| ||
| ||
Calendar
|
|
||
| Historical Society finally acquires permanent museum By JOSHUA DELAUGHDER Last Updated: July 30, 2010 More than 15 years of effort, the Belle Plaine Historical Society finally acquired its own building at 204 West Fifth Avenue, in the former Hometown Video store and Faux Bronze Tanning salon. A family long known as a “Belle Plaine family" donated $18,000 to help the society realize a dream they had been striving for since 1998. The donation was funneled through the community foundation so the donation would be recognized by taxing entities. “The community foundation's role in this donation was crucial," said Randy Wray of the society.  The historical society was founded in 1998 with the purpose of preserving our local history. The organization has been seeking a permanent museum since. A temporary museum was established in 2002 and in the first six weeks more 200 people visited, 500 visiting in the first summer. The museum offered attractive displays of memorabilia and artifacts in the storefront window in front of the old laundromat has not held regular hours. The society's efforts to collect funds for a building will now go toward paying utilities, holding consistent hours instead of operating by appointment and building membership. Myrna Heath, society president, told the News the organization has helped sponsor many education opportunities for school groups, shared information with local organizations, arranged presentations of the topics of interest for general public and helped fund other historically minded organizations. The family wished to remain anonymous until the grand opening, tentatively planned for homecoming weekend in the fall, when a display case honoring their family's mark on Belle Plaine.    |
 | |
|
||