POINT PLEASANT — When it comes to the Point Pleasant River Museum, the Fout sisters often come to mind.

Both Ruth and Martha Fout have worked at the museum since May of 2004. Ruth serves as the administrative assistant, while Martha works as the special projects coordinator and manages the museum’s gift shop.

According to the Fouts, they got involved with the river museum because they needed jobs.

“We had lost our mother and we both needed a job. I lost my job and began looking and praying and I came here on the senior program as a transcriptionist,” Ruth said.

She added that she then went to work elsewhere before receiving a call that the river museum would like to hire her. According to Fout, she had met Jack Fowler, executive director of the river museum, when she briefly worked at the museum. After Ruth accepted the job, Martha began volunteer work at the museum and was later hired on a part-time basis. Martha eventually became a Vista worker at the museum and was then hired to work at the facility full-time.

While Martha has always shared a keen interest in history, Ruth said that her interest in history and river boats have grown since she has been part of the river museum.

“My first week (at the museum) Jack went on vacation and left me in charge so I had to learn how to give tours really fast. My interest in river history really began when I came to work here,” she said. “After coming here we have learned so much — now we sleep and live river related things.”

Martha described working at the river museum as further fueling her interest in historical things.

“I’ve always loved history. We have family that has been in the area for over 200 years so that’s a huge help,” she said, adding that one of their ancestors fought in the Battle of Point Pleasant.

The Fout sisters both agreed that the people they meet through the museum makes their jobs interesting.

“Every day before we leave for work Martha says, ‘I wonder what interesting people we will meet,’” Ruth said. “There is never a day that passes that we don’t meet someone interesting — everyone is special that comes through the museum doors.”

Martha described helping museum visitors with things such as genealogy as being particularly interesting. According to the Fouts, people from as far away as China have visited the museum. In addition, the river museum often entertains mission groups, school children and various clubs and organizations.

Both Ruth and Martha also deemed meeting with museum visitors as their favorite part of working at the museum. They described some of their fondest memories as including the people they have met through the museum over the years.

“The nice things that people do for us (are memorable). We get lots of Christmas cards, e-mails and letters from people telling us how much they appreciate us,” Ruth said.

Martha said that both she and Ruth have been invited to people’s homes and have been given gifts by people that they met at the museum.

“We hug people we’ve never met before and we laugh with them. People say they hope to come back (to the museum) and that means a lot,” she added.

As for the most difficult aspects of their jobs, both ladies said that they couldn’t think of any particular hard parts. However, Ruth did recall a time when she spoke with a family who had lost their mother in the Silver Bridge collapse.

“They relived that day telling us about it,” she said, adding that the experience was very emotional.

While the museum is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, the Fouts said that they often keep the museum open later when they have visitors and have even worked as late as 10 p.m. on occasion.

“Every day is different. I might start the day off working on donations and then stop to give a school tour,” Ruth said.

As for Martha, she serves as the museum’s greeter and helps guests plan out their day. According to Martha, she has met a variety of people over the years including Mad Anne Bailey’s granddaughter and Chief Cornstalk’s grandchildren.

In addition, both Martha and Ruth help organize river museum events, such as the annual Tribute to the River. Most importantly, however, the Fouts said that they make it a priority to get to know the museum visitors.

They also encouraged people to treat others with respect.

“Treat people the way you would like to be treated,” Ruth said.

This is certainly one piece of advice that the Fout sisters have applied to their own lives as they continue to embrace each and every visitor of the Point Pleasant River Museum.

(If you know someone who could be a potential candidate for an upcoming “Day in the Life” feature, e-mail his or her name and contact information to mdrnews@mydailyregister.com or call 304-675-1333.)

FAST FACTS

Name: Ruth Fout and Martha Fout

Hometown: Gallipolis Ferry

Family: Mary, Lester, Phillip and Stephanie Putney

Hobbies: Ruth, reading and working; Martha, geneology, history and the Point Pleasant River Museum