The issue of Lincoln County’s proposed sponsorship of ahistorical society was settled Monday at the Board of Supervisorsmeeting, with Mississippi Department of Archives Field ServicesCurator Cindy Gardner recommending the Lincoln County Historicaland Museum Society form on its own as a non-profitorganization.

Gardner’s advice ended an ongoing question proposed to the boardfrom Dr. Jack Tindall, who has spearheaded efforts to form thesociety. He had been requesting that supervisors appoint acommission to form and operate a historical society.

The board had contemplated the question over several weeks,seeking to clarify whether or not it actually has the power toappoint such a commission. Board attorney Bob Allen determined thatit did not.

“One of the problems that has arisen is the mechanics of this,”Allen said. “I’m not familiar with any code section that allows thecounty to set up such a society. All I’ve been able to find isinstances where people form a historical society and then come tothe board for support. We’re not at odds here, there’s just aproblem with the mechanics.”

After the matter was determined to be outside the board’sauthority, it became a non-issue for the board and it took noaction.

“Based on the information that was before everyone, the boarddecided that the best thing to do was the just let the society formon its own,” said Lincoln County Chancery Clerk Tillmon Bishop.”The board had no decision to make.”

Had the board appointed a commission to form the Lincoln CountyHistorical and Museum Society, it would have been responsible forhiring a director and providing facilities and upkeep.

Since that option was unavailable, the society is now movingforward on its own. Its first step will be to gain recognition fromthe state as a legitimate non-profit organization.

“What we’ll do is fill out the form through the secretary ofstate’s office in order to be recognized as a historical society,”said Rita Rich, the pending society’s chairwoman. “We’ve got themembers – two from each of the five districts in the county and twofrom Brookhaven. When we are recognized, we’ll have our firstmeeting, elect a secretary and a treasurer and work on ourbylaws.”

Rich said she would appear before the supervisors again in thefuture to keep the board up to date on the society’s progress. Itis unknown how long it will take the secretary of state’s office toprocess the society’s paperwork.

Even though not yet official, the society already has onefundraising event in motion. Tindall, who will be signing copies ofhis new book “Early History of Lincoln County, Mississippi” onSaturday from 1-5 p.m. at the library, has pledged the proceeds ofthe first 1,100 books to the society. With copies selling for $30and mailed copies for $35, the society will soon have at least$3,300 in its account.

This amount, however, will not go far in the expensiveenterprise of operating a historical society – especially when itacquires a building in which to feature a museum.

“The museum is a whole different ball game,” Rich said. “Rightnow, we have zero money. There are no plans right now exceptselling the books. We have a lot more to do before we try any kindof fundraising.”

The costs can be huge, Gardner said.

“A lot of community support will be needed. You can’t just openthe doors. People will come at first, but you have to make newexhibits or host traveling exhibits to keep people coming back,”she said. “The fabrication and design of exhibits will also carry acost. You may be able to find people in the community that willvolunteer, but it still will cost multiple thousands of dollars tosupply and operate.”

While carrying its own costs will be a large undertaking for thesociety, there is an advantage to being self-created.

“If you form a private society, that way, if in five yearsthere’s a whole new board of supervisors, they can’t just vote tocut off their support and disband it,” Gardner said.