By Bruce Rolfe
A project the Galesburg Historical Museum Board and supporters have been planning for years is finally getting off the ground.
A ground breaking ceremony for a 44’ x 80’ addition onto the Galesburg Historical Museum, located at 190 East Michigan Avenue, Galesburg, took place August 25 at the Museum.
Galesburg Historical Museum Curator and ground breaking ceremony speaker Keith Martin told the audience a small museum was started in a house on Church Street in Galesburg in 1975.
He recognized the people who were instrumental in getting the museum idea off the ground in Galesburg. They included Dick Switzer, Kay Maxson and the ladies of the Mutual Improvement Club, which Martin said was a group of wonderful ladies who spent countless hours of their time collecting and documenting local history. Martin said according to Switzer, Louise Struble was a guiding light through the process.
“These people continued their dedication in raising the funds to build our current museum in 1992. At that time, we believed we would not ever be able to fill this museum. But at this time, we have many artifacts in storage that need to be displayed,” Martin told the audience at the ground breaking ceremony.
Martin said the cost of the new addition is estimated to be in the range of $435,000.
No taxpayer dollars were used for the project.
Martin said over the years the Museum has received funds from many local people. He said funds from memorials and people who made major contributions, were made specifically towards the addition. He noted some of those people include Violet VanSickler, Kathryn Tindell, and Switzer, who sadly are not alive to see the addition become a reality. He also sent out a big thank you to Mark Becker, who is still an active citizen in the area and was at the ground breaking ceremony.
Martin also thanked the City of Galesburg for their support in the many years of preparation for the project.
The Galesburg Historical Museum curator also thanked Tony Dixon and his staff at Premier Building and Remodeling for building the new museum addition.
“It has been many years in the making. We weren’t sure it was ever going to happen, but here we are at this ceremonial breaking of the ground of our new addition,” said Martin.
It is estimated the entire project will be completed in approximately 13 weeks.
Martin said the 3,520 square foot addition will provide space to display items that could not be displayed in the museum because of space limitations.
He said two very large items that will be placed inside the new addition will be a 1931 City of Galesburg Model A Fire Truck and a 101-year-old 1925 Chevrolet given to the Museum by the Bell family.
He adds the addition will also provide much needed storage space.
The museum will be closed during certain times while construction takes place, when work is performed stabilizing a wall inside the museum and when the new addition is connected. Museum staff will attempt to keep the museum open as long as possible.
A project the Galesburg Historical Museum Board and supporters have been planning for years is finally getting off the ground.
A ground breaking ceremony for a 44’ x 80’ addition onto the Galesburg Historical Museum, located at 190 East Michigan Avenue, Galesburg, took place August 25 at the Museum.
Galesburg Historical Museum Curator and ground breaking ceremony speaker Keith Martin told the audience a small museum was started in a house on Church Street in Galesburg in 1975.
He recognized the people who were instrumental in getting the museum idea off the ground in Galesburg. They included Dick Switzer, Kay Maxson and the ladies of the Mutual Improvement Club, which Martin said was a group of wonderful ladies who spent countless hours of their time collecting and documenting local history. Martin said according to Switzer, Louise Struble was a guiding light through the process.
“These people continued their dedication in raising the funds to build our current museum in 1992. At that time, we believed we would not ever be able to fill this museum. But at this time, we have many artifacts in storage that need to be displayed,” Martin told the audience at the ground breaking ceremony.
Martin said the cost of the new addition is estimated to be in the range of $435,000.
No taxpayer dollars were used for the project.
Martin said over the years the Museum has received funds from many local people. He said funds from memorials and people who made major contributions, were made specifically towards the addition. He noted some of those people include Violet VanSickler, Kathryn Tindell, and Switzer, who sadly are not alive to see the addition become a reality. He also sent out a big thank you to Mark Becker, who is still an active citizen in the area and was at the ground breaking ceremony.
Martin also thanked the City of Galesburg for their support in the many years of preparation for the project.
The Galesburg Historical Museum curator also thanked Tony Dixon and his staff at Premier Building and Remodeling for building the new museum addition.
“It has been many years in the making. We weren’t sure it was ever going to happen, but here we are at this ceremonial breaking of the ground of our new addition,” said Martin.
It is estimated the entire project will be completed in approximately 13 weeks.
Martin said the 3,520 square foot addition will provide space to display items that could not be displayed in the museum because of space limitations.
He said two very large items that will be placed inside the new addition will be a 1931 City of Galesburg Model A Fire Truck and a 101-year-old 1925 Chevrolet given to the Museum by the Bell family.
He adds the addition will also provide much needed storage space.
The museum will be closed during certain times while construction takes place, when work is performed stabilizing a wall inside the museum and when the new addition is connected. Museum staff will attempt to keep the museum open as long as possible.
Martin said if anyone needs to see part of the museum during the construction process, contact him and he will do his best to accommodate.
(Photo by Carolyn Martin)
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