The new agriculture-themed room in the McDonald County Historical Museum boasts the county's historical richness even more than other rooms at the museum.
All the museum's rooms play a significant role in showing and sharing the heritage of McDonald County residents, but some believe that the new agricultural room promotes the legacy the best.
"The people in this county were rich in values and ethics," said McDonald County Historical Society president Lynn Tatum. "They were problem solvers; they loved family, country and community. They were hard working. I think this room demonstrates that louder and stronger than any other room," she said. "It's one of the most important."
Officials launched the new agricultural exhibit at the museum's grand opening event for the season on Memorial Day weekend.
The room -- formerly known as the "Strawberry Room" -- once featured several items which promoted the county's dominant strawberry industry in the past.
A discussion with Mary O'Brien, however, prompted the room's transformation into focusing on three aspects of agriculture.
A year ago, O'Brien mentioned that she thought the museum was a marvelous addition to the community, which was "way beyond" the community's expectations.
She encouraged the museum's staff of volunteers, though, to pursue an agricultural exhibit.
The agricultural exhibit added a missing key ingredient, Tatum said.
Conversations with several people provided the content and photos needed to form the exhibit. Tatum met with Jean Bird of Goodman, who grew up on a farm; Gene Hall, whose father was a McDonald County farmer; and Jim Tatum, her husband, who sold tractors to McDonald County farmers for 50 years.
The multi-generational approach helped volunteers decide how to best tell the history of McDonald County.
Volunteers dove into numerous photos in the archives, piecing together the photos and interviews to bring focus to agriculture in McDonald County. The Historical Museum also was able to obtain several photos, which are featured in the exhibit.
Agriculture evolved from family farms to more commerce after the railroad came through. Then, products could be exported and commerce began to boom, Tatum explained.
From there, the county became known for its orchards, mules and dairy.
Volunteers decided to have three focal points for the agricultural exhibit: family farms, cash crops and agribusiness. The exhibit features a look at family farms, which began to pop up in the county around 1830; at the cash crops era, which began around 1900; and at agribusiness, which began in 1950 and continued to boom in coming years.
In 1905, the Pineville Herald said the county's "apples, peaches, pears, plums, fields of strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and other fruits cover the bosom of hills and blanketed the concave of valleys."
To highlight the room, volunteers added many historical photos, including those of Mary O'Brien's husband, Don, who ran approximately 18 different successful agricultural-related businesses including beef and poultry companies.
The display also features a depiction of Don's first office, a photo of Gene Hall's parents on the farm; a picture of Jean Bird's father on a tractor; tools and information about logging and the pine wars; a farmer dressed in a flannel plaid shirt with overalls; and an apron with an explanation of the purpose of an apron.
Fred Hall, Gene Hall's dad, provided the inspiration for the farmer, as well as a wonderful focus for the exhibit, Tatum said.
Rep. Bill Lant built a barn-wood fence on the bottom part of the exhibit's wall, which creates a farm feel, Tatum added.
Volunteers worked long and hard to create the special exhibit, Tatum said, and seeing it open is very rewarding.
"It's like a dream come true."
Volunteers hope the exhibit will help preserve the county's heritage while inspiring the youth about working hard and building a future, she added.
Admission to the McDonald County Historical Museum is free. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The museum is located in the former McDonald County Courthouse, on the Pineville Square.
General News on 07/27/2017