Museum Front Room
As you enter the museum, on the right is a speaker’s stand made by James Turner which holds the guest register. Just beyond that is an extensive display of Native American artifacts collected by Kelton White. The arrowheads were collected from his farm at the end of Maple Street in Arcadia. Hanging over the mantle are remnants of a flag found on the battlefield on September 27, 1864, the day after the Battle of Pilot Knob. Just beyond is the Civil War case which contains copies of telegrams sent and received during the Civil War and other related materials. The two portraits above the case are of Brig. Gen. and Mrs. John Gray. The encased Union uniform belonged to Lewis Ogle, a well-known family from the Viburnum area. Private Ogle was killed at the Battle of Pea Ridge in Arkansas. Private Ogle’s grandson, Theodore Ogle, loaned the uniform to the Society.
The large portrait is of Jerome Berryman, educator and Methodist minister who started the Arcadia College as a Methodist institution. The portrait was painted in 1909 from an original by William J. Hinchey. The elaborate chair is one of two that was in the Fort Hill Church along with the portrait for as long as members can remember. There under the portrait is also one of four jury chairs from the courthouse.
Near the teller window is a railroad exhibit on loan from the Charles Ottman family. Mr. Ottman was one of the last of the telegraphers in this area. The railroad was a very important part of Iron County’s history. The exhibit case was made to Mr. Ottman’s specifications by local woodworker, Jake Turner. The chair to the left of the display was used in the depot office and donated by the family of Jim Tracy. Across the room is a vertical sales case for items being sold by the Chamber of Commerce and the Historical Society.
Brochure racks are located in the center of the room to ensure travelers are aware of all that the beautiful Arcadia Valley has to offer. They also include schedules for the Texas Eagle which stops everyday early morning and late at night.
Museum Office Area
Between the museum's front room and office is a small hallway. To the left are two ADA accessible restrooms, one for gentlemen and the other for the ladies containing a diaper changer and mop closet. To the right is a publication rack with books offered for sale by the former Genealogy Society now joined with the Historical Society. There is also a vertical revolving stand showcasing several other sales items such as postcards, magnets, etc.
In the doorway of the Office is a publication rack with books produced and offered for sale by the Historical Society. The desk to your right is for the use of the Chamber of Commerce and Our Town Tomorrow. The copier behind that desk is for Amtrak and on that desk is a printer to be used for the Chamber and OTT. To your left is the desk to be used by the Historical Society. Storage shelves are along the floor on either side of the large window. The copier and printer behind that desk belongs to the Historical Society. Copies of research material can also be made for visitors for a small fee.
The matching collection of local pictures on the walls were gathered by Lucille and Fredonia Ringo for the centennial of Iron County in 1957. The Iron County Security Bank underwrote the project and donated the pictures to the Society. The wooden display case across from the desk holds a collection of artist’s tools and various items belonging to William J. Hinchey, a civil war era artist who, upon arriving here from Ireland, taught in the Methodist College and married into the Holloman family. He was a well-known painter in much demand and traveled by train to St. Louis and back. His Civil War diary has been published and is offered for sale. There is also a collection belonging to Jim Connelly, a very important figure with our local boy scouts. In addition, there is a hat belonging to Max White who was very much involved in boy scouts for many years. Cemetery CDs and other CDs are in the small wooden rack on top. A filing cabinet of negatives from the collection of Hershel Hardy is located next to this case. Another cabinet holds miscellaneous records.
Meeting Room and Library
This room is used for meetings of the three organizations as well as a library and research room for the Historical Society. The shelves store the printed artifacts collected by various members of the Historical Society including the late Mrs. Isabelle Edgar. They are stored in acid-free boxes and folders by subject. There is also a collection of family histories, pictures and other research materials. This is a popular stop for genealogists.
Granite Room
As you enter the granite room, formerly the baggage room of the Depot, you can see the large wooden doors on the right and left that were used to load and unload baggage. There are several research items such as business and/or county records from the late 1800s and early 1900s, along with several other books and scrapbooks in and on top of two glass front bookcases. Above the bookcases and hanging from the ceiling, you will find a collection of farm tools. Below is a stone from Marble Creek and other tools given by Rev. Ed St. Clair.
The porch column came from the Emerson house/mansion as seen in the picture. The beautiful home once stood near the present location of the Catholic Church, the area being known locally as the Ste. Marie Du Lac. The property is the home of a statue erected to commemorate the location where General Ulysses S. Grant received his commission as Brigadier General. The location is nearly as well known for its ducks! It is unusual to find a pond and ducks on the main street of a town!
The old safe is from the original Iron County Bank. Note the bank ad above and the bank officers listed from 1896. The old safe is from the original Iron County Bank.
The four large matching display cases on the right contain various items pertaining to Iron County and its people. The first has military displays on the top three shelves and the bottom holds the Beardsley Collection and Barger Collection. The second display case includes a collection of local medical and funeral home exhibits and many local business items.
The mailboxes between the second and third cases are from the Annapolis Post Office and were donated by Clarence Keathley. The third case houses Lester Keathley’s collection of rocks and minerals collected from the Iron County area. Other mining collections are found on the bottom shelves. The fourth case holds individual collections of several people. The next display is an extensive collection of international dolls donated by Mrs. Charles Ottman.
Much of the clothing on and near the clothes rack was donated by the Ringo family and the Baptist Home. The sewing machine was donated by the Virginia Frenzel family. The bed with the ornately carved walnut headboard was donated by Lucille and Fredonia Ringo upon their deaths. The navy and white coverlet was made in 1861 by Margaret Key and donated by Adrian Buckey’s daughter as was some of the clothing. The chaise in the center of the room was used in the office of one of the Judges in the Courthouse years ago.
The bookcase to the left of the bed holds numerous old books and other items belonging to the Ringo sisters. Next is a display case with a dish collection, old toys, games, and other personal effects from the Ringo collection. There are also large old pictures on the bottom. On the left of the bed is a wedding dress donated by the Edgar family. The black dress was worn to a Missouri Governor’s Ball.
The Ben Franklin stove also came from the Ringo family along with most of the items displayed on it. Two wedding dresses flank the stove. The next large display case is our newest display: It is a collection of a locally famous musician, Johnny Rion. This case displays the guitar that he used for 58 years along with a portrait of him. There is also a book of his life and 13 CDs that he and his family created.
The tall, narrow display cabinet next was donated by the Adrian Buckey family. Next is a player piano donated by the Baldwin family. Also, an old Victor Gramophone on top of the piano donated to the Society by Mr. and Mrs. Rollings formerly of Arcadia. Next to the piano is a flapper era wedding dress with long train worn by Laura Louise Price Gay. She was the sister of Vincent Price, the well-known movie star. Next is a uniform which belonged to Floyd E. Higdon. The post office window and boxes you see next is from the Middlebrook Post Office. Nadine Duree, the postmistress for many years there, donated the boxes. On the floor in front of the mailboxes are household items used in the past. The old chair there was found in an old house at Killarney Shores Subdivision.
In the center of the floor is a display case with items from the Arcadia Academy. On either end are trunks, one of which holds vintage clothing. At the other end is a collection from the Buckey family. To the back of the display case is a table which holds the cash register donated from the Duree family store and post office and various scrapbooks of vintage postcards, pictures, etc. On the walls all the way around the room can be found more local pictures gathered by Lucille and Fredonia Ringo.