The summer is flying by and I want to say thank you to all the volunteers who helped with Eddie Cochran weekend and our Freeborn County Historical Society day camp held on June 15 and 17. The children attending day camp had the opportunity to see what it was like to attend a one-room school house, participate in a mini genealogy class, wash clothes in a ringer washing machine and then hang the clothes out to dry, shell and grind corn and learn the many uses of corn, see how a fire was built in a wood-burning kitchen stove and all the uses of the stove in earlier times, have some homemade soup, root beer floats, play games and learn about the meaning of the flag, make Father’s Day cards and bookmarks, along with other crafts and activities. We sat on benches at the end of the session and discussed the day and what it would be like to travel in a stage coach and what would be important to take along in the wagon, we sang songs and played a memory game. We plan to expand our camp next year to include these and various other activities.

The FCHS board of directors decided to have a unit in the July 3 parade this year, so be watching for us. We wish you all a safe and happy Fourth of July. Remember to be thankful for the many freedoms you enjoy by being an American. And remember to thank our military men and women for protecting us, our country and our freedoms!

The museum is hosting a four-hour AARP defensive driving class on Tuesday, July 13, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. The cost is $19 and you must register. You will receive your certificate that evening. You do not need to be a member of AARP or the museum to take the class.

The museum, library and village will be open on Saturday, July 10, from 1 to 4 p.m. This is a perfect opportunity for you to bring the whole family out to see what’s new, do research in the library or just stroll through the village. If you are a member there is no charge for admission, nonmember admission is $5 for adults, $1 for students and children 11 and under will be admitted free. (Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.) If you are not a member, a household membership is only $25 per year and then you can visit as often as you like at no additional cost.

July 22 is the date for our next historical bus tour. We will be heading west this time. Our first stop will be at the Green Giant statue, where we will be joined by a local tour guide who will take us to several historical buildings in Blue Earth as well as a tour of the community and stops at the Faribault County Historical Society and the Green Giant Museum. We will have lunch and then visit the Martin County Historical Society in Fairmont. The cost for this tour is $50 for members of the museum and $55 for nonmembers. This includes the bus, lunch and all admissions. You must register and pay by July 15.

Our prayers and thoughts are with the families that are affected by the tornadoes that came through Freeborn County on June 17. As you are piecing your lives back together, remember that the museum has yearbooks, newspapers, and photos that may have special meaning to you and we would like to help in any way we can to help you recover some of the memories that you have lost when you are ready to do so.

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