In Wednesday’s edition, we learned that the Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau is planning to use a $475,000 state grant for a museum to showcase Butler-made vehicles owned by the bureau and possibly vehicles owned by Butler City.

While they must match the grant, Jack Cohen, tourism bureau president, hopes the project will “at least get underway” next year.

The end of the year is always a time of reflection for many people. In July, we learned the eventual fate of the historic Bantam building seemed to be a grim one. It’s comforting to know that the powers that be recognize the need for preserving certain aspects of a small area’s history, even if some are — sadly — beyond help.

A Bantam panel truck, a Bantam two-seat convertible and an American Austin that the bureau owns and stores in the former Pullman Standard plant would be publicly displayed in the museum.

Cohen said he also would like to see the 1909 Huselton and 1941 Bantam BRC40 military Jeep prototype owned by the city, and the 1922 Standard owned by the Butler Old Stone House Chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America in the display as well.

Preserving all of this history is important, but taking pride in it may be even more so. Instilling pride in one’s origins was one of the main goals of applying for and using the grant.

A museum like this would allow word to really spread about all the things that have come out of Butler County and gone further than anyone ever really stops to think about.

We commend the people at the Tourism & Convention Bureau on their accomplishments with this effort, and can’t wait to report on the project coming to fruition in the future.

—CM