Editor’s note: This following information was compiled in the 2005 Morrison Sesquicentennial Commemorative Booklet. Five citizens wrote comprehensive, decade-long summaries, “A History of Morrison 1956 to 2005.” The passages covered Morrison Historical Society; it is on page 28.
The old Odell Public Library was recognized as Morrison’s last standing, historic, public building. The City was making plans either to sell the building to a private party or tear it down. Interested residents had worked to have the Odell Public Library placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the U. S. Department of the Interior.
Citizens approached the City Council with the idea of donating the building to the Historical Society, because the building was originally a gift of J. Danforth Odell in 1888. It had been an educational facility and library for nearly 108 years. The building was constructed in 1864 as a Congregational Church.
The Carlton House served many uses in the 200 block of E. Main Street. Morrison Historical Society was located in this vintage building, from 1989 to 2000. The MHS signage can be confusing.
For a three year period, the City leased the vacant former library space to the Historical Society at $1.00 per year. In the year 2000, the City donated the building to the Historical Society. It was totally renovated as a museum, first as the Odell Agricultural Heritage Museum, and later as Morrison Heritage Museum. In May 2002, the Odell Museum and Carlton House Museum were consolidated into one building and renamed Morrison’s Heritage Museum.
The Historical Society has hosted many special exhibits, including the Smithsonian Institution special traveling exhibit, “Key Ingredients: America by Food,” for six weeks in 2003. Only five cities in Illinois hosted the exhibit. Others included a special exhibit on a Morrison hero, Brigadier General Russell Volckmann, leader of Philippine guerillas during World War II: a D-Day Memorial program featuring five Morrison residents relating their World War II military experiences; many themed exhibits for special holidays; Antique Appraisal Days; two Cemetery Walks with local persons dressed in period costumes reciting the stories of Morrison residents.