to be delayed as would be book orders that may have been placed or general membership corresponding. Needless to say, the Museum has been officially closed for the season.

Flood waters continued to rise through Tuesday. Some volunteers took boats or canoes to the building and could give us progress reports. Waters receded on Wednesday and the building was protected over night by a dedicated group of members. The building was able to be entered on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. A team of volunteers worked quickly to secure glass from shelf units that were vulnerable and begin the involved process of cleaning glass, examining damage, and inventorying items. Many items floated to different parts of the building and had to be found.

Based on excellent guidance provided by the Corning Glass Museum that had experienced similar flooding, procedures were in place to preserve many of the paper items. Freezers were brought in to quickly freeze important catalogs that will then be Xeroxed to preserve the information contents. The building now is totally secure. New alarm systems have already been installed in the main museum building and in the storage building as well. We held off using the Internet as a communication device until we were confident that the location was absolutely secure.

Donations are needed to help the club deal with the current crisis and build a plan for a new museum, most likely to be on a different site. Persons willing to help may send contributions to P.O. Box 416, Cambridge, Ohio 43725, attention National Cambridge Collectors, Inc. Building Fund. Checks should be made payable to N.C.C., Inc. We thank you in advance for any help in any way, shape or form you can provide. Once museum relocation plans are more finalized, a specific fund raising campaign will be created.

Without the assistance of the volunteers in Cambridge, we would be in a much worse position than we are. All members of N.C.C. and the glass community at large owe them a big debt of gratitude. We have sustained heavy losses through this natural tragedy but we are most fortunate that all of our people are safe (many other people were not so fortunate) and that the glass collection is much safer than earlier feared. If you have any questions or comments, please let us know through our website and we will attempt to use this site as an ongoing communication medium with members and friends to keep them updated as events unfold.

Rick Jones
President, NCC
July 4, 1998