In 1963 he purchased a two story frame building which stands at the foot of Decatur Street in Barry near where the Wabash Railroad first ran and where the Barry Depot once stood, now Illinois 106. This building was built in 1875 as "Pingers Grocery" and later when owned by George Buffington was named "Buffingtons Grocery". After that when Harry and Olive Jones owned it the store was known as "North End Grocery'. When Mr. Walther became the owner, he stocked it with numerous antiques for sale with an old country store atmosphere, naming it "Norton's Old General Store", which became a tourist attraction bringing personages such as then Illinois Governor Jim Thompson. Later Norton added a one story addition which he developed into a small Barry Museum.

In 1984 after operating the store for 21 years, Mr. Walther sold his entire stock of antiques (excluding his collection of pieces relating to Barry history) and the building to the late Roger Dudley of New Canton, IL, where in 2001 his wife Kathryn, and daughter Ruth Anne Baker, operated their antique business "Cider City Antique Market" until 2008.

Prior to this time Norton Walther obtained permission from the Barry City Council to use the then unoccupied upper floor of the city owned Barry Public Library building which stands across the street west of the southwest corner (Bainbridge and Mason) of the city park, (LaFayette Park), said upper floor to be used to house a Barry Public Museum. Money to build this impressive two story brick building had been willed to the city of Barry by a prominent Barry pioneer lady, Mrs. Benjamin Dodge (Mary) Brown, she specifying that this building completed in 1903, always be used for a Barry Public Library with unused rooms to be used by local organizations or for business. Pictures and history of the Browns are on the wall at the head of the museum stairs.

Mr. Walther began the huge task of restoring and redecorating the upper floor of this building putting many hours of work as well as his own money into this project. When completed he placed his large collection of Barry history and antique Barry memorabilia in these rooms creating Barry's Public Museum, which opened in 1984. Since that time many additions have been added by families. In the beginning — two rooms, a large hallway, and the stairway were carpeted with used carpeting donated by the Barry Community Care Center.

When Mr. Walther's health began to fail and he no longer could climb the stairs to the museum, Mrs. Janita Metcalf, a board member since its beginning, became "Curator Pro Tern" during his last two years. Following his death on March 25, 2003, the board elected Janita as the Museum Curator. Since that time changes have been made. One room has been turned into "The Veterans Room" dedicated to all men and women who have ever lived in the Barry community and who are Veterans. The walls in this room are covered with laminated pictures of Barry Veterans, along with veteran memorabilia. New carpeting has been installed in the Veterans Room, Parlor, and Hallway, plus some rooms repainted and more display cases added. Related items scattered throughout the museum were brought together in specified areas.

The remaining unused room in this upper floor was allotted to the museum to use in 2007 to further expand as other rooms were full. A large portion of this room has been reserved for pictures, memorabilia, and history of Barry Schools and now extending into the new schools of "Western Community Unit Number 12", the result of the Barry and West Pike school districts merging into this new school system covering the towns and communities of western Pike County; Barry, Kinderhook, Hull, and New Canton.

Barry is proud of their museum, whose aim is to preserve history, making it available for viewing during special Barry events and by appointment. When not officially open call 217-335-2591.