Wayne County Historical Society Grand Opening

The Wayne County Historical Society is inviting its members and friends to the Grand Opening of its new addition, the John and Helen Villaume Wing, on Saturday and Sunday, May 17 and 18, 2008. The museum will be open 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday and 12 to 4 pm on Sunday, with the ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for 11 am on Saturday. There is no admission charge either day, and there will be guided tours on Saturday.

In the works since 2000, the completed addition will house changing and permanent exhibits, an expanded library and, most important, climate-controlled storage for its priceless collections of artifacts and documents. Volunteers, led by Trustee Carol Henry Dunn, have been working to complete the "Wayne County Experience" exhibit along the new rampway, and Ray LaTournous and Director Sally Talaga have relocated the society's glass collection to a new permanent location. Quilt and photo displays are planned and the permanent "Faces in Clay" exhibit, featuring the late historian Vernon Leslie's collection of Native American artifacts, has a new location in the Villaume Wing. The "Movin' Energy" display has been refurbished for the occasion, and a Tour of Honor display will highlight the recent event honoring World War II veterans.

Ann Kovatch (left) and Rachel Bakota mount photographs for the new ramp exhibit.	Sally Eno Soden works on a picture from the society's archive.
Judy Poltanis, in the new rampway, displays another photo while Bruce Kovatch works on assembly in the background.	Harry "Skip" Hillier, project manager on the construction, still plays a big role in preparing the building for its Grand Opening.
Matthew Meagher (left) and Wayne Wilcha climb the ladder of success as they install pegboard in the new climate-controlled artifact storage room.	Ann & Bruce Kovatch measure twice, cut once.