Preserving the Past by Pat Mulso

Plan to join us a week from today for the museum’s annual Autumn in the Village from noon to 4 p.m. This family event will give you the opportunity to take a walk back in time as you stroll through our historical village and see demonstrations and exhibits from an earlier time. The will be spinners and weavers, rug making, hardanger, embroidery, corn shelling and an archaeological dig as well as various activities for children in the school, by the log home and in the children’s learning lab in the lower level of the museum.

The Grape Vine Twist Square Dancers will perform in the museum’s meeting room on the upper level of the museum addition from 2 to 3 p.m. There will be demonstrations in the woodworking shop, candy and trinkets for sale in the General Store and old-fashioned photos taken in our village photography shop.

There will be music in the village, and join us for lunch or an early supper as food will be available throughout the afternoon. We want to thank Hy-Vee, Mrs. Gerry’s and Trails Travel Center for supplying the food for our event and for all our volunteers that make the event possible.

The Freeborn County Genealogical Society will have an exhibit in the lower level lobby by the library and there will also be a special Indian artifacts exhibit as well. Admission for the event is $7.50 for adults, $2 for students age 12 to 18 and members and children 11 and under are free. This event will receive supplemental funding from the Albert Lea chapter of Thrivent Financial.

If you are not a member of the museum, there’s no better time than now to join. A family membership is just $35, and if you buy a membership now you get the rest of 2014 as well as all of 2015. Any donation over $35 is tax deductible. We will also accept membership renewals from our current members at this time.

Central Freeborn Lutheran Church will host their annual Soup and Dessert Dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sept. 22. Proceeds will benefit the Freeborn County Historical Museum Building Debt Reduction and the YMCA Youth Programs. Supplemental funds are provided from Freeborn County chapter and Albert Lea chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Please join us for homemade soup, bread and dessert. There will also be a gluten free soup, bread and dessert. This event is held at the church. Please mark your calendars and plan to join us.

The museum will host a four-hour Refresher Defensive Driving Class from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m on Sept. 25. The cost is $20 for AARP members and $25 for nonmembers. This fee includes the AARP class materials and an administrative host fee. You will need your driver’s license number when you register and your AARP number if you are a member at the time of registration. Registration is required.

The FCHM Lecture Series will begin on 9 a.m. Oct. 11 in the museum’s meeting room. The first lecture of the series will be “The Golden Age of Radio” — please plan to attend. The lectures are free to museum members and $5 for the general public. The lectures will be one hour followed by time for questions and discussion. The second lecture will be held on Nov. 8.

 

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