Column: Preserving the Past, by Pat Mulso

I hope everyone enjoyed Eddie Cochran weekend. I would like to say a special thank you to Jerry Monson for organizing and running the Eddie Cochran car show, swap meet and cruise. This year’s proceeds will go to the Freeborn County Historical Musuem’s Building Expansion Fund. We would also like to thank the many sponsors and volunteers that helped with this year’s event.

The museum will be hosting a four-hour defensive driving refresher class from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. June 11. We will also host another four-hour refresher class from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 29. The cost of each class is $19 per person. You must pre-register for class and certificates will be issued at the end of the class.

Our second annual Style Show Brunch will take place on June 22 in Bethany Hall at First Lutheran Church. The brunch will be served at 9:30 a.m. with the Style Show beginning at 10 a.m. The theme this year is “Threads of Love.” Tickets are $15 and are available at the Albert Lea Convention and Visitor’s Bureau office, the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber office, Addie’s Floral Shop, the Mary Go Round Shop and at the museum reception desk. Tickets must be purchased in advance and seating is limited, so don’t delay, get your tickets soon. Vintage attire is optional. This is also a fundraiser for the FCHM Building Addition Project.

The museum, library and village will be closed from 2 p.m. July 3 until 10 a.m. July 9. We hope everyone has a safe and happy Fourth of July.

Please plan on joining us from 5 to 7 p.m. July 14 for the ribbon cutting open house for our new Marion Ross Exhibit, located in the new FCHM building addition. Marion will join us as we dedicate her new exhibit. Please plan to be present to celebrate Marion’s visit and the new Marion Ross exhibit.

Save the date, we are having a swiss steak fundraiser at the American Legion in Albert Lea from 4:30 to 7 p.m. July 18. The cost is $9. Music will be provided by Bob Bailey. Join us for dinner and then attend the “Happy Days” play at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center.

The Freeborn County Historical Society will hold its annual meeting at 5 p.m. July 21 in the museum’s new meeting rooms on the upper level of the new building addition. Please RSVP to the museum office by July 17 if you plan to attend.

The museum will be closed from July 23 through July 26 as we make the transition into the new addition. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to our patrons. We are very excited to be reaching the point in time to open our new addition. Plan to visit us during the fair and see our work in progress.

We wish all dads a safe and happy Father’s Day. If you are lucky enough to still have your father, make a special memory with him on this special day. My dad has been gone now for 45 years and I’d give about anything to have another day to sit by the old stone fireplace in the backyard with my dad and listen to him tell stories about his youth and how things used to be or to just be near him and watch the fire in silence together.

 

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