Belle Museum History

The Belle Museum in Charleston was created as a labor of love by two lifelong residents of the area, Delbert and Mary Belle (Delaney) Ervin. It opened its doors to the public in 1998 with a mission to “understand the past to prepare for the future.”

The centerpiece of the museum is the chapel, formerly the First Presbyterian Church of Charleston, which was built in 1921. The church thrived for most of the twentieth century and counted many prominent citizens as parishioners and elders. However, by the mid-1970s, attendance began to decline. In the late 1990s, it became clear that the church could no longer be self-sustaining.

At this point the Ervins, who were avid collectors of historical materials, especially those from the surrounding area, stepped in. As they approached retirement, they began dreaming of sharing their finds with the people of Charleston. Just as meaningful usage of the church building seemed to be at an end, an opportunity arose that would recast its role in the community and ensure that it would continue to serve its citizenry into the future. On July 30, 1996, the trustees of the Presbyterian church deeded its property to the Ervins, and two years later, the Belle Museum, named in honor of Mary Belle, had its official opening.

For the rest of their lives (Delbert died in 2016 and Mary Belle in 2023), the Ervins continued
to enlarge the facilities to accommodate the burgeoning collection.