Why now?
Museums and libraries all over the country struggle against the challenges of decimated grant funding, dwindling budgets, and erasure of history. The P.O. is small and new, but that allows us to be nimble in the face of challenges.
Because we don’t rely on federal grant funding, we are not subject to the censorship, deconstruction, and erasure.
Who owns the OSPO building?
The PO is currenlty on the property owned by the Executive Director, Jessica Hume, and the Co-Director, Matthew Moore.
Private ownership, combined with a fundraising strategy focused on state & private grants and crowdfunding, allows our organization to remain inclusive and advocate for marginalized voices.
It’s unclear, historically, to whom the building and property belonged when it was constructed, and how it came to be deeded as part of this property (though we are interested in discovering that history).
In the future, we would like to learn more about the possibility of returning this building (and its contents) to the community.
Does the OSPO have historic landmark status?
No, historic landmark status is intended for buildings with significant architectural or design significance. While the structre is meaningful to the community, it doesnt have that cache.
Additionally, historic landmark status often requires that updates and renovations be made with specific levels of historical accuracy. Historical accuracy of that kind would probably be prohibitively expensive. For a building this small, there are much better ways to prioritize our funds, such as expansion of the space and its community offerings.
How is the OSPOP funded?
So far, the project has moved forward with generous private donations of time, skill, and funding. But, the need has outpaced our resources. More support is necessary to bring the project fully to life.
Significant grantwriting efforts are underway. In order to ensure stability in funding, our grantwriting focus on state-level grants and private foundation grants, rather than grants from the federal government (for the time being).
And then there’s our Funding Campaign (more info, coming soon)!
Beyond Phase 1, we anticipate revenue through museum/library admissions, workshops, events, merchandising, and overnight reservations at the P.O. Eventually, we hope to expand to include a garage renovation, at least two tiny homes, expansion of the patio and outdoor space, and other material resources necessary for larger gatherings, workshops, and retreats.
Our location along the booming Bourbon Trail, off the intersection of Highway 62 (Bardstown Road) and Highway 53 (Willisburg Road), offers a rich, unique, and quirky experience for out-of-town visitors, and our unique postal archive and rural library warmly invites locals to share & support this community resource.
We welcome collaborative efforts with other like-minded organizations and non-profits, in order to optmize resources. Please feel welcome to contact us.
How can I help?
Thanks for asking! Your support means so much to us.
Subscribe (at the bottom of the homepage) for updates.
Find and follow us on social media.
Share & like our posts and fundraising info as often as you can.
Contact us about presenting at your school, church, book club, or oganization, to talk about our work.
Make a tax-deductible gift to support the OSPO.
How can I get involved?
You’re always welcome to just send an email to introduce youself and pass along your support.
Once you’ve subscribed for updates, stay tuned to our social media and attend events at the OSPO.
If you have a skill to share, an idea for a workshop, class, or collaboration, please reach out. If you have a talent to donate, we love having help! Just drop us a line.
Soon, we’ll be adding a list of ongoing needs and projects to the website, so capable folks can investigate ways to put donate time, talent, and skills. Subscribe for email updates to get more info as we have it!
As we move through Phase 1, we will also cultivate a diverse and robust Board of Directors. Consider joining us! Subscribe for updates.
What does the future hold?
You’ve seen our Sustainibility & Growth plan, so you know about our material goals for the next few years. We’ll continute refining that plan and sharing updates with as much frequency and transparency as possible. Our focus remains on fostering authentic community through stories and storytelling, especially by amplifying marginalized voices.
These days, it’s difficult to know what each new morning will hold, but we at the OSPO refuse to operate from a mindset of either scarcity or fear. The need to grow community and share stories is one that calls to us urgently in the present moment. As our history and our stories are erased, we are called to bear witness to, and protect, as many as we can. Our stories are as deep and old as humanity, and they compel us to have hope for our shared future.
