2005 Year in Review

Morrison's Heritage Museum Plays Host

Arlena Ottosen and Harvey Zuidema, center, discuss with a guest the Ice Cooling Appliance Corp. ice box, manufactured in Morrison.

Thirty guests and 15 Historical Society members spilled out of the Hearth Room.

Historical Society member Ruth Mitick chats with a visitor. Mitick is credited with saving the former Odell Public Library which houses the museum.

It is always a pleasure for the Historical Society Board to host friends and colleagues who share an interest in preserving local history.

We invited several communities to visit Morrison’s Heritage Museum to preview the exhibits on Thursday, April 28, from 7 to 9 P.M. The museum will open Friday, April 29, from 1 to 4 P.M.

With a fire glowing in the Hearth Room fireplace, glass cases and wood shining, music playing softly, and the sweet smell of cookies perfuming the atmosphere, the stage was set for company. We had no indication how many guests might attend, however.

Crowded museums are a delight! It was exciting to see a backlog at the guest book as groups entered the new door and tried the new doorbell. The coat rack was unable to accommodate all the jackets that were removed. Old friends were welcomed, and new ones were introduced.

Thirty people accepted our invitation. Guests represented historical societies and museums, the Lincoln Highway Association, and the Campbell Center for Historic Preservation Studies. They came from eight communities: Ashton, Fulton, Lyndon, Mt. Carroll, Polo, Prophetstown, and Tampico in IL, plus Camanche, IA.

They immediately set about viewing the new exhibits, redecorating project, and storage facilities. It was a true “open” house. All areas of the building, from the new choir balcony shelving system, to the basement furnace room storage, were available for inspection. Closets and “Staff Only” rooms were open to guests. Even the restroom has a new display.

Fifteen Board and Historical Society members served as docents, including Frank Vavra, who recorded the evening with digital photographs.

Board President Judy McCulloh addressed the visitors and explained our recent, four-month inventory project. She stated that 15,000 items were catalogued on color-coded cards. The next phase is to purchase record-keeping computer software and enter the carded data onto CD’s.

This information generated lots of questions. Fund raising, community programs, grants, and member recruitment were universal topics of concern.

The Morrison Historical Society includes 12 enthusiastic Board members, 250 members, and 55 docents. We are strengthened by community interest, a sound building, and financial support from members, donors, and memorials. We are blessed.

by Stephanie A. Vavra, Guest Columnist
April 30, 2005