Huntingdon History is back on display

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LOOK AT THAT – Brothers Johns Nolen, 11, and Heston Nolen, 7, sons of Lori and Clay Nolen, check out some old military helmets.
MAKING CONNECTIONS – Frances Pearson (right) shows Gina Atkins (left) one of the items on display in the section dedicated to the history and contributions of local African Americans.
SERVICE HISTORY – Harold Orr was interested in the section dedicated to locals who fought in this country’s wars. Orr pointed out that one of his ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War and that quite a few of the area’s earliest settlers were veterans of that war.
BROWSING THROUGH HISTORY – Dr. Scott Portis browses through old composite graduation class photos from Huntingdon High School during the soft opening event at the Huntingdon Historical Museum on Saturday, July 23.
By Ron Park

After being away for 15 years, the Huntingdon Historical Museum is back, and dozens of local residents turned out for a soft opening event on Saturday at the new museum facility located at 19805 East Main Street across from City Hall.

Among those who came out was Huntingdon Mayor Dale Kelley. “We bought this building for this purpose,” said Kelley. “It took us a little longer than we thought, but it’s paid off now.”

The town bought the building back in January of 2017 from Terrell Broady Funeral Home. Over the years, that facility, originally built as the Huntingdon Church of Christ, has housed quite a variety of things, including the Carroll County Library, the chapel of Dilday Funeral Home, and both county and state governmental offices.

According to Johnny Beth Nolen, co-chair of the Huntingdon Bicentennial Committee, the facility remained unused for a few years. Over the past few months, however, town employees have been working to move items from storage into the facility. Those items had been kept in storage since the closing of the old museum around 2007, which was then located in a different downtown spot.

Nolen said the new museum features quite a few additional items that recently have been donated from different people and sources. She praised employees for the good job they have done getting everything set up. She gave special thanks to employee Jennifer Breeden, who headed up arranging the displays and who will oversee the museum going forward.

“We’re very, very proud of it,” said Nolen. “Jennifer and the other town employees have worked really hard on this.”

The museum features all kinds of items and memorabilia from Carroll County history, all arranged in a number of thematic displays. There are hundreds of old photos and newspaper clippings, numerous scrapbooks, military and sports uniforms, old tools and utensils, and much, much more.

Kelley said he believes the new museum will be an important and valued asset to the community going forward. “I think the people of Huntingdon will think well of it for years and years to come,” he said. “It really speaks well for our community.”

According to Nolen, no official visiting hours have yet been set for the museum, but anyone who wants to schedule a visit can contact Huntingdon City Hall.

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