It was moving day Tuesday for the Butler County Historical Society, which is making the 179-year-old Lowrie-Shaw House on West Diamond Street its new home.

"Our offices will be in two rooms on the first floor," said Rebecca Crum-Reinsel, the society's executive director. "One was the lawyer's office. One was the dining room."

The society's office was on the seventh floor of the National City Bank Building on Main Street for 10 years, she said. Before that, it was in the Butler County Courthouse.

"I think it's going to be better," Reinsel said. "We're going to have the Lowrie-Shaw House open more for the public."

The historic building, behind the courthouse, was built in 1828. It was the home of Sen. Walter Lowrie, the only U.S. senator from Butler. It was donated to the society in 1986 after Isabelle Shaw Adams died.

It is one of four museums operated by the society. The others are the Little Red Schoolhouse on East Jefferson Street, The Butler County Heritage Center on West New Castle Street and the Cooper Cabin in Cabot.

Ed Wadding, president of the society's board of directors said the board decided the Lowrie-Shaw House was the best place for the society's headquarters.

"We have always wanted to be in one of our own locations," he said. "We wanted to stay in downtown Butler."

The Little Red Schoolhouse was too small, and the heritage center didn't seem right.

"At this point, the Lowrie Shaw House meets our needs. It's more functional," Wadding said. "This is something we've been talking about for years."

Wadding and Crum-Reinsel both said having the society's offices in the house will make it more accessible to the public.

"People coming in for information will get to see it," Wadding said.

"It will be open more for tours,"Crum-Reinsel said.

The house had been open from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sundays during summer, she said. Any changes will be announced later.

For now, the society is just busy making the move, Wadding said.

"We're excited," he said. "It's going to be a positive for Butler and the historical society. There's a lot of history in Butler and we need to continue to educate people."

He said about a half-dozen board members helped with the move on Tuesday.

Some items were moved to the Heritage Center, some for storage and others to be put on display, Wadding said.

About 5 p.m., the Nicholas Moving and Storage truck pulled up to the Lowrie-Shaw House and workers continued the move.

Crum-Reinsel said she hoped to have the office open and operating by the end of the week.

The office will remain open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Its telephone number will stay the same, 724-283-8116.