Published: July 21, 2008 10:40 am         

Catlin Museum marks 20 years

Ice cream social an annual cool treat

CATLIN — History and cold treats will be sweet partners once again Saturday as the Catlin Historical Society Ice Cream Social celebrates 20 years.

The Catlin Historical Society began organizing in 1988 and officially purchased the homestead where the museum grounds now flourish in June of that same year.

Historical Society board member and ice cream social planner Sue Colwell said the social also began that same year as a thank you to the community.

Colwell said everyone connected with the museum is proud and excited about the 20th anniversary.

“This was a big highlight to look forward to this summer,” she said.

Colwell said to commemorate the anniversary, special invitations were sent out to all past board members.

An anniversary cake will be served this year, too, along with the traditional three flavors of ice cream, which is donated by Pizza Time of Catlin.

Colwell said the crowd goes through around 15 gallons of ice cream at the social.

The event will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday on the Catlin Historical Society museum grounds located 210 N. Paris St.

A tent will be set up for shade, with gospel music for entertainment. A new attraction this year will be old-time crafters.

Craftsmen and women demonstrating the arts of wood carving, cross stitching, blacksmithing and more will be set up during the social.

Tours of the museum house, cabin and grounds also are an important part of the ice cream social, and volunteers will be on hand to direct visitors through the exhibits.

Historical Society President Evelyn Darr said there are new exhibits and familiar ones, too.

“We change our displays quite often,” she said.

Some items on display of local interest are artifacts from local churches, such as an antique pastor’s chair on display from the Catlin Methodist Church and albums that have been compiled to record the different events of the churches in the community.

A mining exhibit is currently on display, because of its importance in the community, Darr said.

“Our cabin is open with the antique spinning wheel with various antique artifacts there and the laundry room,” she said.

Other displays include a Boy and Girl Scout area in the front parlor, a music display with different instruments and children’s artifacts, including a 1940s bassinet and a wicker baby weighing scale.

“We try to put up as many displays as we have artifacts,” Darr said.

That might be a tall order though, with as many as 10,000 items being catalogued throughout their 20 years of collecting.

Many volunteers have helped to make success happen for the Catlin Historical Society.

People such as Ruth Martin volunteer weekly at the museum, or more when a special event is happening.

She said there are no paid positions for any board member or director, and all mowing, maintenance, staffing and organizing is done by volunteer manpower.

Martin said the ice cream social is a nice fundraiser for the museum, but also a good time for the community.

“People always enjoy coming,” she said. “It’s always nice for folks to come to meet friends and visit and review updated displays. It’s usually a big crowd during those two hours.”

Colwell also said that while the society does accept donations for the ice cream social, it really want the community to just enjoy the gem the museum has become over the past 20 years.

“We would just like people to come out and become acquainted with their own history,” Colwell said.

IF YOU GO

The Catlin Historical Society Ice Cream Social takes place from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday on the Catlin Museum grounds located at 210 N. Paris St. There is no cost for the event, but donations will be accepted.