Tomorrow we are having the “official” openings for the new railroad exhibit (Byron’s Railroad Era) and the Outhouse exhibit.
Here are some pictures I just took at the end of today… we have a few very minor details we’ll need to iron out or finish after the opening, but it is 95% completed now.
Tomorrow morning we are having the “official” openings for the new railroad exhibit (Byron’s Railroad Era) and the Outhouse exhibit.
Here are some pictures I just took at the end of today… we have a few very minor details we’ll need to iron out or finish after the opening, but it is 95% completed now.
I think this is a stunning exhibit and something that will really set the tone for future exhibits at the museum. We are excited and hope that there will be a good turnout for tomorrow’s opening.
We give special thanks to our staff for extra hard work in getting this ready in time, as well as Melissa Clark who started this process over the summer when she interned here. Kira took it from there and put on the finishing touches. I don’t know WHAT we would have done without Jim Brubaker the past 2 days to help us get everything installed. Andy Jackson built a beautiful case for Tom Norris’s model train, and Randy added some details to make the case really stunning. David Wise from Byron has loaned us a number of original Milwaukee Road items for the exhibit case. I am probably forgetting someone but … well, I am brain dead!
Tomorrow, the official opening time is 10am. We’ll have guys dressed as engineers, hobos, and free pictures with them. We’ll have a mosaic craft using broken pieces from our summer outhouse dig, and decorating the edge of a mirror with mosaic. Several volunteers are lined up to help with all of it. There will be some refreshments and lots of train-related activities for all ages. We really hope to see lots of people come in!
The Byron Museum of History invites your group or organization to enter this year’s Festival of Trees, a popular event held in conjunction with the Byron Chamber of Commerce’s Miracle on 2nd Street.
ELIGIBILITY
Anyone can enter! Do you represent a business, civic group, service club, church, school, scout group, etc? Are you looking for a great way to promote your business or group to the community? (Last year, over 1,000 visitors enjoyed the festival.)
Every year, the museum is filled with dozens of diversely decorated Christmas trees, which are then judged by local “celebrity” judges and by the 1,000+ visitors to the festival.
The festival is free to enter, and the entry deadline is November 10, 2009. Please see below for more information, or download the Entry Form.
Eligibility
Anyone can enter! Do you represent a business, civic group, service club, church, school, scout group, etc? Are you looking for a great way to promote your business or group to the community? (Last year, over 1,000 visitors enjoyed the festival.)
ENTRY GUIDELINES
Submit completed entry form to the Byron Museum no later than November 10, 2009.
Pick a theme for your tree, then make or purchase decorations. Almost anything goes! (This year’s Miracle on 2nd Street theme is Poinsettias)
Please provide all decorations plus a tree skirt. The Museum will provide extension cords & timers.
All trees must be artificial. Please, no edible decorations, including wrapped candy.
Dates to Remember
TREE SETUP TIMES
Fri., November 13th from 10am – 6pm
Sat., November 14th from 10am – 4pm
Mon., November 16th from 10am – 4pm
Tues., November 17th from 10am – 6pm
Festival of Trees & Miracle on 2nd Street
Friday, November 20th from 6-9pm
Tree Judging
Thursday, November 19th
TREE TAKEDOWN TIMES
Tues., December 22nd from 10am – 6pm
Wed., December 23rd from 10am – 6pm
Other times can be arranged by appointment with the Museum staff. Some groups prefer to take their trees down sooner, which is fine. Please, do not leave your tree with us past Christmas.
PRIZES
The 1st place winner from each category will receive $35 and a ribbon; 2nd place will receive a ribbon. The People’s Choice and Judge’s Choice for Most Original will each receive $35 and a ribbon.
Pictured above, the Hess family holds the original sign from Farmers and Merchants Bank of Byron. The sign has been donated to the Byron Museum in memory of Ralph “Papa” and Ada Hess. Ralph and Ada owned and operated Ralph & Ada’s Antiques from 1948 to 1964. Ralph obtained the Farmers and Merchants Bank Sign [...]
The Byron Museum of History is pleased to announce the opening of two new exhibits: Byron in the Railroad Era and Into the Outhouse. A special exhibit opening will be held for both exhibits on Saturday, October 24th from 10am to 2pm. This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.
Byron in the Railroad [...]
Ogle County Historical Alliance Meeting
The Byron Museum will host a meeting for Ogle County’s historical societies, museums, and local historians on Monday, September 14th at 6:30 pm. Our county boasts amazing historical treasures – let’s come together to discuss ways to join forces, so we can all be stronger, better informed, and be greater [...]
On Saturday, July 18th we hosted a reception for the artists currently showing their works in the show “Realism or Not?”
Stay tuned for pictures of all of the works, including information on how to purchase an original work for yourself.
This show is created by a group of women artists working in different media and highly [...]
Every year we host a tea to thank the volunteers who help with the Quilt Show. This year we had over 35 volunteers in attendance. The Tea is a great opportunity for our volunteers to get to know each other, and to get a preview of the quilts before the show formally opens.
Volunteers got to [...]
It’s that time of the year again; we’ve put away our privy probes, shovels, and cleaned up the dirt. This year’s ByronFest marks the 22nd Annual Quilt Show hosted by the Byron Museum. Our Quilt Show is a very popular event and each year, around 60 quilts, wall hangings, and other fabric art is entered [...]
Today we’ve been washing some of what we’ve dug up! Mary Rose Krupa has graciously volunteered to help with that this morning. Here is a picture of her scrubbing away. She seemed to be having quite a bit of fun!
Today we have taken a hiatus from digging in the hole. We are all busy with [...]
