Fred Rosenmiller is donating this 1917 Bell Motor Car, made in the 200 block of North George Street in York, Pa., to the York County Heritage Trust. He declined, with a smile, to place a value on the car other than to say it's worth more than it originally cost. The Heritage Trust regularly receives donations from the community. Background posts: Digging Coulsontown: 'This is not Indiana Jones', Did you know this about York/Adams history?, How to start researching York/Adams history, artifacts.
Fred Rosenmiller's generous donation of scores of vintage bottles made the headlines recently.
Rosenmiller is obviously an accomplished and savvy collector.
But not everyone is so in the know.
What are some suggestions about donating historical artifacts of value?
Here is some insight from the York County Heritage Trust, recipient of Rosenmiller's gifts and a conscientious conservator of items it receives (its 250 E. Market St. storage areas are as tidy as grandma's parlor):
- The Heritage Trust welcomes the donation of items of York County provenance or monetary contributions to help maintain its collection.
- The trust will not accept an item if it is not needed for the collection.
- People can get tax credits for donated items.
- Only 5 to 10 percent of the museum's collection can be displayed at a time, so many pieces go into storage. The staff tries to rotate items on display.
- The trust also highlights items through special exhibits and pulls pieces out for educational programs.
- Those who wish to make a donation can contact the trust at 848-1587.
(Source: York Daily Record/Sunday News report)
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