Louisiana Museum Invites Public To Grand Opening May 27

Silver Anniversary Open House Will Feature Presentation, Refreshments

The Louisiana Area Historical Museum is opening its doors to the public for its Silver Anniversary Open House on Saturday, May 27 from 2-4 p.m. at the museum, 304 Georgia Street in Louisiana.

It will mark the occasion of the 25th year of existence for the museum and also to honor outgoing president Martha Sue Smith as she hands over the board presidency to Judy Schmidt. A brief program will be held about 2:30 p.m. and light refreshments will be served.

Those who have volunteered in any capacity over the years are especially encouraged to attend the festivities. It is because of these volunteers that the museum has continued to thrive.

Visitors will see numerous changes in the facility, including a new child-friendly, handicap-accessible bathroom. Trent Meyers has been responsible for donating a great many hours of labor for this major project.

Remodeling has been done in the Hercules Room and additions made to the Stark Room, with the most high-profile addition being the Confederate Civil War flag that will now be a permanent part of the museum’s collection. The flag was, as one would expect, in tatters after being carried in the Civil War, but it has now been preserved and framed under special glass. A grant from the Missouri Humanities Council in cooperation with the National Endowment for the Humanities with donations from local supporters made this three-year project possible. A Union flag will also be hung.

In 1992, the Louisiana Chamber of Commerce decided that the valuable history of the community was well-deserving of recognition and preservation.  From that one simple gathering, where there was a strong desire of interested citizens present, the past 25 years have been a series of ambitious projects of renovating and maintaining the building at 304 Georgia.

“Martha Sue has been the cement that holds us together,” Schmidt says.

The goal is to continue to preserve and display artifacts of significance historically to the area for study, education, and the enjoyment of patrons.

“How exciting it is to have seen the Louisiana Area Historical Museum grow from a back room to what it is today,” Smith remarked. “It has been with great effort on the part of many people and will continue to evolve.”

One special gift from the museum to the community is the summer programming “for kids of all ages” each Wednesday afternoon in June at 1 p.m. For the past five years, Schmidt has recruited volunteer presenters on a variety of topics related to science, music, history, pets, toys and games, quilting, and a wide range of other interesting topics.

“We are so glad to have the children interested in coming to the museum, “ Schmidt said. “When one wall was removed in making the bathroom more handicapped accessible, it meant having more seating space for the summer programs when 75 or more people are in attendance.”

The programs have proven to be very popular with adults as well as students who come as part of the YMCA summer program on a regular basis.

“First-Wednesday-in-August” programs are geared more for adults and have been added in recent years. This program is done in cooperation with the local Friends of the Library organization.

Another long-standing tradition sponsored by the museum is the annual Mid-Town Church Walk each December. Christmas programs and music are shared at each of six churches all within walking distance of each other. This is an event unique to Louisiana because of the close proximity of several churches.  The Church Walk was the brainchild of Jeanne Lovell, one of the museum’s original board members.

Since the museum has no government or municipal funding, all upkeep and improvements are dependent on donations. The museum continues to sponsor community fundraisers such as selling ice cream at the Louisiana riverfront on the Fourth of July, holding an annual banquet each fall and serving a soup supper at the conclusion of the annual Church Walk.

Although there is no charge for admission to the museum, it does gratefully accept donations. The only ongoing funding the museum has ever received has been from the Buffalo Township United Fund.

The museum is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization registered in the State of Missouri. It has a board of directors who meet monthly and whose task it is to preserve the rich traditions and history that contribute to the life of the community.

Current members of the board include Schmidt, president; Ned Glenn, secretary; D. Randall Cone, treasurer, as well as Linda Beer, Sally Cropp, Jean Eastman, Brent Engel, Eileen Hoffman, Trent Meyers, John Murray, Ann Narramore, Mary Perkins, Charlotte Perrine, Jerry Smith, Martha Sue Smith, Juanita Thomas and Dorothy Webb. Each dedicated member brings his or her special talents to the board, whether it is in handling financial matters, presenting programs, recruiting volunteers, maintaining the building, working with the displays, assisting with fundraising, as well as “hands-on” projects, especially when remodeling is in progress. Smith, Cropp and Glenn are the only three original board members still serving on the board.

“The Louisiana Area Historical Museum will always be special to me for many reasons,” Smith pointed out. “Mainly the people I’ve gotten to know over the years and the sharing of purpose. I owe the museum my gratitude for what it has done for our Louisiana! It has brought people together by accepting “treasures” for preservation and safe and secure housing for those ‘treasures.’”

The public is invited to come celebrate the museum’s Silver Anniversary grand re-opening on Saturday, May 27 and say thanks to Martha Sue for all she has done to make it all a reality over the past 25 years.