KPHS Museum
celebrates 10 years
By Ronda Anderson, Special to KP News
Celebrate the museum’s
anniversary
KPHS members invite the public to
join them on Saturday, May 7, between 10 a.m. and 4
p.m., to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their
dream. Stop by the Civic Center, home of the museum,
to celebrate, look back to earlier days on the Key
Peninsula, and view the Sallie Sloan exhibit,
graduation pictures of some old-timers, and many
wonderful artifacts that tell stories of times long
gone. |
Members of the Key Peninsula Historical Society had a
dream that some day artifacts from the Key Peninsula would
be somewhere all could see. Now those members and others
look forward to celebrating the 10th anniversary of the
KPHS Museum in May.
It took more than a building and artifacts to start the
museum. Many volunteer hours were needed to build display
cases, hang ceiling lights made from the courting buggy
wheels of Elmer and Elsie Olson, receive, catalog, and
display acquisitions from many donors. As with any
venture, it took money to get started, and the museum
wouldn’t be open today if not for ongoing donations from
community businesses and individuals to meet the museum’s
financial needs.
The small museum is packed with pieces of local
history. Showcases for Lakebay, Longbranch, Home, and
Vaughn/Glencove each have items particular to that area.
One showcase has baskets from the early Native Americans
of the area. Another showcases the logging industry with a
coal oil bottle, froe and mallet for cutting cedar shakes,
a 1952 7- hp McCullough loggers’ chain saw, and wood
planes from the estate of Capt. John Wahlborg.
A herring rake hangs from the wall, as well as senior
pictures from Vaughn Union High School. A couple of
swimsuits used at Faraway in Longbranch adorn the wall
above the display case, along with a Faraway sign.
Of course there’s a nice collection of “old” toys,
including an 1895 doll, Solar bicycle gas lamp, pencil box
and a 1920s Little Red Rider. Many items to look at,
enjoy, and to bring back memories of being a “kid” before
television, computers, and video games.
The Mosquito Fleet was important to the establishment
of many communities on the Key Peninsula. As the peninsula
is surrounded by water on three sides, early
transportation to Glencove, Vaughn, Home, Lakebay, and
Longbranch was by boat to deliver goods as well as people.
Pictures of many of the boats that served the area are on
display, as well as a foghorn from 1897, a marine compass,
and many other fine articles.
A kitchen area with a cookstove used in the Home school
at 6th and C streets, along with a Griswold waffle iron
from the Bradley House in Vaughn, are among the many wares
from early kitchens and laundry.
A new display on Sallie Sloan by Caitlin Kezele, for
her Peninsula High School senior project, is currently on
exhibit.
©Copyright 2005-2008, Key Peninsula
News, all rights reserved.
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