Preserving Williamson County History – A 501(C)3 Organization
The Marion Garden Club makes an annual donation to the Williamson County Historical Society in the form of bedding plants and/or money each year. Several members of the club paid a visit to the museum on Wednesday, June 8th, 2016 to make this year’s donation of $150. Garden club president Lynn Love presented the check to WCHS president, Sam Lattuca.
We started converting our old side porch to a utility room and first floor bathroom about a month and a half ago. To date the sewer line has been tapped and ready to connect. A floor and walls have gone up and electrical wiring was recently installed. Next, comes the plumbing and insulation and then the drywall. We hope to have the project finished by the next membership meeting in late July.
With over 100 years of accumulated history and plenty of historical artifacts that may or may not contain their own energy, the county museum has had its share of stories attached to it over the years. As such, it has become a magnet for paranormal investigation.
The group, Midnight Paranormal, from Benton was the last group to spend the night at the museum on Saturday, May 14th, 2016. The group consisting of Stephen Parola, Pamela Parola and Stephanie McGrew spent four hours in the museum using cameras, EMF detectors and phone apps to try and wrangle supernatural energies.
An EMF detector went off for over an hour in the foyer and when queried as to who it was, the answer came back as “Tucker Hell”. The spirit Tucker later mentioned “prison” and “bars”. Apparently, Tucker may have been a smoker because the mentioned, “smoke, need”. Two other specific names that were mentioned during their investigation were Carter and a reference to “Kelly buried” while investigating the coal mine exhibit.
An invisible tour guide appeared to have taken over while on the third floor of the museum which mentioned “poison” while standing next to a pair of WWI gas masks. They were later directed to the storage room by the guide. A number of orbs were captured by the group in various locations in the building and it became apparent that not only the museum itself might contain something other worldly but that also the many artifacts donated over the years are thought to drag some residual spiritual energy with them as well.
The Williamson County Historical Society Museum was visited on Tuesday, May 3rd through Friday May 6th, 2016 by the fifth grade students of the Washington Grade School. Normally, the museum is toured by the local fifth grade with all 80 or so students at once, but this year the students visited the museum on four separate days with about 20 students each day.
On Thursday, the students were additionally treated to a talk on the Public Square given by Jon Musgrave about the square’s history. The students appeared exceptionally prepared for the tours this year and many came preloaded with questions that they were prepared to ask.
Students from the Christian Community Academy from Johnston City toured the museum for the first time on Thursday, April 15th, 2016. The students were introduced, many for the first time, to many aspects of pioneer life and some of the hardships that their ancestors likely faced on a daily basis.
As expected, many things in the museum stumped the students, particularly on the use of older telephones, typewriters and early camera types much of which is foreign to todays youth.
The Williamson County Historical Society held a membership meeting on Sunday, April 3rd, 2016 at 1:30 PM. President Sam Lattuca informed the society of updates and improvements to the museum building and displays as well as to the genealogy library. Events that the society has participated in since the last meeting were also discussed in addition to future planned improvements for the century old jail building in which the museum is housed.
Two historical society members were inducted into the society’s honor roll. Ethel Ashby, operated an antique store in Marion for decades and was chiefly responsible for the acquisition of the old county jail building for use by the society as a museum from the county in 1971. She donated many of the historical items that are still used by the museum and worked diligently to establish the museum. Ashby passed away in 1992. Violet Grisham, a Marion resident, was also inducted into the honor roll. Grisham has served numerous board positions, worked diligently with children to spark an interest in history among youths and has either authored or co-authored 35 local history books.
The membership meeting was followed by a program related to auditing our county’s cemeteries given by Helen Sutt Lind, a Johnston City resident. Lind is a society member and has authored numerous books on local cemeteries.
The Williamson County Historical Society will be holding a membership meeting on Sunday, April 3rd, 2016 at 1:30 PM in the museum. Additions and changes to the museum, recent accessions and future plans will be discussed. Helen Sutt Lind will present a program related to our county cemeteries and inductions to the honor roll will be made. Refreshments will be served and society members are urged to attend.
After being closed down and limited to Saturday only operation through the winter, the museum will be returning to its summer hours of operation on Tuesday, March 1st, 2016. The museum will be open from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday through Saturday, until Thanksgiving.
Museum volunteers have been busy through winter months painting, making repairs, changing display items and planning our next improvements. All are invited to come to the museum and tour or research your ancestors.
