Column: Pat Mulso, Preserving the Past

The group from the museum that visited the largest genealogical library in the world, located in Salt Lake City, had a great trip. As part of our learning experience, I asked each person to list on a 3-x-5 inch card three things that most people don’t know about them. I then typed up the list randomly and asked them to mark a name beside each one that they thought the statement was about.

We had sisters and very close friends, but we soon learned that there were many things we didn’t know about each other and it was a fun exercise. The objective was to help the participants understand the importance of writing down things about their lives and asking the right questions as they interview older relatives.

Names and dates are important, but learning about the lives of our ancestors is what brings the stories to life and helps us to get to know and understand what their lives may have been like. I believe everyone came away with a better understanding of the mystery of doing family research and enjoyed the opportunity we had to dedicate one week to working on our family history. Watch for 2012 dates around the first of the year — it’s a trip you will never regret as you follow the journey of your ancestors.

On our annual Mystery Bus Tour this year we visited Caledonia and had a guide that led us on one of their barn quilt tours through the country side. It was very interesting to see and learn the story of why each person chose their particular quilt design and a little information about their farm or family. After the tour we had lunch and on the way home stopped at Preston for apples.

The museum is accepting membership renewals for 2012 now. If you have not been a member in 2011, buy your membership now and get the rest of 2011 as well as all of 2012. Household memberships start at just $25. Any donation over $25 is tax deductible. Also as we approach the end of the year, remember that the museum is a non-profit organization. Consider making a donation to the general budget or to the building expansion project.

The museum will be participating in the Power 96 Hotel Halloween Carnival from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29, and would like to say thank you to our 2011 sponsor, the Troy Thompson Agency, Inc. This is a safe alternative for children to enjoy trick or treating. Besides treats, we give away a free one-time family pass to visit the museum.

This year we will be open Dec. 27-30 when the students are out of school. This would be a perfect opportunity to visit the museum and see the traveling exhibit from the Minnesota State Historical Society called “Electrifying Minnesota” that will be on display at the Freeborn County Historical Museum from Dec. 22 until Feb. 12.

The Freeborn County Historical Museum is hosting a four-hour defensive driving refresher class from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14. The cost is $19, and you must pre-register for the class. You will receive your certificate at the end of the class. You may register by stopping at the museum during our regular hours, which are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday or by calling us at 507-373-8003. You will need your drivers’ license information to register. If you are a member of AARP we will need that number also. You do not need to be a member of AARP or the museum to participate. This will be our last class for 2011 and seating is limited, so don’t delay if you need that certificate by the end of the year. Watch for dates of our 2012 class schedule in a month or so.

The museum will be having our 2nd annual Christmas Village Lights Stroll on Friday, Nov. 25, and Saturday, Nov. 26, from 5 to 7 p.m. This is a great opportunity to visit the historical village and view all the beautiful lights and maybe sit by the fire and tell the children what Christmas traditions you had as a child. We will begin the decorating process in the next week or so and if you have outside decorations such as snowmen, Santa, candles, candy canes etc. that you are no longer using and they still light up, we would love to have them.

 

Pat Mulso is the executive director of the Freeborn County Historical Museum in Albert Lea.