Preserving the Past by Pat Mulso

My dad, Richard Ellsworth Beck would have turned 100 on Thursday, and he and my mom would have celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary this year, as well. I thank God every day for the influence my parents had on shaping who I am as a person and the values they instilled in me from a very young age. As we are growing up, we often don’t realize how important the little things are or how we will depend on those things to help us make decisions at different times in our lives. This is our personal history.

We experience history with individual perspectives. We need to observe those around us and respect their opinions, even if they are not the same as our own. There is a strength in being able to do that, show that respect without compromising our own beliefs. Some may call that wisdom or self-discipline, whatever word you choose, it is important to teach our youth the importance of respect — not only for their peers, but for themselves. My parents lived through the Depression years and worked hard to make ends meet. I wonder what they would think of the world today.

Think of the changes that have occurred during your lifetime and how you would share your perspective with future generations.

We will soon be wrapping up a grant project that we have been working on at the museum and we are requesting the help of the general public to complete this photo scanning collection. We are looking for family generation photos, group organization photos, business photos, buildings within the county or photos of events that have taken place within Freeborn County. The fourth and final photo workshop is March 7. Appointments are available between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Call the museum and ask for Hattie to schedule your appointment time. Your photos will be scanned and returned to you immediately. After the workshops are completed we will host a public viewing of some of the photos we have collected. This will take place toward the end of March or early April. This project is funded in part or in whole with money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

The museum will host a four-hour defensive driving refresher class from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. March 7. The four-hour class is required every three years after the initial eight-hour class is taken to continue receiving a discount on your auto insurance. The cost is $20 for AARP members and $25 for non-members, and this fee includes class materials and an administrative fee. You must register for the class by calling the museum at 507-373-8003 or by stopping by during our regular business hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

The next of our FCHM lecture series will be from 9 to 10 a.m. March 14, followed by a half hour for discussion. The March lecture subject has changed and will now be “Architecture in Freeborn County.” Plan to join us and take a look at the many types of architecture within our community. Admission is free for museum members and $5 for nonmembers.

The Freeborn County Historical Museum will participate in a volunteer fair at the Northbridge Mall from 1 to 3 p.m. March 21. This will be a time for you to visit with us or other organizations and ask questions regarding volunteer opportunities. We will be having a tour guide orientation in April at the museum, so if you have considered volunteering for the museum this is a great time to check us out.

The Annual “Taste of Heritage” event will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. also at the Northbridge Mall May 2. We are looking for exhibitors. This is a free family event. We have activities for children and tables set up showcasing the different ethnic groups that are represented within our community. If you are interested in being an exhibitor contact Susie at the CVB or you may call the museum and ask for Pat. We would love to have more countries represented.

George Washington was born on this day in 1732, Abraham Lincoln was born Feb. 12, 1809, and Boy Scouts was founded Feb. 8, 1910.

 

Pat Mulso is the executive director of the Freeborn County Historical Museum, Library and Village, 1031 Bridge Ave.