01 Apr Mar-Apr Director Report
Hello Membership, winter has arrived. I hope the Christmas and New Year Holidays went well for everyone. Being closed the month of January enabled us to complete a few projects here at the Museum. We had the carpets steam cleaned, and the tile floors stripped and waxed. A few exhibits were moved or switched out with something different. So when you come in again, it won’t be the same as it was before and hopefully cleaner. The parking lot was coated and striped in the fall. Chris Hasty did such a good job on it. He also purchased a life membership.
As I look back over the past year, a Bicentennial year in Indiana, we accomplished quite a few things here at the HCHM. The outside lighting wasn’t working, so our maintenance volunteers changed everything out with LED lights. Now it is nice and bright for the evening programs. We went to digital speakers, and a ceiling mounted projector. Now we can use the computer to allow the presenter to give a quality presentation. Our Gift Shop was moved to a new location so it will be noticed when visitors come in and when they leave the Museum. Now the visitor can buy the gift they just got to have. A new Historical Museum sign at the West end of the building has been added in hopes to bring attention to the community as to exactly where the Museum is located. We also placed a bicentennial sign on the front of the building, and added two new flags on the flag pole in front.
The Museum hosted four major Bicentennial programs last year at the Forks of the Wabash building because it has more seating. The average attendance for each program was around one hundred and seventy-five people. The programs boosted the attendance at the Museum to 2251 visitors for the year of 2016. Music has been piped to all rooms in the Museum to give a better experience when you come here to spend several hours. Our total membership here at the Museum ended at 180 members. I look out over what we have completed last year and it makes me feel like there is still so much yet to do. We have major ideas planned for the Museum again this coming year.
I get excited thinking about the projects we want to get done. All the projects we have planned are to make a better, more satisfactory experience for you.
Mar. 15 Ray Boonhower on
May 17 Geoff Paddock on Ed Roush
July 19 Julie Devall on Women in Civil War
Sept 20 Nate Williams on Anthony Navarre
Nov 15 Danny Russell on Daniel Boone
I hope to see you all visiting your Historical Museum this year and get your memberships sent in please, 315 East Court Street, Huntington, IN 46750 – see you soon!
Mark Stouder – Director