The nights are slowly growing cooler here in Indiana as the transition from summer to autumn begins. A new semester has started and with it a fresh slate of interns looking to grow their museum knowledge and contribute towards improving the Society. This month also brings some good news in the form of funding and opens a new world of possibilities. With the new and exciting also comes the regular and mundane maintenance that needs to be done, as well as taking on the many new challenges that present themselves. September is shaping up to be a rather busy, yet productive, month.
August’s newsletter announced that the Society’s flagpole had been taken down after it began leaning toward the Armory. At the time this article goes to print, quotes are in hand, with multiple options to reinstall the flagpole. The board is waiting to hear if insurance covers the removal and if it will cover all, or a portion, of the replacement costs. With this information, the board will review the next best course of action and announce updates in future newsletters.
The Society is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a generous grant through the Indiana Mid-Day Rotary Grant program. Paperwork was initially submitted for funding to purchase a camera that could be used for recording the Society’s many educational events and sharing them with the public. Most of the Society’s members are outside of the county and cannot attend events held at the museum. Now with the help of technology, our readers can be more connected to Society programming going on at the museum. The equipment is new, so bear with us as we work out the bugs in the first few recordings. The Society is excited to provide this offering and hopes that it can increase the audience for events and ultimately the number of people who can learn about Indiana’s past.
September is packed with free events. Leading off the month is a living history program being held on September 8, 9, and 10 in Memorial Park featuring interpreters portraying U.S. military personnel from various conflicts. Following on September 14 at 6:30pm, Jim Sagan presents a talk on his new book The Journey Forward. The month concludes with the grand reveal of the restored Chickering Piano on September 21 at 6:30 pm. The event is free and is coordinated thanks to the efforts of member Hazel E. Johnston. If all goes well with the technology, each of these events should be viewable in the near future through the Society’s website. As for paid events, there is still time to get your Victorian Tea tickets for the September 9 event.
The dehumidifier in the basement of the Armory has reached the end of its life. After a strange clunking noise was detected, the diagnosis made by Davis Bros. was that the machine could no longer function properly. The Society is working to replace it and, in the process, is reassessing the space to ensure its humidity needs are being met. A replacement unit, along with additional dehumidifiers, are being discussed. Climate is incredibly important when it comes to artifacts. Proper care to regulate temperature, humidity, and light can greatly extend the life of items in the collection.
The expanding reach of the Society is an exciting prospect and opens a world of possibilities. The busy calendar ahead will help to quickly provide content to all of the Society’s supporters within the county and beyond. Interns begin their journey, learning about how the museum world functions and will contribute significantly during their time at the Society. The coming months are filled with exciting programs covering a wealth of Indiana County history, we hope you can join in exploring the area’s rich past.