Aces of Trades: Debbie Allender shares the area's history with museum visitors

NEW CONCORD – After spending several years at home raising children and working part-time, she decided it was time for something new.

“That was in 2001,” recalled Debbie Allender, “which just happened to be when the John & Annie Glenn Museum was being created.”

Allender now runs the museum.

“I knew most of the community leaders who were working on the project and knew they would make sure it was done well,” she said. “That group is now the Museum Association of East Muskingum. They were looking for someone to help so I decided to join them. The museum opened in 2002, and in 2009 we also began managing the National Road & Zane Grey Museum for Ohio History Connection (OHC). Then in 2016, OHC assumed ownership of the Glenn Museum, so we now operate both museums for them and I’m the operations director.”

Allender grew up in eastern Muskingum County and graduated from John Glenn High School and Zane State College.

“There’s a lot of rich history in our area and these museums are great places to share that,” she said. “A lot of positive changes have happened with both sites these past 20-plus years and it’s been fun to be part of that.”

Bev Allen is an actor who plays Clara Glenn, John’s mother, in the house.

“Debbie has been with the museum for a long time,” stated Allen. “She’s grown from an assistant to Don McKendry and Dr. Lorle Porter (founders of the museum) to an amazing director of operations for both museums. She’s used her talents to organize people and offer productive suggestions and ideas. She deals with the board with skill and manages the paid employees and volunteers professionally and successfully. In addition, she has a great sense of humor and is a hard worker.”

“Every day is different,” Allender responded. “I make sure the museums are taken care of, that staff and volunteers are trained and scheduled to be at both sites when we are open to the public, that events happen for the community, etc.

“There’s never a dull moment,” she concluded. “I’ve been told I didn’t need to do everything, just make sure everything is done, so that’s what I try to do. We’ve always been fortunate to have a great board of trustees, staff, volunteers and support from the community. Someone is always willing to help with what needs to be done. I’m just the glue that pulls it altogether.”

For more information about the John and Annie Glenn Museum, log on johnannieglenn https://www.ohiohistory.org/visit/browse-historical-sites/john-annie-glenn-museum/ museum. For more information about the National Road-Zane Grey Museum, log on nationalroadandzanegreymuseum.org .

Aces of Trades is a weekly series focusing on people and their jobs – whether they’re unusual jobs, fun jobs or people who take ordinary jobs and make them extraordinary. If you have a suggestion for a future profile, let us know at trnews@zanesvilletimesrecorder.com.

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Aces of Trades: Debbie Allender shares the area's history with museum visitors