| The Douglas County Museum's formal, board-approved exhibition policy states that our exhibits
are to be used to communicate to the public the significance of our heritage within a local, state, and/or
national context. Our exhibits are used as tools to educate an audience which, prior to the creation of the
Douglas County Museum, had no opportunity to learn about the rich history of the area and the role which the
county also played in the context of state and national history. The Douglas County Museum is the only
cultural arts center within 25 miles. Exhibits cover a wide range of topics, including cultural and economic
forces in the county's history, such as religion, agriculture, and prehistoric conditions. Topics of exhibits
are not dictated by what objects are in our collection. Instead, themes are based on aspects of history which
have never been studied, evaluated, or interpreted on a local level. Rather than concentrating on the history
of one section of the county, the museum reaches out to many area towns to find historical artifacts which
help interpret and develop one common theme for each new short-term exhibit. The museum board decided that
exhibits should be broad in scope but short in duration in order to encompass a wider audience and generate
extensive community involvement. Based on this, as well as the fact that our facility is too small to handle
both permanent and temporary exhibits, our museum has no permanent exhibit.
Incorporated into exhibits are not only objects from our collection, but also items on short-term loan from
the general public and reproductions. We use computer-created text labels. Spotlights highlight particular
objects. Exhibits are sometimes complemented with taped music and videos. They also generally include audience
participation in some form. For example, during the farm exhibits, guests had the opportunity to milk a dairy
cow and answer a "Farmer's Quiz" about tool usage. Docents give guided tours. Often, educational handouts are
distributed to guests. Attention-getting devices are used to draw our visitors to the content of exhibits.
During the farm exhibit for instance, we put a tractor in our parking lot. A flashing crossing sign was
incorporated into the railroad exhibit. It is the philosophy of the board that the more personalized the
exhibits, the more clearly our audience can understand how history affects their own lives.
"Where Were You During World War II?" [Exhibit has now ended.]
The Dr. Eugene P. Bertin Collection, recently donated to the museum by the University of
Illinois Foundation, is a prominent part of the Douglas County Museum’s World War II exhibit. The significant
collection has an emphasis on the U.S. Army and features insignia, banners, field equipment, service medals,
shoulder patches, uniforms, sleeve braid, hats and a ship’s clock. This is the first time the collection has
been on display in East Central Illinois.
Dr. Bertin enlisted in the Army at the beginning of World War II and rose from the rank of
private first class to colonel. He became a student at the University of Illinois after his discharge from
service, receiving a PhD in 1952 in Analytical/Inorganic Chemistry. After teaching chemistry at the U of I for
two years, he accepted a position at the RCA Research Center in Princeton, New Jersey, working there until he
retired. After his death, his collection of military artifacts was temporarily accepted into the care of the
University of Illinois Foundation until a permanent home in the Douglas County Museum’s military collection
was chosen.
Another significant display in the World War II exhibit is an “Allies and Enemies” collection
of German, Bulgarian, Japanese, Italian, Russian, French, American, and English weapons, uniforms and helmets.
The display also features original World War II war bond drive posters and other war-related posters. The
display is courtesy of Douglas County military collectors.
There is also an Ernie Pyle display with items furnished by Howard Skidmore of California, the
Orville Richardson family of Arcola, and Roy & Joan Block of Sidney. Mr. Skidmore donated several Ernie Pyle
books to the museum’s collection, and they are featured in the Ernie Pyle display. While serving on the U.S.S.
Cabot, Mr. Skidmore was interviewed by Ernie Pyle. A well-known World War II war correspondent that lost his
life in combat conditions, Pyle wrote that his family was originally from East Central Illinois.
When Bill Q. Culumber of Biloxi, Mississippi, formerly of Decatur, Illinois, learned that the
Douglas County Museum staff was preparing a World War II exhibit, he sent several items associated with the
Jimmy Doolittle raid over Tokyo. He also encouraged Doolittle’s co-pilot, Dick Cole, who lives in Texas, to
submit something to the display. Mr. Cole sent an autographed print of a B-25 bomber for the exhibit.
On the lighter side, excerpts from “Dear Sir” by Juliet Lowell are on display in the exhibit.
Ms. Lowell searched war plant correspondence and government holdings to find actual letters sent to draft
boards and war plants. The letters are filled with funny excuses for missed work, grammatical errors that
alter meanings of sentences, and comical suggestions on ways to improve the war effort.
Last year a collection of Pearl Harbor memorabilia was donated to the Douglas County Museum by
the family of John Risting of Mattoon. Risting was a PFC at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii in March of 1940. He
survived the Pearl Harbor attack and rose in ranks to Sergeant Major before retiring. The attack on the harbor
on December 7, 1941, claimed 2,008 KIA Navy and 710 WIA; 328 Army KIA and 364 WIA, 109 KIA Marines and 69 WIA;
and a total of 68 KIA civilians and 36 WIA. Risting retired from the Army after 33 years of service to his
country spanning World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He was awarded three Bronze Stars, a Silver Star, and Purple
Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster.
Sacrifices made on the home front were a significant factor in the Allied victory of World War
II. On display in the museum are children’s military uniforms, steel pennies, the identification tag worn by
grade school pupil Larry Boylson in California, a 1945 soybean license plate, Man of the Hour Roosevelt clock,
war bond stamp books, authentic war-time posters and newspapers, ration books, OPA tokens, and more.
On the home front in East Central Illinois, Progress Industries in Arthur made spherical
floats to hold up torpedo nets and one of them is currently on display in the Douglas County Museum’s exhibit.
During the war years, company employees made 21 spheres a day at 50 cents an hour. In 1943, during the height
of war production, an accident with 300-degree paint caused a fire that destroyed three-fourths of the
company’s oil division. Employees worked hard to rebuild the plant since there was no insurance to replace the
burned facility and equipment. As a result of its strong efforts to manufacture products essential to the war
effort, Progress was awarded the Army/Navy “E” flag for excellence. The flag was donated to the Douglas County
Museum by Henry S. “Hank” Czuj of Arthur and is on display, along with other Army/Navy “E” artifacts.
When American military personnel traveled abroad to serve their country during the war, a wide
assortment of souvenirs was brought back to loved ones at home. A number of these souvenirs are on display,
including a hula skirt, foreign currency, pillow shams, wood carvings, silk pajamas, jewelry, photographs,
brass, and more. Among the unique items shown are color pencil sketches on envelopes, sent home to Mrs. Jim
Hendricks in Mattoon by her artistic husband, and several rare pieces of trench art made from artillery shells
and other wartime ammunition and metal.
There is also a special display of memorabilia related to women who served in the war effort,
including Army, Navy and Air Force uniforms worn by area women veterans; a picture of Douglas County’s own
version of “Rosie the Riveter”, Ethel Louise Catron; the wedding gown of war bride and Navy veteran June
Creviston Allen; the cadet nurse and Red Cross volunteer uniforms of Betty Cox, Tuscola, and Mrs. Harold
Allen, Springfield; a beautiful red USO dress worn by Iantha Calloway of Decatur; and a propeller clock
originally owned by civil air patrolwoman Minnie Jolley.
Also on exhibit in the Douglas County Museum are uniforms from all branches of the service, a
chaplain’s field worship kit, war-related sheet music and records, a Cartwright Church honor plaque, books,
field gear, war rations and cookware, combat boots, weaponry, and newspapers and magazines of the era.
Included in the weaponry are Nazi and Japanese weapons, as well as a carbine rifle that was picked up on Omaha
Beach after D-Day. The flight jacket of E.J. “Army” Armstrong, top turret flight engineer for the 8th Air
Force, 379th Bomb Group, 524th Squad, Heavy Bombers, is on display, too. The rare jacket features bombs with
the names of European enemy targets that were hit by the crew of the Powerful Katrika.
Photographs of the following area veterans are an important aspect of the museum’s “Where Were
You During World War II?” exhibit: Glenn Gordon, Bradley Fleener, Bob & June Allen, Roy Anglen, Dean Petry,
Albert Morrison, Raymond Lee, Carl Woolverton, Tom Van Voorhis, Harold Ruby, Lewis Hettinger, John Chapman,
Marcus Porter, William Bandelin, Don Frantz, William Mitchell, Donald Gordon, Jack Hancock, Tommy Thompson,
Wayne Foran, Carl Frye, Frosty Martinie, E.J. “Army” Armstrong, Carl Long, Bob & Richard Fleming, Dick & K.O.
Lake, Warren Lewis, Bob Stallsworth, Loran Lewis, Vernon Light, Howard Skidmore, Robert Wayne Smith, John
Alexander, Dale Spence, Joseph Gillins, Kent Grummett, R.M. Sidell, Harry Loomis Shewhart, Jay Stiehl, Elmer
Weber Jr., Mick McCumber, Galen Ingrum, Ed Schultz, Don Frantz, Roland Spomer, Gene Carpenter, Dale Jensen,
Allan Gray, Aubert W. Snider, Jack Brown, Harley Teel, Dale Smith, Stanley Bade, Lake “Bud” Mott, Richard
Whitley, John Lamb, Ray Gregory, Kenneth Davidson, Edward Raymond Allen, William Carpenter, Lawrence Wingle,
Gene Wingler, Robert Nunn, Haley Carter, Robert “Red” Gillins, Charles Debault, Bill Burke, Claude Chilcote,
John Bundy II, John Risting, Glenn Shutt, Charles W. Dean, Orin Ruby, Earl Jones, Kenneth Ferguson, Bill
Congleton, Kenneth Nash, Charles Duane Gordon, Florin “Buck” Aldridge, Vernon Lamb, Dale Bissey, Harold T.
Allen, Dwight McCumber, Ray McCumber, Robert McCumber, James W. Randell, Earl Wayne Beccue, Merle Lype, Paul
E. Donley, Glenn Smith, Dan Swickard, Monk Froman, Carl A. Lewis, Ray Carlson, William Gordon, Bertrand
Gordon, George Maris, Claire Lane, Frank Beck, Bert Long, Lee Allison, Hop Conner, Harry Conner, Clarence
Conner, Wilbur French, Robert Arrol, James Sherrick, Dwight McCumber, Earl Clark, Richard R. smith, Charles
Duane Gordon, Michael J. Gordon, Kenneth W. Martin, William Garrett, Ted Carmack, Robert VanVoorhis, Harold
Ruby, Quentin Weber, Harold Maris, Bud Cullison, Red Mitchell, Ned McNussen, Jake Conn, Nathan Wells, Henry
Sinclair, Robert Rund, John C. Teter, Joe Job, Clarence Jones, Kenneth Davison, Glen R. Brady, Bill Brown,
Joseph Lawless, Wilber Wetzel, James Whitmarsh, Glenn Noffke, Robert Babb, Gloria Holt Albin, Howard Albin,
Robert B. Albin, James Coleman, James B. Motley, Ralph Burnell, Donald W. Fonner, Virginia Griffith, Ray Hays,
Clement R. Null, Robert Pontous, Burton B. Turner, Daniel Wagoner, John D. Young, Harold Weber, Joe Wills,
Wilbur Wetzel, Otha Smalling, Donald Pullen, James Romine, William Skinner, Charles C. Turner, Lyle Nelson
Petry, Dick Parker, Clarence Warters, Glen R. Adams, Robert Burris, Wayne Goff Smith, Earl Pendergrass, Ed
Peecher, William Trimble, Lowell Dean Cooper, Donald & William Smith, Ross Maris, Robert Frank Brehm, William
Russell West, William Iles, William M. Burress, Lenora Oliver, Ruth Romine, Laurene Pullen, Frances Stumpo
Richardson, Betty Cox, Josephine Ferris, Katie Heinlein Brandenburg, Inez Boren, Pat Lindenmeyer, Eileen
Boston Yoos, Paul Stumpo, Orville Richardson, John Davis, Roy Mannin, Gene Dye Sr., Lowell Oakley, Bernard
Bennett, Kenneth Winter, James Long, Wayne Gates, Ray Hardwick, George Seaman, Lloyd Lytle, Gale Hoel, James
W. Randall, Max Albin, Earl Riggins, Charles Foster, Burlin O’Brecht, Dale E. McCumber, Earl “Skeezix”
Adkisson, Bernell Lewis, Judge Harry Pate, Carlyle Schable, E. K. Davenport, Delbert Albers, Virgil Williams,
Arthur Richardson, Allen Shireman, Don Ochs, and Ivan Catron. Since the exhibit continues until December 31,
it is not too late for pictures of other World War II area veterans to be added to the existing photo display.
The Tuscola Quilt Club donated a red, white, and blue homemade quilt to the museum for a
raffle that is currently being held in the museum lobby from present to December 28, 2010. First prize is the
quilt and second prize is a copy of Ernie Pyle’s book, “Fifteen Previously Unpublished Articles of World War
II.” The book was donated by Howard Skidmore of California.
The Douglas County Museum’s World War II exhibit is open Monday through Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 4
p.m. Special tours are available after hours by calling the museum at 253-2535 or museum director Lynnita
Brown at 253-4620 evenings. The museum is wheelchair accessible and admission is free.
Farm Exhibit 2011 [Exhibit has now ended.]
Large tractors on display include a 1966 Massey Ferguson 180, whose original owner was Don
Thompson. It is now owned by Darrel Thompson of Arcola. Leonard Rentz of Tuscola is showing his 1956 Farmall
“400” and Rick Beauchamp of Hammond is exhibiting a 1957 “WD-45” Allis-Chalmers. A 1951 John Deere “G” and
1959 John Deere “730” originally owned by Francis Randell of Tuscola are being shown by current owners John
Rairden (1951) and Duane Brian (1959). Also on display is a 1949 “Pony” Massey-Harris owned by Gary Appleby of
Atwood and a 1956 Farmall “100” purchased new in Montana and now owned by Connie Puzey of Indianola, IL.
In addition to the full-sized tractors, there are 14 pedal tractors in the exhibit, including
a 1955 John Deere in played-with condition, owned by the Roy Block Family of Sidney; Oliver Row Crop 70 and
Ford 8N owned by Lynnita Brown of Tuscola; International 966 owned by Bill Kauffman of Arcola; and two John
Deere 4020s (one with wagon) and an International Harvester “M” owned by Duane & Lottie Brian of Tuscola.
David Klinkow of Tuscola is exhibiting a Ford 8000, Massey-Ferguson 1150, John Deere 120, John Deere 4020,
John Deere 4010, Case-O-Matic, and an International Harvester 450.
Scale model toy tractors include Allis-Chalmers and John Deere toys owned by Jack Allen of
Tuscola; an extensive collection of small and medium farm machinery owned by Shawn and Desmond Burgess of
Tuscola; two showcases of Case memorabilia owned by Dave and Jane Berbaum of Champaign; Allis, Case, Oliver,
Cockshutt, Farmall and other brand name tractors owned by George and Bryan Dukeman of Garrett; boxed Cub
Internationals and rare Ertl and Cottonwood Acres trucks, Farmall/International, 1930s and 40s Arcade, Vindex
and Product Miniature toy tractors and machinery owned by Bill Kauffman of Arcola; Ford toys owned by Lynnita
Brown of Tuscola; a sampling of every toy tractor given to John Deere Farm Expo exhibitors from 1989 to 2010
owned by Duane & Lottie Brian of Tuscola; and Case toys owned by Don and Dave Berbaum of Champaign.
Other features of the museum’s 2011 Farm Exhibit include an extensive collection of pictures
of the Douglas County country school buildings, as well as pictures of some of the pupils who attended them.
The collection was compiled and is owned by museum director Lynnita Brown. The “Country School Showcase” also
features the teacher’s bell from Weatherly School (donated to the museum by Mary Albin of Tuscola) and slate
from the roof of the Choctaw School (donated to the museum by Cathy Clough of Hindsboro).
Also on exhibit is a Hammermill Feed Grinder owned by Don Berbaum of Champaign; “Christmas in
Case Country” by Jane Berbaum; a scale model barn made by Bruce Teeters of Tuscola in 1916; vintage
agricultural signs loaned by Kim McGee of Newman and Bill Kauffman of Arcola; books loaned by Jane Berbaum;
eight hand-held antique seeders from 1880 to 1920, donated to the museum by John Lamb of Camargo and Lawrence
Johnston of Fithian; two-thumbed shucking mitts and a Red Clover feed sack from Newton, loaned by Carl and
Carol Erb of Sidney; miscellaneous antique farm tools donated to the museum by William Smith, Marvin Frahm,
the Willis Frahm Family and Joseph Hunter; a painting of the Romine Barn that originally hung in Bache Chapel,
rural Tuscola; Depression-era farm toys made by Wilfred Schroeder of Sadorus during his childhood; oil
paintings of rural landscapes by Kent K. Grummett of Arcola; a wagon and team hand-carved by Orin Ruby of
Tuscola; and oil cans and Texaco oil bottles loaned by Bill Kauffman.
The exhibit is open free of charge to the public Monday through Wednesday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and
on Sunday afternoon 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Volunteers are always happy to open the museum after hours in the evening
and on Saturday for special tours. Individuals and groups welcome. Phone 217-253-2535 during museum hours or
217-253-4620 evenings for further information.
Events in Conjunction with Exhibit
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April 3 – Open House, 1-4 p.m. Refreshments served.
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April 9 – Buffet dinner and concert featuring The Chorale of Champaign County. Dinner begins
at 5:30 p.m. and the concert begins at 7 p.m. $16.00 for dinner/concert or $8.00 for concert only.
Reservations must be made in advance at 217-253-2535 during museum hours or evenings 253-4620.
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April 14 – I&I Antique Tractor Club Meeting in the museum.
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April 30 – Sandwiches & More Buffet and ballroom dance featuring Gene Trimble’s Combo. $10
per person, no reservation required. 6-9 p.m. Buffet served at 7:00 p.m.
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May 10 – Last Look Luncheon, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. to view the exhibit one more time before it ends
May 15. Reservations only. 217-253-2535 during museum hours or evenings 253-4620.
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May 14 – “Reunion of Country School Kids”. Indoor picnic begins at 5 p.m. $8.00 per person.
Bring your school photos with you! Reservations only. 217-253-2535 during museum hours or evenings 253-4620.
"Farm Exhibit 2009" [Exhibit has now ended.]
Click HERE to view a Photo Album of the exhibit
The “Farm Exhibit” opened on February 15, 2009 and was available to the public through May 15, 2009.
It is a recurring exhibit in the Douglas County Museum, held to recognize area farmers and
affirm the importance of the agricultural industry in East Central Illinois. “Farmers settled East Central
Illinois well over a hundred years ago,” said Lynnita Brown, museum director. “There is no denying that ever
since they arrived here, their presence has helped make the area prosperous. In this immediate area, the drain
tile that pioneering farmers placed underground changed the prairie from swampland to rich farm ground. When
farmers have a good year, so do neighboring communities.”
The museum’s Farm Exhibit 2009 features several vintage tractors, including a John Deere Model B and John
Deere Model BR owned by Dave and Beckie Galbreath of Paris; Ford 8N owned by Rodger Clements of Gunnison, CO;
Minneapolis-Moline owned by David Pittman of Maroa; International Harvester 140 and International Super A
owned by Charles Hartman of Tuscola; Oliver Model 77 owned by Duff Hoel of Tuscola; Super M owned by Duane
Brian of Tuscola; Farmall 340 owned by Leonard Rentz, Massey-Harris Pony owned by Gary Appleby of Atwood; and
a Case CC owned by Dave Berbaum of Champaign. There is also a horseless carriage built and owned by Bill Deem
of Tuscola.
In addition to the full-sized tractors, there is a Minneapolis-Moline engine, Lowell Davis figurines,
barn-building tools loaned by John Alexander of Tuscola, USA Train advertising cars, photographs, painting,
posters and murals. There are also Oliver, Farmall, John Deere, Case, and Ford pedal tractors. John Galaway
Farm Toys of Farmer City has a display of Breyer horses, horse-drawn wagons, plows, surreys, etc. There is
also extensive Case memorabilia loaned by Dave and Jane Berbaum and Don Berbaum, all of Champaign.
The museum’s showcases also display a wide range of farm toy collections. Scale models being shown include
Farmall, John Deere, Case, Ford, White, International McCormick Farmall, Massey Ferguson, Oliver,
Allis-Chalmers, Graham-Bradley, Mogul, B.F. Avery, Huber, and Minneapolis-Moline. Exhibitors include Vince
Early of Seymour; Dale Fleming of Villa Grove; Gene Hackett of Charleston; Clarence Painter of Tuscola;
Lynnita Brown of Tuscola; Jack Allen of Tuscola; Charles Hartman of Tuscola; Dave and Jane Berbaum and Don
Berbaum of Champaign; Duane and Lottie Brian of Tuscola; and John Galaway of Farmer City.
In addition to these toys, the exhibit features wooden hand-carved toys, including pre-World War II farm
buildings built by Wilfred C. Schroeder of Pesotum, farm implements such as corn pickers and combines built by
Glenn Miller of Seymour; and a hand-carved wooden wagon, horses, and rider by Orin J. Ruby, Tuscola. There are
also Breyer horses and horse-drawn wagons, plows, surreys, etc. from the John Galaway Collection, Farmer City.
Corn-related items on display are seeders dating from the 1870s, including an 1880s “Man-Killer”, seed
graders, a corn slicer, shellers, a Clipper Seed Cleaner from the Mike Eastin Family of Pesotum, and vintage
walking plows. The exhibit also features a display of vintage garden tractors, including 1950s George
tractors, 1945 McLean, and 1947 Eaglesfield Unitractor. Gary Davis of Herrick restored the tractors.
Other items on exhibit include household items such as feed sack clothes, sad irons, and a rare Tri-lite
ironing board. There are gas engines, a potato plow, miscellaneous tools, and a unique 1940s Hammermill Feed
Grinder. A special feature of the Farm Exhibit is “The Farmer’s Quiz”. The quiz is a showcase filled
with tools used inside the farm home and outside the home. Another display is “Farm Tools from Many Angles” by
Dale Fleming of Villa Grove.
The Douglas County Museum and its Farm Exhibit are open Monday through Wednesday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and
Sunday afternoon 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. There is ample off-street parking and the museum is wheelchair accessible.
There is no admission fee. Large and small tours are welcome and after-hour openings can easily be arranged by
phoning 217-253-2535 (museum); 217-253-4620 (museum director at home); or e-mail
lynnita@koreanwar-educator.org.
Dolls - Simple to Sophisticated [Exhibit has Now Ended.]
News Release...
The Douglas County Museum is filled with hundreds upon hundreds of dolls, some of which
are on display in memory of area mothers who were doll lovers during their lifetime. Dolls “Simple to
Sophisticated” included in the exhibit range from antique dolls dated back to the 1850s and 60s up to recent
dolls manufactured after the year 2000. Museum director Lynnita Brown noted that the display includes
everything from traditional baby dolls to character dolls. “We have the Little Rascals and the
Munsters, Pee Wee Herman and Toy Story character dolls, along with many other novelty dolls. We also
have Skookums, American Girl, Cabbage Patch, Anri, Enchanted Dollhouse, Barbie and Ken, GI Joe, Madame
Alexander, and Chatty Cathy-type dolls. There are paper dolls from the 1890s and later, porcelain dolls,
soft-sculpture dolls, Shirley Temple displays, Miss Revlon, Strawberry Shortcake, Patsy, Effanbee, Princess
Diana, cornhusk dolls, baby dolls, and trolls.” Brown said that the dolls on exhibit are wooden, paper,
plastic, leather, cloth, porcelain, and tin. There are also doll accessories and other doll-related
items.
Museum hours are Monday through Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday afternoon 1 p.m. to 4
p.m. Admission is free. Bus parking is available.
Tuscola - 150 Years of Memories [Exhibit has Now Ended.]
Click HERE to view a Photo Album of the exhibit
The museum's Tuscola sesquicentennial exhibit opened during the sesquicentennial festivities on the weekend
of July 6-8, 2007. Thanks to an influx of volunteers who stepped forward to help prepare the exhibit,
the exhibit opened with an Open House on Saturday, July 7.
Although the 150th anniversary of Tuscola festivities are over, life in Tuscola from the time of its
founding until now continues to be celebrated and reflected through artifacts on display in the Douglas County
Museum’s new exhibit, “Tuscola – 150 Years of Memories.” The exhibit will remain open until December 31, 2007.
“What a rich and fascinating history this town has had,” notes museum director Lynnita Brown. “This exhibit
features everything from Jarman Hospital bed pans to delicate sterling silver rosaries, from Sheriff Sid
caricatures to a solemn salute to Illinois’ fallen heroes of the war in Iraq, clothing made of everything from
taffeta to paper to satin, and much, much more. It is a reflection of the diversity of life in this town.”
Among the items featured in the exhibit are formal and informal attire worn by Tuscolians through the
decades, business memorabilia, girl and boy scout uniforms, sports items, hundreds of photographs, items from
secret societies, a bathing suit worn by Tuscola’s first Miss Tuscola of 1932, dental equipment, souvenir
plates, Tuscola Journal picture pages and old newspapers, Miss Tuscola gowns, the wedding gown of Mary Louise
Weber – bride of Paul Jones in 1950, Tuscola High School pictures from 1898 to 1955, TCHS cheerleading
outfits, and a picture and letter T of high school track stars Wayne & Blaine Rideout.
Included in the more unusual and rare items on display are a traveling secretary desk originally owned by
the famous Uncle Joe Cannon, a quilt made of Civil War uniforms, and two ironing boards from the Illinois
Specialty Company ironing board factory made prior to the Great Depression, as well as a Laundry-Kar made by
William F. Meyer and Sons 1934-40. There is a one inch to one foot scale model barn made by Bruce Teeters in
1916-17; a china doll originally owned in 1865 by Hebe Catherine Sands Maris; a Mergenthaler linotype machine
first produced in 1886 and used in the Tuscola Journal until the 1970s; a replica of a millinery shop filled
with hats originally worn by Lois Moulden and Alice Seibold; and a paper dress from the 1960s. There is also a
religious showcase filled with beautiful artifacts from area churches, including a replica of the United
Church of Christ, a Last Supper “by number” painting with stone and braiding, a crucifix from the altar of the
original Lutheran church, ornate priest robes from the Forty Martyrs Catholic Church, an embroidered quilt
made by members of the Earnest Workers of the Congregational Christian Church circa 1900, baptismal gowns
loaned by Lucille Murray and Kathy Sapp, and a chalk drawing of Christ by local artist Sue Hahn.
Tuscolians survived the fads of the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s, including some items on display in the exhibit
such as Ben Casey blouses, Beatles albums, transistor radios, a leg lamp, choo choo bag, Whitman books, and a
Nehru jacket. A favorite artifact on display is a spiral permanent machine, which sent 110 volts of
electricity to metal tubes that fit over metal permanent rods in the hair. The machine was used in Mrs. Flinn
Stevens barbershop in Tuscola from the 1930s through 50s.
Bringing back a tremendous amount of memories for Tuscola residents are three of the four horses from the
Tuscola Drive-In merry-go-round, and an extensive display of WDZ radio artifacts. Among the latter are
clothing, accessories, and musical instruments originally owned by WDZ personalities Tom VanVoorhis, Denver
Dan (John Spurrier), Georgia Renner, Chickie Hopkins, and Red Proffitt. Also featured in the WDZ display area
is an exhibit about Smiley Burnette, who got his start on radio at WDZ in Tuscola.
Remnants of history on display include terrazzo flooring from the South Ward school, tin work from the Dunn
Building, a piece of the Soldier and Sailors monument once located on the court house lawn, and a brick from
Alexander Cleaners.
Since the City of Tuscola grew and prospered as the result of the railroad industry, central to the exhibit
is a huge display of railroad memorabilia, including photographs of depots long since gone, the tracking map
and switches from the interlocking (TY) tower, and dozens of railroad memorabilia loaned by collector Marvin
Smith, who began working on the B&O railroad in 1956.
The talents of several Tuscolians are showcased in the exhibit, too, including china painting by Ruth
Coffey Korte, wood carvings by Earl Watson and Orin Ruby, a pillow doll crocheted by Carroll Jones, soda can
art by Sam Lake, hand-decorated goose eggs by Harold Seip, violin and bow made by Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Scott,
cookie cutters made by tinsmith Cecil Peck, rosaries by Paul Jones, artcards by Patricia Hart Avellano, and
jewelry collages by Floriene Barber. “Our visitors have especially been delighted by a scale model of the
Strand Theater and a replica of the United Church of Christ made by Dale Mooday,” noted Brown.
There are thousands of items on exhibit that tell the story of life in Tuscola, and touring the exhibit is
free. Museum hours are Monday through Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum is also open on the last Sunday
afternoon (1-4 p.m.) of every month. The museum staff is also always willing to open the museum to individual
or group visitors after hours by calling Lynnita Brown at 217-253-4620 or 217-253-5171 at Aldridges. The
museum’s telephone is 217-253-2535 and its website is www.docomuseum.org.
"A Salute to Veterans" [Exhibit has Now Ended.]
Click HERE to view a Photo Album of the exhibit
News Release....
An exhibit to honor veterans is now open and will remain in the Douglas County Museum, 700 S. Main St.,
Tuscola, IL until December 31, 2006. [Museum note: This exhibit was held over until April 20, 2007.]
Created to say thank you to American veterans, "A Salute to Veterans" recognizes local veterans who have
served their country throughout American history.
The exhibit features uniforms, war memorabilia, and travel souvenirs brought home by veterans. All
branches of the military are represented, with artifacts on display ranging from the Civil War through the
war on terrorism. One wall of the exhibit is a solemn Gold Star tribute to Illinois veterans killed in
the Iraqi war.
"Many of the items on loan and from the museum's permanent collection are rare and unique," noted the
museum director Lynnita Brown. "We've got everything from a nuclear warhead carrier to a chaplain's
field worship kit." According to Brown, the Douglas County Museum owns a significant military
collection. "Veterans are important to the trustees of the Museum Association," Brown said. "We
owe our freedom to them and therefore we are making every effort to preserve the artifacts associated with
those who served, fought, and died for the sake of that freedom. We want the next generation to
appreciate their sacrifices. The three-dimensional objects in the museum's collection will hopefully
help them gain an understanding of our veterans and what they had to endure for the sake of freedom,
particularly those who served in combat zones."
A main feature on the museum's exhibit floor is its "triple case." One section of the case features
a wide variety of World War I memorabilia, including uniforms, items found in back packs, and a World War I
quilt made by the ladies of the Arthur Baptist Church dated November 11, 1918. Another section of the case
honors prisoners of war. The third section is a tribute to Cory Hubbell, a Champaign County veteran
who died in Iraq. The tribute features a quilt presented to Cory's family from the Marine Comfort
Quilt Project.
Ten side-by-side exhibit cases feature the personal memorabilia of servicemen who were in Korea, Vietnam,
World War II, and World War I. They represent the Marine Corps, submarine veterans, Seebees, Aleutian
Island veterans, and more. A portion of a cargo parachute that dropped supplies during the Battle of
the Bulge is exhibited, as is communications equipment, unique travel souvenirs brought back from war, a
house replica filled with children's military items, and a flight jacket.
"Thanks to the Sons of Union Veterans," Brown said, "we've got a truly outstanding representation of
Civil War memorabilia, including weaponry, GAR artifacts, calling cards, and more. We even have a
quilt that was made from two Civil War uniforms. There were two holes in one of the uniforms because
its owner was killed in action." A display featuring a rare collection of women's military uniforms
from World War I to present is proving very popular with the museum visitors, according to Brown.
Splashed with red, the case features WAVE, WAC, Army nurse, and Women Marine memorabilia. Patriotic
sheet music with emphasis on World War I songs is on display. There are also books, photographs,
service branch flags, and a wide assortment of military ephemera.
The museum staff also brings a portion of the exhibit to local schools with a traveling educational
program called, "The Ammo Box." Available by reservation on a week-by-week basis to area schools, the
Ammo Box is filled with hands-on artifacts associated with East Central Illinois and the Home Front during
World War II.
A variety of fundraisers and other events open to the public are being held in the museum while the
Salute to Veterans exhibit is open. Among them are three USO-type dances (October 14, November 11, and
December 9) and a performance by the Sweet Adelines on November 10 (the Marine Corps' 231st birthday).
Holiday events will be held in December.
"A Salute to Veterans" is open Monday through Wednesday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday afternoon 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
Veterans organizations, other groups, and individuals can also tour the exhibit after regular museum hours
by contacting Lynnita Brown at 217-253-2535 (museum), 253-4620 (her home) or e-mail
lynnita@koreanwar-educator.org. The museum is
wheelchair accessible, there is bus parking, and admission is free.
"A Millennium of Motorcycle Madness" [Exhibit has now ended.]
Click HERE to view a Photo Album of the exhibit
Thanks in large part to museum trustee Sharilyn Kibler Russell who suggested it and played a huge role in
planning and supervising it, this unique exhibit was quite a hit. During the four short months that “A
Millennium of Motorcycle Madness” was on display, several thousand motorcycle enthusiasts poured into the
Douglas County Museum to see the 60+ motorcycles loaned to the museum for the exhibit.
In addition to the big machines, there was a replica of a motorcyclist’s garage, complete with bikes,
tools, books, photographs, and more. There were hundreds of toy and model motorcycles of all eras, brands,
and values. Additionally, there were books, magazines, barn-fresh motors, riding gear, photographs, gnome
houses, vintage brochures, quilts, metal signs, posters, trophies, tools, collector plates, bike parts,
cards, banners, and ceramics loaned by members of area A.B.A.T.E. chapters as well as by individuals all
over East Central Illinois.
During the exhibit, the museum staff sold Motorcycle Madness tee shirts, coasters, Biker Atlases, and
peanut brittle. (We discovered that bikers have a sweet tooth.) But the biggest fund-raiser of all during
the exhibit was the museum’s raffle for a 2004 Harley Davidson V-rod. John Murray of Tuscola sold 32 tickets
on behalf of the museum to his co-workers at British Petroleum in Oregon, Ohio. Of those, four were among
the last ten tickets to be drawn, and one of them was the winning ticket. The sale of all of these items
brought in over $10,000 clear for the Douglas County Museum, pulling the museum well out of its precarious
financial situation. Not only was the exhibit productive financially, it was also a great deal of fun. That
old notion that bikers are wild and woolly characters went out the window as Christian bike groups, lady
bikers, and a host of other really terrific visitors poured into the Douglas County Museum to see one very
classy exhibit. To be sure, a few “woolly” visitors did come in, but each and every one of them proved to be
just as classy as the exhibit itself. Our front door collection box spilled over with generous donations
time and time again, and the words of praise to the staff for staging such a grand exhibit were forthcoming
on a continual basis.
Our special thanks goes out to Sharilyn for all the hard work that she put into the exhibit. So many
A.B.A.T.E. members and folks from the general public played a role in this successful exhibit (the most
financially successful exhibit in the history of the museum) that we don’t dare to even try to thank them
individually. We do want to give a warm thank you to member Bob Kellogg, however. Bob came in almost every
week to keep the museum open on Fridays. He also helped us tally up the number of visitors who came to see
the exhibit, and occasionally he assisted us with our bookkeeping. \
"Toys Through Time" [Exhibit has Now Ended.]
The museum is now filled with hundreds upon hundreds of toys from all eras in Douglas County history.
Walking from showcase to showcase, our visitors see the myriad of toys that have been invented through time
to entertain young and old alike.
Displayed are all types of games from pick-up sticks to Password, Tinker toys, board games, Jack in the
Box, and a huge assortment of Fisher Price. Bonnie Chesnut brought in some unique crepe paper dolls made by
her grandmother. There are also "Dorothy Dolly Dresses" on exhibit. These dresses are displayed with the
Shirley Temple doll that Dorothy McIntyre of Newman used as a model to make them for Marshall Fields.
There are kites, cars, trucks, tractors, trailers, and fire engines. Children's dress up clothes are on
display, and include military uniforms and even one of the locally-treasured Bruce Williams coon skin caps.
A display of "soakies" from the 1960s and candy containers from the 1980s show that even merchandising
packages were used as toys by children in need of entertainment. There are miniature guns, toy soldiers, and
even a Scott SARB (Six-shootin' Automatic Rubber Band) gun made by local artisan, ____ Scott. Yes,
folks--this unique spring-loaded weapon shoots six rubber bands in rapid-fire succession. It was made and
donated to the museum by Mr. Scott, who, at the age of 84, has made several of them to while away the hours.
The dolls in the exhibit are many and varied. There are Madame Alexander, Chatty, milk filter, Kewpie,
Michael Jackson, porcelain, bisque, rag, and rubber dolls. In addition, there are doll buggies, paper dolls,
miniature household pots and pans and dishes and furniture, tea sets, baby beds, and high chairs. There are
musical instruments, puppets, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Orphan Annie, McDonald's Happy Meal toys, and a
mechanical monkey.
Visitors will see books and blocks and photographs, Black Americana, trains, pull toys, riding toys,
Hoola Hoops and Rolla Hoop sticks sold by Rosie Cler. There are lawn toys, boats, ships, model cars, and a
huge collection of metal construction toys. Included in the exhibit are also modified John Deere toys, and
vintage rabbits and other stuffed and wooden toys from the past. The museum staff has gathered up all the
Raggedy Ann and Andy items and put them under "one roof", so to speak. They are exhibited in the museum's
"House" display. (You've got to see it to appreciate the wonder of it.) There are Raggedy Ann banks and
clocks, swings and radios, books and dolls, and much, much more.
 Highlighting the exhibit is
an Oscar Mayer Wienermobile pedal car. On each side of it are smaller Oscar Mayer items such as banks, plush
toys, and vintage Li'l Oscar rings. Our visitors are encouraged to sing the Oscar Mayer wiener theme song to
one of our staff members. If they can sing it, their names are entered into a drawing for one of the smaller
Oscar Mayer toys.
The display is cute and fun, and could not have happened without the diligent, hard work of Jean Aldridge
Copas. Generally the museum exhibits are put in place by Jean's daughter, museum director Lynnita Brown.
However, this year has been a hectic one for Lynnita (who holds two jobs as well as supervises the museum's
daily operations). So this time, Jean put the display together and Lynnita assisted by making labels and
offering technical advice. Visitors will see that their teamwork was a winning combination, because "Toys
through Time" is bringing back a lot of childhood memories for our visitors. The museum's hours are Monday
through Wednesday, 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. To see the display after hours, contact the museum to schedule a time
that is convenient for you, or call Lynnita in the evening at 217-253-4620.
"Where were you during World War II?" [Exhibit has now ended.]
One of the Douglas County Museum's most popular exhibits illustrates the answer to the question in its
title. The museum participated in the U.S. Department of Defense's 50th anniversary of World War II
Commemorative Community Program. "Where Were You During World War II?" was an exhibit created to educate the
public about the global nature of that war. As soon as people heard the title, they began to respond to the
exhibit, even before they arrived at the museum to see it, by reminiscing about where they were 50 years
ago. More than 200 residents of East Central Illinois loaned their wartime mementoes, resulting in a very
personalized story about a war which spanned the continents. The exhibit made the news on three television
stations, was featured in two major daily newspapers, was the subject of several radio talk shows, and was
highlighted in area weekly newspapers. Attendance from October 1-December 31 was almost 4,000.
There were over 200 photographs of servicemen and women in uniform, as well as the names of parents who
awaited their return from war. One display mourned the death of area servicemen, while a prisoner of war
exhibit told about those held in captivity. We displayed field worship kits and pocket Bibles,
communications equipment, collections of enemy plunder, Allied and enemy weapons, and personal scrapbooks.
Volunteers built a 4 foot by 10 foot house to exhibit items from the homefront. In it were ration stamps
and books, a play soldier's uniform but a real child's gas mask, feed sacks used for clothing, era
magazines, steel pennies, and even a pair of clogs which transformed into roller skates during gasoline
rationing. One special case held travel souvenirs--a coconut, grass skirt and coral from the South Pacific,
trench art from Guam, Australian postcards, Icelandic coins, ivory from India, etc. The keepsakes told our
visitors where their owners were during World War II.
Freestanding displays included an Army jeep, American flag, USO dress, cadet nurse's uniform, war bride
dresses, and a special showcase with photographs of Nazi concentration camp atrocities. Facts on the
consequences of World War II in casualties, prisoners of war, dollars, land-water-air losses, etc.
interspersed the displays.
Our visitors could open a mailbox to retrieve samples of war-era mail. They could post a note on a
special bulletin board which asked, "Where were you during World War II?" They could also search showcases
for answers to our "World War II facts scavenger hunt." A mini-library in the exhibit included a bookshelf
of war-related books and photo albums, card table, and chairs for browsing. Sentimental music wafted through
the museum. A USO dance was held in conjunction with the exhibit, as well as a Veteran's Day open house and
dinner, a concert of 1940s music, and two educational programs.
Other Past Exhibits
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(Click pix for a larger view)
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Other past exhibits in the Douglas County Museum are numerous. They include:
- Turn Your Radio On
- Childhood Memories
- Cups, Saucers, & Cross Stitch
- Farm Exhibit
- The Korean War: Cold, Bloody, & Forgotten
- A Glimpse at the 50's and 60's: Toys, Fashions, Music & More
- Every Day Should Be Veterans Day
- The Pride & the Pain of Housework
- Indians and Stone Tools
- The Evolution of Photography
- The History of Religion
- One Hundred Years of Romance
- Anchors Around the Globe: Sea Services in Peacetime & War
- Trains, Tracks, & Photographs
- Costume Jewelry: Junk or Jewels?
- Time is Precious: Make it count
- Sports Fan
- Quilts That Warm the Heart
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