Special to 1808Delaware
As part of the budget planning process, Powell City Council allocated $10,000 of the City’s general funds to a local organization that provides benefits to the community.
In 2025, those funds are going to the Powell Liberty Historical Society to assist with their mission: to preserve, to educate, and to serve the community.
“This investment not only demonstrates our dedication to local community partners, but also preserving Powell’s unique character and sharing its history,” said City of Powell Vice Mayor Heather Karr.
The Powell Liberty Historical Society, located on Powell Road at Grace Drive, was established in 1889 as the Martin-Perry homestead. It’s filled with Victorian furnishings and a small research library containing early school history, photographs and memorabilia, along with family histories, local cemetery information, and more.
“We depend on donors to operate, so the extra funds from the City will be a big help,” said Powell Liberty Historical Society Treasurer Allen Miller.
As you might guess, maintaining a 135-year old home comes with a lot of up-keep and expenses. Some of the 2025 priorities of the Historical Society include repainting the Martin-Perry house and its metal roof and repairing the outhouse.
“In addition to repairs, we also hope to use these resources to come up with new educational programming for the community. This is a chance for us to start thinking outside of the box,” said Miller.
City Council’s donation was made possible by Powell 2.0, the resident-supported income tax restructuring in 2021. Powell 2.0 gave a 100 percent income tax credit for residents who pay taxes to another municipality and increased the income tax rate from .75 percent to 2 percent. This restructuring has allowed the City to put more funds towards public safety, infrastructure, businesses, and more.
Source, Photo: City of Powell
