Column: Pat Mulso, Preserving the Past

This was our 15th year of the Discover History program at the museum. During the two day program we had 344 area fifth-graders participate. Each of them attended four of the 16 subject area presentations by our Albert Lea High School 11th-grade humanities students.

There were 64 11th-graders involved in the project and each gave their presentation four times during the day. We had 32 adult mentors and 27 other volunteers who helped with different aspects of the day, as well as the teachers and chaperones for the students. We want to thank all of our volunteers and Jim Haney, the 11th-grade humanities teacher, for his extra efforts to make this day a success. We are very proud to host such a wonderful event for our local students.

Now we are in full swing with our school tours. By the end of the month we will have given nearly 30 tours in four short weeks. We want to give a special thank you to our tour guides for making this program possible for our youth. Each grade attending receives a different tour. Some see just the village, some have a combination of the village and some exhibits in the museum and of course each guide has different experiences to share with the students they are guiding.

As you may have heard, we had our ground breaking ceremony for the museum expansion project this past Wednesday. We are very excited to be moving forward with our project and hope that you will support us with a donation to help complete the project. Every donation is important, large and small, and if everyone gives what they can we will be able to complete the project in full. Donations can be sent to: FCHM Building Fund, 1031 Bridge Avenue, Albert Lea, MN 56007.

We have a new website! Please check us out at http://www.fchm.us. We want to thank Larry Johnson for making this move possible and for his dedication to keeping the site updated monthly for us.

A special thank you to the museum’s board of directors! They help with the open houses, lawn care, committee meetings, events and programs. We would like to welcome our two newest board members, Ramona Hobbiebrunken and Dean Johnson.

June is going to be a very busy month with Eddie Cochran Weekend, June 8-10. June 8 will be the annual drive-in social at Green Mill, and June 9 will include the car show and swap meet at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds followed by a 12-mile cruise at 4:30 p.m. The evening will include entertainment by the “Endless Summer Band” at the grandstand. Tickets are available at the museum, Albert Lea Convention and Visitors Bureau, Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce and from members of the committee. Pre sale tickets are $10 and are $15 the night of the concert.

Check out our website for more details and plan to spend the weekend with us. The museum will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days and will feature our Eddie Cochran and Marion Ross exhibits. There will also be a special presentation on Saturday afternoon about Eddie’s life. And we will have our famous root beer floats available on Saturday afternoon. Then on Sunday plan to attend the rock ’n’ roll church service at the United Methodist Church located on Highway 69 across from Southwest Middle School. Proceeds from this weekend will go to the FCHM Building Expansion Fund.

The Freeborn County Historical Society Presents: Fashions through the Years Style Show Brunch on June 23 at First Lutheran Church in Bethany Hall. Start time is 9:30 a.m. for brunch, then from 10 to 11 a.m. will be the style show. Tickets are available at the museum, CVB and the Chamber as well as from FCHM Program Committee members. Tickets are $15 and must be purchased in advance. Purchase your tickets now, seating is limited. Proceeds from this event will also go to the FCHM Building Expansion Fund. Vintage attire is optional for attendees.

Happy Mother’s Day from your friends at the Freeborn County Historical Museum, Library and Village.

 

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