Monday, October 23, 2006
Museum opens in Lakewood
Here's an updated version of a note that I sent to Gary Fowler, Janda Volkmer and other people who helped open our storefront museum on Saturday - hopefully we'll see you there 11 - 4 on Fridays and Saturdays (more info is on the group's web page, though please note that for now the museum is only open Fridays and Saturdays):
Gary, you and Janda and the rest of the group that worked on the leasing and the interior and the permits and the sign and whatever else should be proud. Today was my first visit to the space. For all anyone would have known walking in, the museum could have been open for awhile. (I'm going to stop calling it the storefront. It's a first-phase museum). Well, OK, so it needs a little merchandise and a couple of backs of display walls are available. But little would a new visitor know we are just starting, until of course they talk to one of the volunteers and learn of so many plans.
I was there only a relatively short time today, but I saw people already starting to bring in items that we would have loved to have had for the book: photos of lady golfers at the Lakeside Club circa 1930, for example, or the society ladies clustered around the Thornewood fountain. There's no question that the presence of a place that cares about our heritage will unleash a wave of artifacts to share with future generations. As just one small example of the many things I learned today, I had no idea until I looked at one of many wonderful maps on the walls and dividers that 'Wildaire' began existence as the phrase 'Wild Air.' I would suspect that there is something new in the museum for each of us to learn. The timeline exhibit is extraordinary, especially given, well, the timeline of its birth.
I'll post some photos on my blog (note on Monday; those will have to wait, because of some computer problems). It was a treat to get some photos of Donnie Weeks sitting in the Lakewood Log office display. For those of us who remember the cityhood campaign, and that's probably most of us, it was nice to see the face of Basil Vyzis, founder of the Lakewood Mall, on the wall.
I guess I could probably go on and on about all sorts of little telling details that mean so much, and so could each one of you. That treasury of details, which add up to so much heritage and so many lessons and examples for the future, will only grow richer.
Each person can also only answer for himself or herself as an individual if it has been worth the trouble for them, but if it's any consolation, I can promise you that a whole lot of education and interpretation will go on for years to come.
We have a museum now - like a 'real city.'
It's all thanks to your hard work. Well done, all of you!
Forward this post
Gary, you and Janda and the rest of the group that worked on the leasing and the interior and the permits and the sign and whatever else should be proud. Today was my first visit to the space. For all anyone would have known walking in, the museum could have been open for awhile. (I'm going to stop calling it the storefront. It's a first-phase museum). Well, OK, so it needs a little merchandise and a couple of backs of display walls are available. But little would a new visitor know we are just starting, until of course they talk to one of the volunteers and learn of so many plans.
I was there only a relatively short time today, but I saw people already starting to bring in items that we would have loved to have had for the book: photos of lady golfers at the Lakeside Club circa 1930, for example, or the society ladies clustered around the Thornewood fountain. There's no question that the presence of a place that cares about our heritage will unleash a wave of artifacts to share with future generations. As just one small example of the many things I learned today, I had no idea until I looked at one of many wonderful maps on the walls and dividers that 'Wildaire' began existence as the phrase 'Wild Air.' I would suspect that there is something new in the museum for each of us to learn. The timeline exhibit is extraordinary, especially given, well, the timeline of its birth.
I'll post some photos on my blog (note on Monday; those will have to wait, because of some computer problems). It was a treat to get some photos of Donnie Weeks sitting in the Lakewood Log office display. For those of us who remember the cityhood campaign, and that's probably most of us, it was nice to see the face of Basil Vyzis, founder of the Lakewood Mall, on the wall.
I guess I could probably go on and on about all sorts of little telling details that mean so much, and so could each one of you. That treasury of details, which add up to so much heritage and so many lessons and examples for the future, will only grow richer.
Each person can also only answer for himself or herself as an individual if it has been worth the trouble for them, but if it's any consolation, I can promise you that a whole lot of education and interpretation will go on for years to come.
We have a museum now - like a 'real city.'
It's all thanks to your hard work. Well done, all of you!
