Preserving the Past by Pat Mulso

Let us set the mood for a warm and cozy Christmas season, complete with Christmas trees of all sizes and shapes, decorations, nativity scenes, wreaths and the fragrance of cookies baking in Grandma’s kitchen.

Plan to join us for our Christmas Tour of Homes from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased in advance at the museum, the CVB office and the Mary-Go-Round Shoppe; or the day of the event at any of the tour locations.

This year we have  homes at 315 W. Fountain St. and 1320 W. Richway Drive in Albert Lea, one at 77696 125th St. in Glenville and the museum. You may start at any location. Directions for each are listed on the tickets. Please join us to see different styles of decorating, and maybe pick up an idea or two to use for your own holiday decorating. Contact a friend or relative to join you for the afternoon, and we’ll provide the coffee and treats at the museum the afternoon of the tour.

We would like to extend a special thank you to Arlo and Julie Wallin, Bernice Wegner and Harold Lyman, Ramona Hobbiebrunken and the Freeborn County Historical Museum program committee for being our host and hostesses for this year’s tour of homes.

The last of our fall lecture series will be at 9 a.m Saturday. The title for this lecture is “100 Years of Presidential Campaign Buttons.” The presentation will examine the extensive campaign button collection of Jim Munyer. Attendees will be encouraged to discuss the dynamics of the election campaigns. The lecture is free to museum members and $5 for nonmembers. This will be in the morning, prior to our Christmas Tour of Homes.

The museum will host a four-hour AARP defensive driving refresher class from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 21. The cost is $20 for AARP members or $25 for nonmembers, which includes the class materials and administrative fee. You must register for the class and will need your driver’s license to do so. The refresher course is needed every three years after the initial eight-hour class is taken to continue receiving a discount on your auto insurance. Call or stop by the museum to register during our regular business hours. This will be the last class offered at the museum during 2015. You will receive your certificate at the end of the class. Our next class will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 9, 2016.

This time of year brings back many memories of Thanksgivings past and what is important in life. Be thankful for your many blessings and remember those who are less fortunate than yourself.

I remember how much family gatherings meant as I was growing up, and how special the memories are of just being together with those who mean the most to you. If you are not able to be with those family loved ones, consider making a visit to a local nursing home and brightening the day of a shut-in who has no family to visit them.

The museum will be closed Thanksgiving Day, as well as the Friday and Saturday following, to give staff the opportunity to be with their families. We wish each and every one a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

With the end of the year just around the corner, we invite you to renew your museum membership now. This will help us to plan our budget for the new year. We appreciate the continued support of the individuals and businesses that support the museum.

 

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