New Program Alert! The 1840's Farmer

The museum is pleased to announce the introduction of a brand new program to our current programming offerings. It's called The 1840's Farmer and it involves costumed interpreters coming into your classroom to discuss life on an early farm in Elkhart County. The program is designed to meet state standards for students in grades K-4.

The 1840's Farmer is perfect for schools and groups who cannot afford to take a field trip to the museum. For a flat rate of $25 we will bring the museum to you!

If you are interested in the 1840's Farmer, or any of our other programs, contact Curator of Education Rebecca Oestreich at 574-848-4322 or Rebecca@elkhartcountyparks.org.

Museum Director Nick Hoffman and volunteer Mike Judson played the roles of the 1840's farmer and Elkhart County founder Col. Jackson.

Col. Jackson helped the students meet additional state standards by discussing how the community was formed and how quickly things advanced during the first decade of the county's existence.


An audience volunteer dressed up in period clothing and helped to demonstrate how wheat grains were separated from the chaff.

Here the 1840's farmer discusses how flax was planted, harvested, and made into cloth.

After the program was over the children were invited to come up front and try out things like hand spinning, wool carding, and wheat grinding using a morter and pestle.

Palm Sunday Remembrance

On April 11, 1965, a widespread tornado outbreak occurred in the Midwest unleashing over 40 tornadoes in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. 271 people died from the weather phenomenon including numerous fatalities in Elkhart County. Among the most infamous photographs of the event was taken between Goshen and Elkhart of a devastating double headed tornado.

This tragic event will be remembered at the Elkhart County Historical Museum on Sunday, April 5 from 2:00p.m. – 4:00p.m. The program will begin with a presentation by Meteorologist Patrick Murphy from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. Murphy will address how tornadoes form and discuss the circumstances that led to the 1965 outbreak. His talk will also include a historical perspective on the creation of the warning system that developed in the wake of the disaster.

After Murphy’s program a panel of Palm Sunday survivors will describe their experiences on April 11 and participate in a question and answer session. Retired Elkhart Truth photographer Paul Hoffman will join the panel. Hoffman captured the famous image of a double headed tornado taken between Elkhart and Goshen.

Visitors who wish to stay longer to talk about the disaster can continue with an open microphone session after the program. Retired Elkhart police officer John Clark, who will participate in the panel, will show video footage of the aftermath from the tornado once the program has concluded.

People who have collected artifacts or have stories to share about the tornadoes are encouraged to attend. Several open tables will also be available for collectors to show items they found in the aftermath.

For more information please contact the museum at 574-848-4322.

Retired Elkhart Truth photographer Paul Hoffman captured this famous image of the Palm Sunday tornadoes between Elkhart and Goshen.

American Girl Doll Day

The museum held its first American Girl Doll Day this past Saturday. Over 40 girls brought in their dolls and spent the afternoon making crafts related to life on the Home Front during WWII. Everyone had fun as even moms, dads, and grandmas got in on the action. You can look forward to another American Girl Doll event next year. To accomodate everyone who wants to participate we will be splitting the event up into a morning and afternoon session.

We held a drawing to win a Molly doll, doll clothes and accessories. These are the lucky winners! Some of the dolls in the photograph are modeling their new clothes.

Cynthia Lambright kindly donated handmade doll clothes that the girls each had a chance to win at the end of the program. She also made up packages of mini hairs ties for each of the girls to take home.

The girls were busy decorating their cups for their Victory Garden.

Some of the group working on their crafts.

The girls made red cross pins for their doll and then had their pictures taken together. The pictures were placed in a homemade frame that the girls also created.

Attention Genealogists!

Join us on Thursday, April 9 for a bus trip to the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne. Do your research at the world renown genealogy department as well as enjoy a program by the Allen County Public Library staff. Cost of the trip is $25. Members of the Elkhart County Historical Society receive a $5 discount. To register or for more information about the day please call the Elkhart County Historical Museum at 574-848-4322.

http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/genealogy/index.html

Join us for a tour of the Lincoln Highway

The Lincoln Highway logo is provide courtesy of the Lincoln Highway Association. Be sure to visit their fascinating website at http://www.lincolnhighwayassoc.org/. The LHA National Conference will be held in South Bend from June 16-20.

Michiana Authors and Artist Day, March 15

2008 Authors and Artists Day

The Elkhart County Historical Museum will host the 7th Annual Michiana Authors and Artists Day on March 15 from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Do not miss this exciting opportunity to meet and view the works of over 40 talented authors and artists!

2009 Participants

Ashley Bute, artist, photography, paintings, and drawings
Pati Chandler, author non-fiction, books
Loretta Chupp, fine crafter, quilts
Bonnie R. Clark, author, non-fiction books
Kori Cripe, author, non-fiction books
Beverly Crussemeyer, fine crafter, weaving
Patrick Dillon, fine crafter, handmade wooden bowls, painted eggs
Sue Eaton, artist, ceramics
Rafael Falcón, author, mosaic books
Curt Farmwald, author, poetry, paintings, and sculpture
Vicki Fidler, artist, stained glass
Deb Garcia, artist, jewelry
Nancy L. Glon, author, children’s books
Karen Gruntman, artist, children’s book illustrator
Joe Hanes, fine crafter, looms and knitting needles
Kim Hanes, fine crafter, fiber art
Cheri L. Hallwood, author, children’s books
Wayne Harshberger, artist, stoneware
Stephen Hentsch, fine crafter, handmade paper, paintings, and woodwork
Dr. Julie C. Hook, author, children’s books
Vickie Hunsberger, fine crafter, fabric art, quilting
Lynette Johnson, artist, photography, paintings, clay
Lana Jungjohan, artist, stained glass
Debra Kalb, artist, photography
Susan Karczewski, fine crafter / author, handmade jewelry and beadwork
Nancy Kline, artist, photography
Patrick McKinney, artist, paintings
Dennis Miller, artist, photography
Peggy Reiff Miller, artist, documentary film
Gina Mitchell, artist, watercolor
Karen O’Dell, artist, paintings, ceramics, and jewelry
Norma Parcell, artist, oil and acrylic paintings
Ruth Pletcher, artist, stained glass
Robert Riley, artist, watercolor, wood burning
Linda C. Shelley, artist, ceramics
Barb Simons, artist, pottery and jewelry
Joan Stiver, author, children’s books
Shelly Stoner, fine crafter, purses, tiles, jewelry
Jeannine Tally, fine crafter, floral arrangements
Terri Anne Troyer, artist, photography, jewelry
Duane L. Turnock, artist, decoys
Comisha Weatherington, artist, jewelry
Dawn White, artist, paintings on wood and rocks
Linda L. White, fine crafter, floral arrangements
David R. Wise, author, fiction and non-fiction books
Gail Woods, artist, mixed clay, pencil and charcoal

County Museum to have American Girl Doll Day

The Elkhart County Historical Museum invites girls to bring their American Girl Doll to the museum and learn together what life was like for children growing up on the home front in Elkhart County during WWII. On Saturday, March 21st from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m., the museum will host an American Girl Doll Day: Molly’s Life on the Home Front.

The program will focus on life for children growing up on the home front during the Second World War. “Children on the home front were asked to make many sacrifices,” says Curator of Education Rebecca Oestreich. “Supplies were rationed so they often had to go without toys or even things like birthday cakes. However, many children were understanding and did their part in contributing to the war effort through things like scrap drives.”

Some of the planned activities draw their inspiration right from the American Girl Molly books. For example, in Happy Birthday, Molly!, the wartime reality of air raids, bomb shelters, and blackout drills affects both Molly’s family life and playtime activities. So, the topic will be broadened through an activity during the program.

“Historical Society board member Marcia Brenneman has loaned us a great book titled Fun in an Air-Raid Shelter,” says Oestreich. “It was written back in 1942 by the Elementary Education Group at Columbia University and is full of fun activities kids can do to keep themselves occupied while in a shelter. For the program we will be making our own makeshift shelters and playing some of the games suggested in the book.”

One lucky girl will even have the opportunity to bring home their very own Molly doll. A donation from the American Girl Doll Company makes it possible for the museum to give away Molly and her accompanying book Meet Molly.

Pre-registration is required for the program. Participation is limited to 40 children. For more information or to sign up for the program please contact Rebecca at 574-848-4322 or Rebecca@elkhartcountyparks.org.