Page 25 - Scene Magazine January 2024 4901

The museum’s train is a popular participant in the Battle Creek Christmas Parade and at the annual Cereal Festivals.
Conrad Kaufman, a regionally famous muralist, took part in the re-dedication of his Battle Creek Industry mural at the museum in 2020.
The museum and What A Do Theatre held classes for young people to write and perform stories about the community’s history.
ional History Museum
for the property was signed, and the museum had a home.
The Save our History Committee reformed into the Battle Creek Regional History Museum, using the work ‘regional,’ because they wanted the museum to include history and artifacts from throughout the region. It’s mission statement is ‘Preserving our past, to give our history a future.’
They adopted bylaws, formed a board of directors led by Ronald Burris and became an official not-for-profit organization.
The nearly 49,000 square feet of area now needed to be converted from a factory, into a museum. With the first priority, installing a fire suppression system in the former factory area... along with raising funds for day-to-day operating expenses.
In 2014, fund-raising began with a dinner held at Clara’s on the River. A large portion of the meals profit was donated to the museum. Virginia and Ralph Moody, opened their private cereal history museum to the public with a fundraising picnic.
Because they were unable to use the large former factory area (because
baseball/softball teams, and many more varied subjects.
Without volunteers, the museum could not operate. There are many people that volunteer in so many ways, from cleaning the bathrooms, to changing the light bulbs, to working the desk on the days the museum is open. They volunteer thousands of hours each year.
Shortly before his passing, an open- house to honor Garth ‘Duff’ Stoltz (the name ‘Duff’ was given to him shortly after he was born... when someone said what a cute ‘duffer’ he was) was held at the museum in 2016. Local and state representatives recognized Duff’s contributions to our community with awards and proclamations.
The museum’s small train (a lawn tractor in disguise) became part of local festivities when it participates in the annual Christmas Parade and gives rides at the Cereal Festival.
A Battle Creek mural, that had been created for the Bridges Port of Entry Building in the Fort Custer Industrial
Park was donated to the museum and transferred to the west wall of the building in 2020. The mural, created by Conrad Kaufman, depicts industry and commerce
The HEC can be used for small history programs, to large events, like the ‘Tales of Christmas Past’ programs, that tell Victorian holiday stories performed by actors.
A youth program, where the museum teamed up with What A Do Theatre, teaches young people acting skills, while using local history, has been very successful.
The summer of 2023, saw the first Del Shannon Tribute Concert and Car Show as highlight for the community and the museum. The event is planned to be held annually to honor Shannon and his contribution to Rock and Roll history.
The museum is in discussion to obtain the Moody Collection, the largest collection of cereal history created by the work of Virginia and Ralph Moody.
Presently, the museum is creating a Cultural Heritage Lobby and Gift Shop, that will bring up-to-date ‘touch screen’ educational displays and a mural timeline for visitor’s enjoyment.
A ‘Collection Committee’ has recently begun the arduous task of sorting, scanning, labeling, and securing the vast history collection that is housed in the building.
there was no fire suppression system), the museum’s marketing director, Bob Holderbaum, came up with the idea of ‘Museum Lite,’ a smaller format history display, using the former lobby area of the factory.
At the same time, Holderbaum also created a questionnaire to find out what visitors wanted to see in their museum.
The Second Saturday speaker program began in 2015, with a different topic and presenter each month, that included Mary Butler speaking about local political events, Jim Jackson telling the history of Oak Hill Cemetery, John Dowdle sharing the story of area funeral homes, Terry Newton talking about local
in the Battle Creek area.
As the museum gained prominence,
the ship’s wheel and bell from the S.S. Battle Creek Victory was presented to the museum by the Merchant Marines.
August 30, 2020, with a gift from the Battle Creek Community Foundation, the mortgage was paid and the fire suppression system was installed.
The History Education Center (HEC) was dedicated in 2022. It is a large meeting area decorated with a mural created by a Native American artist, through a grant from the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi. The other walls are lined with photos of prominent figures from local history.
That will lead to the next phase in
the groups evolution, the creation of the actual museum display area, where the saved history collections will be shared, to entertain and educate the viewers about the Battle Creek area’s amazing stories... which is what has been dreamed of for over 100 years.
The Battle Creek Regional History Museum does not want to be, just another place to look at old stuff... they want to be a place where people can learn about their past... and their place in the present... they want it to be a place where the residents of the Battle Creek area can point to with pride, and say ‘that’s my history!’
EDUCATION ISSUE I SCENE 4901 25
g