Current Exhibit - "25 Years of Historic Preservation:
The Museum Association of Douglas County"
[Exhibit current through December 31, 2009]
To mark the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Museum Association, the staff of the
Douglas County Museum has prepared an exhibit that features hundreds of artifacts owned by the Museum
Association. Many of them are very old and obsolete but they still exist today because the Douglas County
Museum and its parent organization also exist. According to museum director Lynnita Brown, “It would be
impossible for us to showcase every item we own, but our 25th anniversary exhibit features some truly
wonderful samples of the Museum Association’s collection.”
Included in the displays are Amish clothing, commemorative plates and dishes, hand-painted
china, commemorative coins, Girl and Boy Scout memorabilia, Uncle Joe Cannon’s traveling secretariat, dolls
dating from 1865 to the 1990s, Catholic Church robes, cameras, and Raggedy Ann and Andy items. Fashion through
the decades is represented in the form of prom dresses, wedding outfits, vintage swimsuits, a USO dress,
formal and casual wear, and a 1960s paper dress. There is a special WDZ Radio and Smiley Burnette showcase as
well.
The exhibit also features handcrafted items made from jewelry, wood, tin, paper, and even goose eggs. There is
crystal and other glassware, Duke Lough prints, a desk from Tuscola’s old North Ward school, a loom and
samples of woven pieces, quilts, agricultural items, household wares, military uniforms, and Civil Defense
items.
There are also unusual items such as a locally-made atomic warhead carrier, the ladder from
Patterson Springs swimming pool, Dr. H.I. Conn’s tonsillectomy instruments, a Model T tank truck, two hair
perm machines, replica of a 1916-17 barn made by Bruce Teeters, a model of the Strand Theater made by Dale
Mooday, drawings by Sheriff Sid, a hair wreath, and a clock made out of an airplane propeller. There is
doctor, dentist, and optometrist equipment, with the largest single medical-related collection donated to the
museum being given by the family of Dr. Elmer S. Allen of Arcola. There is also secret society memorabilia,
books, toys, musical instruments, hats, sports memorabilia, and children’s clothing. Highlighted in the
museum’s Collector’s Corner are also items donated by Willis and Della Mae Frahm and Glen Frahm of Tuscola.
The Frahm items represent the largest collection of household artifacts given to the museum by one single
donor family.
“It’s definitely an eclectic exhibit,” notes Mrs. Brown. “Because the Douglas County Museum
has themed exhibits, none of our artifacts are on permanent display. In order to preserve them from harsh
light and other elements that can possibly harm them, we only take the museum’s artifacts out for temporary
exhibits. Opening the storage boxes that house so many of these wonderful treasures was like Christmas in July
for our staff of volunteers. The museum volunteers have worked very hard for several weeks so that the public
can see and enjoy this fantastic sampling of items from the Douglas County Museum’s collection.” |
