Column: Pat Mulso, Preserving the Past

Memorial Day has always seemed like the jump from spring to summer, and we are off and running for the season. Before I start telling you about all of the summer events for the Freeborn County Historical Society I would like to remind you that our community has several very important things happening tomorrow in honor of our veterans. At 9 a.m. is the dropping of the wreath at Fountain Lake near the Gazebo, a Memorial Day Parade in downtown Albert Lea at 10 a.m. and a memorial service at Graceland Cemetery is at 11 a.m. These special events to honor our veterans are presented by The American Legion Post 56.

The museum will be finishing our school tours this week and then preparing for Eddie Cochran Weekend. Be sure to join us on June 8 or 9. The museum will be open both days from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. On June 9 we will have a special presentation by Roger Wessels at 1 and 3 p.m. in the lower level of the museum about the life of Eddie Cochran, and there will be root beer floats available in the village from noon to 4 p.m. Please be sure to check out our Eddie Cochran and Marion Ross Exhibits!

The car show will take place at the Fairgrounds, with registration beginning at 8 a.m. and there will be a record collectors’ show in the Fairlane Building. The car show awards will take place from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. and the car cruise will begin at 4:30 p.m.

The day will wrap up with a music concert at the grandstand by the band Endless Summer. There will be a social hour from 6 to 7 p.m. – food and beverage will be available – and the concert begins at 7 p.m. Tickets for the concert are $10 in advance or $15 the night of the show. Tickets are available at the museum, Albert Lea Convention & Visitors Bureau office and the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce.

Please plan to spend the weekend with us and take a stroll back in time. Proceeds from the weekend will go to the Freeborn County Historical Museum Building Expansion Fund.

Friday evening there will be a cruise-in social from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Country Inn & Suites and Green Mill on East Main Street and on June 10 there is a rock ’n’ roll service at the United Methodist Church at 10 a.m. with lunch and activities to follow.

On June 23 we are hosting a “Fashion Through the Years” style show and brunch at First Lutheran Church’s Bethany Hall, 301 W. Clark St, Albert Lea. Tickets are $15 and are available at the museum, Chamber, CVB, Mary-Go-Round and Addie’s Floral. Vintage attire is optional. The brunch is at 9:30 a.m., with the style show from 10 to 11 a.m. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Please plan to join us. Proceeds from this event will also go to the Building Expansion Fund.

Then mark your calendars for 2 p.m. June 24. We will be hosting a special photo Power Point presentation at the museum — more details coming soon!

The Freeborn County Historical Museum Swiss steak dinner fundraiser is set for 5 to 7 p.m. July 12 at the American Legion located at 142 N. Broadway Ave. in Albert Lea. Supplemental funding is by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Albert Lea Chapter 31179. Cost is $8 for adults and $4 for children under age 10.

The museum has a new website at www.fchm.us. Check it out! Thank you to Larry Johnson for all his efforts in making this happen!

We have all these things happening and are also in the midst of our building expansion. Please consider making a donation to the Building Fund as we move forward with our project. This is your museum, and we need your help now to be able to complete the project in a timely manner. We are a 501(c)3 and will be happy to supply you with a charitable receipt for your donation. Remember, what happens today is history tomorrow, help us “Build the Future by Preserving the Past!”

 

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