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News 3-31-04

Museum launches fund drive
For the Clipper-Herald
March 31, 2004

The Dawson County Historical Society (DCHS) announced the start of a $1.2 million major capital campaign at its annual meeting and banquet Saturday night. The theme is "Looking

A three-dimensional model on display at the banquet shows how funds raised in the Society's $1.2 million capital campaign will be used for renovation and expansion.

Back, Looking Forward" for the two- part phase of an expansion and renovation project at the Dawson County Museum.

Phase One of the project will add 15,000 square feet of new exhibit area. This will more than double the present facility, notes museum director Barb Vondras. Phase Two will be the renovation of the existing building, including additions of a children's interactive area, a large room dedicated for programs, workshops and public use, dedicated a gallery space for exhibits and traveling displays, increased storage for collections, plus an update of restroom and parking facilities.

"The proposals for this project have been several years in the planning stage," stated Gail Hall, DCHS President. "Last year we unveiled preliminary plans and these were very well received. There were a few other projects in the county we didn't want to vie with for funding and we put our plans on hold until this year. We are very grateful to early patrons who have already contributed over $50,000 to the project."

The Historical Society was formed in 1958. Land donated to the Society in 1965 by the Harley Kirkpatrick family created a permanent home for the nonprofit organization. The main museum building was opened in 1969. In 1972 an addition brought the total space of today's facility to 12,400 square feet. Other buildings on the grounds are the Reed School, Willow Island Depot with Baldwin Locomotive, a log cabin and Agricultural Building.

"Last year at the county fair, we exhibited a proposed three-dimensional model of the expansion and renovation concept," said Barb Vondras, museum director. "People were very supportive and we gained new insights to additional needs the museum could fulfill. With over 8,000 visitors a year, we've all ready received donations for the project before announcing the campaign. It's very gratifying to have this kind of support."

In addition to exhibit and display space, the research area and archives will have fireproof storage to protect irreplaceable historical documents, photos, records, journals and other resources. "We have seen such an increase in usage at the museum in the collaboration with other organizations on programs and projects. This plan allows for use of the museum for more activities and programs for the public, while not competing with exhibit and display space. New to the museum will be a large display on "Big Al," the Colombian mammoth, exhibited as a mini-dig site, while theme exhibits will portray Dawson County history spotlighting topics as entrepreneurs, inventors, sports themes, political figures, agricultural innovations, and other subjects important the area.

"This is a new chapter for the museum. I'm excited about all the possibilities with the development of hands-on interactive exhibits, a children's mini-museum, and new additions to the collections for display, and a designated area for research and the archives. A multi-purpose room, complete with sinks and tables while be a bee-hive of activities," said Vondras. "It will be wonderful to have an area for projects when working with school groups as our papermaking, pioneer, and art activities. It will also be used for public workshops sponsored by the museum on conservation and preservation programs, an area to host tours and special events, and will available for use by other organizations."

Special recognition was given to two businesses at the banquet. Platte Valley Auto Mart and Home Federal Savings & Loan Association of Nebraska each gave $15,000 to the campaign. In addition the family of Henry and Wilma Orthman and Bill and Meredith Orthman was thanked for their generous gift. Others recognized for their early gifts were Mr. and Mrs. Allen Carpenter , Sylvia Watkins, Don and Gail Magnuson, Studio 25 and memorials designated by the families of Warren Batie and Julia Mae Batie. The museum has also been selected to be recipient of funds as one of the designated projects for the Lexington Community Foundation's Key 2004.

A countywide campaign will be conducted this spring and summer by the Historical Society. For more information or to contribute you may call the Museum at 308-324-5340.

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[News 03-13-2006] [News 7-22-05] [News 2-25-05] [News 3-31-04] [News 4-16-03]

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