3000 Santas

The Museum is the lucky recipient of approximately 3000 Santas. They were donated to us from the late Shirley Fry's family. They are so awesome, but I have to tell you I think the Collections Committee is getting "bah humbuggy" sorting through them! What a chore! The Santas will be found throught out the Sullivan-Johnson House during the Christmas season starting November 28. Planned is a treasure hunt relating to the Santas with prizes awarded for finding certain ones.

Another coup for the Museum. One of Bob Bailey's 1938 Gene Autry cap pistols will be going to the Gene Autry Museum in Los Angeles (loan, not permanent). Hard to believe they do not have one. While it is on display it will have a tag recognizing Bob and the Hardin County Historical Museum. How great is that?!

Hopefully the Museum "muscles" will be moving some show cases today, but it looks like the rain may cancel those plans. We have had two cases donated to us, one from Berkley Hill, the other from Hardin County Genealogy. We are grateful to them for the donation as the cases are very expensive to purchase.

On its way to us is another Kenton Toy courtesy of the Kenton Toy Collectors. In case you do not know the Collectors meet monthly at the Museum. Their function is to take care of our collection and add to it. They are a terrific source of information. With our new video camera, we will be taking videos of the collectors and their collections, and their stories about Kenton Toys and the Kenton Hardware Company.

It is a rainy Friday, why not spend the afternoon at the Museum?

DeeAnna Rose

On Friday, October 9 the Museum was the recipient of a very generous donation from Brenda Clark. The money came from her daughter's trust that was created when DeeAnna was diagnosed with cancer in 1985. The money is to be used to replace the roof on the Beech Grove School. Thanks to a local contractor, the work has begun. This contractor has always been very good to the Museum, donating most of his labor. Thanks Grindell Masonry!!! (see the article in October 10 Kenton Times) With a $1000 grant from Mid Ohio Energy and proceeds from the Hog Roast and a bequest, we will have enough money to also put a new roof on the woodworker's shop.

Brenda also personally donated $500 to be used to replenish the supplies for the School. This was so awesome.

While the Farm Museum has been put to sleep for the winter months, stop out to see the progress and watch for the re-opening in the Spring. We would like to invite all Hardin County Schools and any other schools to spend a day in the Beech Grove School. The children have a wonderful time pretending to be children in 1860.

It's Over!!

Oh my!! Summer is over. I have been in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for two weeks. It was awesome. 75 degrees and sunny every day. I did catch a cold, which has developed into bronchitis, but "a bad day on vacation, is better than a good day at work."

We are beginning to think Christmas at the Museum. Yes I know it is not yet October, but it takes alot of coordination and planning. The displays must be up before Thanksgiving, as opening day is November 28.

We have on display right now the OSU (Ohio State University) football program covers illustrated by Fred Machetanz. We got a big laugh over the cost of the program - 25 cents!! If you have been to any college games recently, or even high school, you know a program is way more than 25 cents.

Coming our way soon is a black and white lithograph by Fred Machetanz, Trailmates. What a great addition to our collection.

The Kenton Toy Collectors have been busy. They purchased 3 toys this summer to be added to the display. At September meeting, they decided to do a display of the plastic, remote control cars made in Kenton in the late 1940's (not at the Kenton Hardware Company). The cars are on loan from John Ramge. Stop by to take a look.

Keep following this blog, we will let you know what is happening at the Museum.
donated by a family in Portland, Oregon.