With a reduced amount of participation and number of members in recent years, the Jackson Heritage Association is trying to figure out how to recruit new helpers.

The association is the official caretaker of the Oliver House, a historical structure that was home to Robert and Marie Oliver. Marie Oliver helped design the state flag. Built in 1848 and located on Adams Street at the corner of Ohio, the Oliver House was also the first home in the county with a long-distance telephone line. It is also decorated with antique furniture, including a piano that is believed to be one the first pianos to arrive west of the Mississippi.

Office holders say the organization is thin on active members and is in need of more financial support.

"Over the last couple years, our membership has dwindled," said Kyle Mabuce, president of the association. "We're getting to be very concerned."

Mabuce said the association has conducted an informational series of lectures about historical events, but it has not been a successful recruiting tool.

"We can't seem to get the right combination to get people interested in our history and support the community," he said.

Heritage association member Cathi Stoverink says the Oliver House is not in terrible shape like the Glenn House in Cape Girardeau, but it does need general upkeep so it does not get in that condition.

The main problem now, she says, is lack of members and interest. The tornado that hit Jackson in May damaged the home. Repairs were done to the chimneys and to the flagpole, but there may be more internal damage and the air-conditioning unit may require costly repairs.

The tornado has also forced the association to limit the number of tours, Stoverink said, especially since the air conditioning is not working properly. She added that the school district has cut its budget for field trips and, as a result, public interest has waned.

Needs younger people

Stoverink said the association is dealing with the same issues that many fraternal organizations are having -- an apathetic younger generation. In the last several years, many members have either died or moved into nursing homes. And the association is having difficulty finding younger people to fill the void.

Despite having 80 members, the association has only a few willing to put in time and labor.

"We've got painting that needs to be done, we need tour guides, dusting, decorating," Stoverink said. "And some of it is fun, like decorating for Christmas. If everybody helped, it would not be a lot of work at all."

Other projects that need to be done at the Oliver House, Mabuce said, include plaster repairs, exterior painting and work on the downspouts.

Stoverink said there are a couple of big anniversaries coming in the next several years that she hopes will spur interest and attract more members to the association.

In 2008, the courthouse will be 100 years old. In 2014, the city of Jackson will turn 200.

"Hopefully we can stir up some bicentennial fever," she said. "It might be 10 years away, but it might take 10 years to make a big ado."

bmiller@semissourian.com

243-6635

Want to join?

Anyone interested in becoming a member of the Jackson Heritage

Association can call Kyle Mabuce at 204-0829 or Cathi Stoverink at 243-4667.