Finished - For Now

The dump rake is in place. Now if we can just figure out what kind it is, we will get it painted. I think it looks really nice and will draw attention to our sign.

The gravel will be leveled and finished. The dump rake will be added. Then the posts on the sign and the dump rake will be painted....when we decide what color it should be.

A Place for the Dump Rake

We had no room for the dump rake in our Ag Building, so it was decided to put it out front by our sign and build a special area for it. Today it was built and finished by Kenny Wolf, Jerry Bailey, Duane Tracy and Frank Wilson. Thank you guys! It looks great.

The Dump Rake

The museum was given an antique dump rake. It was used to go through the hay and drag it into the rake. When a big pile was caught inside the rake, the forks lifed up and dropped the pile.

Mystery Solved

I called the courthouse today and found out that we indeed own the Deerfield Church.
Apparently that information was not handed down from the great founders of the CCHS because nobody even knew where the Deerfield Church was. Jerry and I went on a roadtrip yesterday to find it. The front of the church is overgrown with trees. The side is quite open.

A church for Bradford Village??

We received notice that Ruth Waller passed away in Texas. She left $2,000 in her will to the Chickasaw County Historical Society. BUT, it has to be used to improve or maintain the Deerfield Church or cemetary. It took us a while to figure out where the Deerfield Church was, but Jerry and I found it. The sign stated plainly that the CCHS had something to do with this church in the past.

Dr. Pitts' Office

I decided that I would take the Dr. Pitts cutout that we have and put him in his doorway and take some pictures. Dr. Pitts wrote the song, "Church in the Wildwood" Little Brown Church in the Vale.

The Mourning Dove

I didn't know doves would take another bird's nest, but this one did. Last year in a windowsill upstairs in the Smith Cabin, we had a robin's nest. We didn't destroy the nest at the end of summer, and this year a dove has layed her eggs in the same partial nest.

The Sleigh Is Here!!

Our sleigh came on Thursday, but I didn't have time to take pictures until today. It is so pretty. We added the authentic horsehair lap robe. My flash is not good enough to get a nice light picture, but the sleigh is painted very shiny black with deep burgundy upholstery and running gear with gold painted trim. The same people, Leon and John Martin of Ionia, Iowa who did the buggy, did the sleigh. They are Mennonites, so they really know how to restore horse-drawn vehicles. We are so lucky to have them as friends of the museum.

Our Garage Sale

Today we joined in the City Wide garage sales in Nashua. We had a very good day. Our volunteers in the picture are Lucile Smith and Marilyn Randall. But look who is also looking out the door. Kramer!

AFTER

And this is the glorious After picture. Bright and shiny!

Refinished Windmill Before

Hey, the old rusty windmill has been painted. This is the Before picture.

Newly Refinished Sign

Our newly refinished sign is up and it is better than ever. Jackie did a great job. I had asked her to add some more color to the sign and she added a nice sunset. A great addition to the front yard of the museum.

New T-shirts are here

Things are going along nicely at the museum. We have gotten rid of all the woodchucks, we think and the painter called to say he will be coming soon to paint the steel windmill. The T-shirts we had made are done and on the shelves. They have the picture of the Little Brown Church on them. They can be purchased for $15.99 each. We have sizes ranging from men's Small to X-Large. They are made from 50% cotton and 50% polyester.

Next weekend, June 15, 16, 17 we will be participating in the Nashua City-Wide garage sales. So come on out and check out our tables. This will be a fund-raiser for us.