Show puts LaGrange’s history on display
Christina Jolliffe | The Chronicle-Telegram
LAGRANGE — Each year in LaGrange, the past comes to life during the LaGrange Historical Society’s Antique & Treasures Show.
This year’s event featured displays by eight historical society members, including food storage and preparation, lighting and historic computer displays.
Along with viewing the past, residents also brought some of their own history to find out how much it was worth with antique appraisals by Tom Newell.
One resident brought a two-seat tricycle, and while historical society secretary Dorothy Buswell said she doesn’t know how much it was appraised for, she thought it was likely the most unusual item of the day.
Overall, the 4-year-old event was a hit with residents.
“It was a small showing, but we feel it was a worthwhile community service,” Buswell said. “It let people come and see the history of the village and see what other people have collected in their families for years.”
Keystone history and government students received extra credit for attending.
Buswell, who grew up in Elyria but has lived in LaGrange for the past 66 years, is a retired township clerk who for years has collected photos and other city memorabilia.
Her display table rarely had an empty seat, with residents flipping through photo albums harkening back to an earlier time.
Buswell’s daughter, Janice King, also saw an influx of people at her food table throughout the day.
King, who is the historical society’s vice president, said she received a lot of feedback from older residents who recalled preserving and storing food in ways similar to her display. With crocks of sauerkraut and mincemeat, she also received a number of recipe requests.
And even though you might think it would be the youngsters who were intrigued by how people lived without the convenience of refrigeration, it was the older generation that strolled down memory lane recalling how grandma or mom dished up dinner. The kids, on the other hand, just thought the food was stinky, King said.
Unique to this year’s event was the display of an original Town Hall stage curtain, complete with historic advertisements. Another popular station was set up by middle school teacher Anita Cornish, who brought in old photos of students, class pictures and even gifts she has received over the years.
The show, which was last weekend at the LaGrange Methodist Church & Town Hall, is an annual event for the relatively new historical society, which formed a little more than five years ago.
Ken White, historical society president, says that although the event was a lot of work, the group, which is about 16 families strong, will do it again next year.
“We need to preserve the history of the area,” White said.
The time and date of next year’s show, which has been in the spring in previous years, will be announced later.
Contact Christina Jolliffe at 329-7155 or ctnews@chroniclet.com.
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Filed by Christina Jolliffe | The Chronicle-Telegram October 5th, 2008 in Local and State. Popularity: 1% |
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