In late September 2023, a fire broke out in the Western Reserve Historical Society (WRHS) Library building’s mechanical room in the basement, where the library collections and building mechanicals are housed. The Cleveland Fire Department extinguished the flames within minutes.

Despite quick response from WRHS staff members on site, who used the American Alliance of Museums (AAM)-verified Safety, Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response Plan to preserve WRHS collections and furnishings, the fire caused smoke and soot damage throughout the building.

“No collections were lost,” says WRHS president and CEO Kelly Falcone-Hall “My initial reaction/question was, ‘Is anyone in the building? Is anyone hurt?’ Hearing the news, I drove to the Cleveland History Center, received a situation report from staff and emergency personnel, and used our Disaster Plan to manage our response and immediate next steps.”

However, the WRHS Library has been closed for the past 18 months while the staff worked with experts from Belfor Property Restoration and The Conservation Center (TCC) to treat and restore the Library building, assess, and library collections.

The restored Western Reserve Historical Society Library“Project managers with Belfor Property Restoration credit WRHS’s swift response in the hours and days after the fire,” says Falcone-Hall. “Swift, decisive actions prevented the loss of collections and future damage to the facility.”

Beginning tomorrow, Thursday, April 3, WRHS will reopen the Library to the public for research and resume its regular operating hours: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Over the past 18 months, WRHS staff stewarded its collections and responded to requests for research assistance and information. Researchers and groups were welcomed to use the Library by appointment to continue special projects.

WRHS, Belfor, and TCC collaborated to develop a treatment plan to restore the collections to their original states.

“Collections were carefully inspected, surfaces cleaned, documented, and removed to an offsite remote storage facility for further care and treatment,” explains Falcone-Hall. “Detailed shelf and collection inventories allowed staff and the restoration specialist to keep track and report on restoration progress. Belfor Property Restoration has done an exemplary job restoring the library to pre-fire condition.”

Interim library director Ann Sindelar says the WRHS staff toured the facility with Belfor representatives on the day of the fire and were impressed with the scope of work.

“We discovered Belfor was capable of handling both the building restoration and collection treatment project on a large scale,” Sindelar says. “The Conservation Center specializes in the care and treatment of special and rare collections, [and the conservators] spent several weeks working with the library team and with Belfor assessing, identifying, triaging, and carefully packing the most unique and rare materials housed at the Cleveland History Center Library.”

Sindelar adds that the collections were transported to The Conservation Center laboratory in Chicago where conservators have access to specialized equipment including brushes, microscopes, and supplies needed to properly treat the most unique and rare WRHS documents.

Although it took a year-and-a-half, Falcone-Hall says she is relieved to be reopening.

“Having to close the WRHS Library, the foundation of WRHS, to the public for 18 months has been a challenge,” she admits. “WRHS was founded in 1867 as a historical branch of the Cleveland Library Association. The Library is not only our core, but a vital resource for the preservation of Northeast Ohio and American history.

Library lower level newly installed collection storage units and lighting.“The fire event was devastating,” continues Falcone-Hall. “However, we are thrilled to be on the other side of the restoration with a facility that has been restored to pre-fire condition, and improved in many ways with new mechanicals, new shelving, all library materials re-boxed, inventoried, and we are ready to continue the excellent work to preserve and share NEO history.”

WRHS received more good news this month, when the society achieved AAM accreditation—the highest national recognition afforded to the nation’s museums that only 3% of U.S. museums receive.

“We thank you for your patience and flexibility over the last 18 months as WRHS took the steps necessary to restore the Library building and collections,” Falcone-Hall and Sindelar said in a statement. “We look forward to welcoming you back when the Library resumes regular hours of operation on April 3, 2025.”