Pictured left to right, John Hess, Kathy Hess Musselman, Carol Hess Cox, and Jim Hess hold the original sign from Farmers and Merchants Bank of Byron.
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 after the bank closed.
Also pictured are two finials which were also donated to the Byron Museum in memory of A.F. “Sam” and Elizabeth Hess. These finials were recovered in 1940 from the old iron bridge constructed in Byron in 1883. It was demolished and replaced with a new concrete bridge. Sam and Elizabeth Hess decorated the front of their home for many years with them.
The Byron Museum thanks the Hess Family for these donations, which will soon be featured in an upcoming exhibit about the history of businesses in the Byron area.
