Hi, Donors and Friends,
The Annual Meeting of the Albion Academy Historical Society will be held on Tuesday, September 15, at the Albion Town Hall. We begin with a potluck supper at 6 pm followed by a short meeting and a talk about the history behind some of the oldest artifacts in our collection. Please bring your dish to pass, table service and your annual dues or donations. Coffee will be provided, and we encourage you to bring friends!!
We were asked to give a program to the Edgerton Rotary Club at their June meeting. We used photos of artifacts and gave a little history of them. Members asked several good questions and seemed to enjoy the information presented. This program will be expanded for the Annual Meeting.
We dedicated the Sheepskin School historical marker at the July Pie and Ice Cream Social. One of the teachers (and former Board Secretary), Lucille Bartz, was able to attend the dedication with some of her family.
Board members repaired one of the porch pillars and painted the entrance porch and stained the “Kumlien Hall” letters, so that the entrance looked really sharp for the Pie Social and summer visitors. We plan to paint the first floor windows and screens of the Academy building soon. We continue with photographing the artifacts and updating the computer program with their locations.
A new fund-raiser was to sell a chicken Bar B Q lunch during the Albion Arts & Craft Fair held on Saturday, August 8. Eric Baker and Thad Andrews recruited their family members to help grill the chicken, bake the potatoes and assemble and sell the lunches. The food was delicious and so filling. We added about $500 to our treasury!
Donations received this year include genealogies from the Bliven and Whitford families. One of our Board members is reading and transcribing a diary we think was written by Jessie Bliven, mother of original Board members Marian Onsgard and Doris Saunders. A daughter of their brother, Horace, donated the diary and a bell that was thought to come from the Albion Graded School. It will be displayed in the Sheepskin School, so children know what the bell looks like when they pull the rope.
We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, September 15, at the Albion Town Hall. Please use the enclosed donation slip to record your dues and gifts.
Nancy Durgin, Secretary, 774-4339 www.aahs50.wordpress.com
John B. Bliven and son, Horace – 1908
Albion Academy Historical Society 