News: Neillsville -1897 Clark Co. Jail Museum (August - 2015)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: No surnames

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 9/30/2015

The 1897 Clark County Jail Museum (August - 2015)

Yes, the 1897 Clark County Jail Museum has been very busy this past summer. Some Sundays we have had a dozen visitors all at once. It’s difficult to say, however, that the museum “season” is over at the end of summer. We used to say that the museum would be closed between Labor Day and Memorial Day, but now there are many tours by appointment throughout the year. In addition, there is also a lot of work involved with receiving and inventorying donations, particularly of documents and photos, and helping family history researchers. With the photo collection digitized and cataloged, and other documents being added daily, there is so much information we can offer to local and distant inquirers. Call the Museum office (715-743-2150) if you’d like to see something in the collection for research purposes.

As usual, there are many projects and fun ideas we would like to expand upon if we only had more time and hands. Recording new donations, inputting data and preparing proper storage of our expanding collection are specific short-term opportunities for people with keyboard or other specific skills. An eye-catching portable exhibit would be useful when we take information out to the community at meetings, fairs and other public events. We would like to increase our accessibility for visitors, possibly with a ramp. A self-guided tour program would allow us to be open Saturdays as well as Sundays and accommodate more visitors. If you love to interact with people, you might like to greet visitors at the door or explain exhibits. Again, many of these are short-term possibilities for someone with an interest in history.

Recent matching grant funds from the Wisconsin Historical Society will allow us to purchase dehumidifiers to improve our climate control. Computer software will also be updated this year. The “Images of Clark County” book continues to be sold on Facebook and on E-Bay, as well as at the Thirst Bookworm and the Museum itself.

The Museum’s website (www.1897clarkcountyjailmuseum.com) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/1897CCJM) are available for visitors and researchers to use. Many newly discovered photos are displayed there.

The next meeting will be held at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 6, at the Museum, 215 East Fifth St. Neillsville. The public and interested new members or volunteers are always welcome to attend our monthly meetings.