Freestone County Historical Museum celebrated its 50th Anniversary on May 6, 2017 with a special day of free admission, a brief history of the museum, refreshments, and several musical entertainers.
“In the six-hours we were open Saturday, we saw a steady flow of about 200 or so guests,” says museum curator Patricia Pratt.
At 1:00 p.m. the official ceremony began with a welcome from Freestone County Sheriff Jeremy Shipley who expressed his excitement about the museum and things he has found there.
“I’ve learned that I am the 28th different sheriff for the county,” he says. “I’m looking forward to spending time researching and learning about my predecessors. What were their biggest moments in office and what their character was like.”
He finished by encouraging guests to join the museum for a yearly family membership of $25.00. “You just can’t beat that!”
Next, Mr. Sydney Ivy gave a narrative of the Museum’s history. He spoke of how the museum was founded, the primary citizens involved in getting it up and running, and how it has changed and progressed over the years.
Singers and musicians included Ginger Pickett, Kenneth McAdams, Dorothy McAdams, Don Thornton, Jessica Jones, and Margaret Cockerell.
Cookies, water, and Blue Bell Ice Cream were on tap as refreshments.
Overall, the museum raised several hundred dollars between donations; books, t-shirt, and membership sales.
“I just want to say thank you to everyone who came out to support us,” says Patricia Pratt. “Also, thank you to all of our sponsors who donated the refreshments and their time to help pull this celebration off.”
Museum Board Members for 2017 are: President Linda Mullen, VP Brad Pullin, Treasurer Leslie Tate, Secretary Nancy Rula, and members Sherrie Minze, Ralph Billings, Muriel Morton, and Don Awalt.
(Photos by Nicole Schaefer)
