NORTH OGDEN — There was an abundance of smiles and laughter as members of the North Ogden Museum committee opened the doors of its new museum last week for the first time at their open house.
The committee was able to get into the home Sept. 1. The volunteers went to work painting, cleaning and getting the carpet stretched to get it ready to open.
The main floor will be used for displaying items and the basement will be used to store items. The garage is also being used for that purpose, but the committee would also like to use the space for display at some point in time. A security system has been installed.
The museum was instituted in 2006 by former Mayor Gary Harrop. Since that time the museum has grown significantly and become its own non-profit organization and started applying for and receiving grants. The committee approached the city about leasing the property it is now at 545 E. 2750 North.
“This is the perfect location,” said committee member Rosemary Jones.
The museum is situated just east of the North Ogden Park and north of the community services building. North Ogden Elementary is also on the same block.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better place to be,” Jones added. The committee has big plans for the spot, including a community garden.
It plans to really focus on youngsters as evidenced by the old-fashioned schoolroom set up in one of its rooms. Old-time school desks and a chalkboard adorn the room with school memorabilia throughout the room. The committee also has play areas in the room for the children and a presentation on the history of the city and of education in the community.
Other areas of the museum are set up so things can be hands-on with a “General Store” area with bonnets and other old time merchandise for those interested to examine.
A diorama was produced through a grant the museum received from Utah Humanities Council in collaboration with the Utah Division of Arts and Museums for $2,000. Committee member Holly Fuller spent hours re-creating old homes and barns that lined the North Ogden streets in the 1920s and 30s. She and her daughter started working on the project about a year ago and the museum in very proud of the display.
Several children pushed their faces against the glass last week during the open house watching the train whistle through the tiny re-built town. Fuller loved watching the enjoyment that so many were getting from the display.
“Without this house, we never could have done it like this,” Fuller said. She had been working on the display thinking it would be put up in several parts instead of just one big display.
The museum formerly was in the upstairs of the public works building with several stairs to climb and not much space for the items that have been received.
“We were worried because we didn’t want to lose out on some of the history because the older people are dying,” Jones said. “Now we have a place to put things and can collect that valuable information,” she said.
All committee members praised the city and its generosity in getting the museum up and running, both the old and new sites.
Committee member Charles Lindquist is over fundraising and he said he now can work to raise funds because there is a place to put things. He looks forward to working with the community to get things going. The committee received a large donation to get things up and running for the first year and now Lindquist plans to start pursuing other options.
The museum is open from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Thursday and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays.
Comments