Column: Pat Mulso, Preserving the Past

Here it is fair time already and what better time to bring Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, the children and Aunt Mary or anyone else that might be in town for the fair, to see the museum and village.  Admission to the museum is free once you have entered the fair. It’s a great place to take a break between fair events and if it’s hot, the museum is a wonderful opportunity to cool down and see our museum displays and catch up on the progress of the museum addition.

The construction will cease during fair week, but the following week the plumbing and heating crew will be here to begin the underground work and if the steel arrives on time the following week the steel structure will begin to go up. We will also have a sign in front of the museum to mark our fundraising status. We are over 1 million, but need to raise another $200,000 so we can finish the inside of the new addition so the new entrance can be used. All donations are welcome. With help from everyone we can meet our goal, complete our project, and continue to protect and preserve the history of Freeborn County and its people. During fair week, our gate by the village church will open at noon daily. We will close at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and at 6 p.m. Sunday. Also look at our display in the heritage barn and take a walk back in time as you see the 1950s exhibit. Hope to see you during the fair!

We have set the date for our annual “Echoes from the Past, a Journey into History” that will be held at Graceland Cemetery, at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 15. Cost is $5. During this evening you will learn about the lives of four individuals who lived in Albert Lea, portrayed by volunteers to tell their story. We will also be hosting another defensive driving refresher class from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Aug. 9. The cost is $19, and pre-registration is required. This class is required every three years after you have taken the initial eight-hour class.

Please join us for an enjoyable weekend get-away and the opportunity to see our hometown star Marion Ross! Marion is starring in “The Game’s Afoot or Holmes for the Holidays” by Ken Ludwig. She said it is a murder mystery comedy for the holidays. The theatre brochure describes the play as follows: “An acclaimed 1930s actor, famous for playing Sherlock Holmes, invites the cast of his current production to his mousetrap of a mansion. When one of his guests is murdered, the master thespian must channel the brilliance of his beloved detective to solve the mystery. Twists, turn and hilarity ensue.”

We will depart in a motor coach bus from the museum on Friday, Nov. 9 (probably around 1 p.m.) and arrive in Overland Park, Kan., that evening; reservations are secured at a La Quinta Inn & Suites just a few miles from the theater. Tickets are reserved for the dinner theater for the Saturday matinee with lunch. We will then return home on Sunday. The cost listed is per person, for members, and includes bus transportation, two nights at the La Quinta Inn & Suites, lunch/show ticket, breakfast buffet Saturday and Sunday. Non members add $50 to listed amounts. Single $325, double $240 each, triple $220 each. Space is limited, so don’t delay, register today!

We are requiring a $100 deposit per person at the time you register. (Your spot is not reserved until your deposit is received). The deposit on the show tickets is required by Aug. 5, so stop in during the fair and reserve your spot. The remaining balance is due by Sept. 1. Please stop by the museum or call with any questions related to the trip. (Friday and Saturday evening meals and Sunday lunch are not included in the price of the trip.) It will be a great weekend and a chance to sit back and relax and let someone else worry about the driving and all the plans!

 

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