Column: Pat Mulso, Preserving the Past

The leaves are quickly disappearing from the trees, and last Sunday 15 of the 4-H ambassadors, along with Megan Thorson, the 4-H program coordinator, held their meeting at the museum and then bagged 30 large leaf bags from the museum grounds and helped to begin our Christmas decorating by putting trees together, hanging wreaths, stringing lights and garland in the village.

Each year the 4-H ambassadors do service projects within the community, and we certainly appreciated their helping hands. With their 16 sets of hands working along with myself and my husband we were able to accomplish 36 hours worth of work in just two hours. The 4-H ambassadors who participated were: Katie Callahan, Toni Chicos, Katie Smith, Katie Maxa, Kristen Sandager, Jacob Sorenson, Jed Knutson, Maddy Reed, Hannah Light, Ella Otten, Julia Otten, Foster Otten, Marshall Pederson, Derek Wagner and Philipp Wagner. I have included a photo of the group and again want to thank them for their willingness to help at the museum.

Our defensive driving class at the museum scheduled for Nov. 5 is already full, so we have scheduled a second four-hour refresher class for 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Nov. 13. AARP is offering a special for any veteran and their spouse during the month of November. So if you are a veteran or the spouse of a veteran the cost of the class during November is only $5, for all others the cost is $19. You must pre-register for the class. You will need to bring your driver’s license, and if you are a member of AARP we also need your membership number. You may stop by the museum during our regular hours, Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to register or call with any questions you may have. The class is held in the lower level of the museum.

A few weeks ago the Tribune ran a story on the museum expansion project and the progress of the addition. This article spurred phone calls, visits and donations. There are changes taking place nearly every day as the bar joists go up and the roof takes shape. We expect to have the building enclosed, the new electrical service installed, temporary heat, roughed in plumbing, the elevator installed, underground tile for drainage on our property, and sidewalk and curb installed by the end of the year. If you are driving by and are interested in the project, please stop by and I would be happy to explain the project. We also hope that you will consider making a donation to make it possible for us to complete the inside of the addition. Your donation is a tax deductible and we will be happy to provide a charitable receipt for you at the end of the year.

Our membership drive is in full swing, and we encourage you to become a member of the Freeborn County Historical Museum, Library and Village.  Household memberships begin at just $25. If you are a new member, and join now, you will get the rest of 2012 as well as all of 2013 for just $25. Any donation of $100 or more will get your name on our member board just inside the museum’s front door. Donations above the $25 are tax deductible also. Join now and help us to build the future by preserving the past. Your membership also gives you the opportunity to visit our research library as often as you like throughout the year. Hope to see you soon!

 

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