NEWS & EVENTS

Keep up with the latest news and upcoming events here!

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Ozark County Historium

10 Feb, 2023
SWEET NEWS! We have added another program to our Historium schedule -- on Feb. 23 at 10:00 a.m., we will welcome John and Diane Moore to our facility, to talk about BEEKEEPING! These two are experienced, knowledgeable and enthusiastic beekeepers and are going to talk about why bees are so important and how to get started. SPRING is the right time, if you've ever thought about it, and NOW is your chance to learn a little more from a true expert. John is the official beekeeper for Missouri State University and keeps hives on his property in Ozark County, Greene County and at the Missouri State University Fruit Experiment Station in Mtn. Grove.A keeper of honey bees in retirement, John Moore is a career educator who served 22 years as president of Drury University in Springfield. Moore is a native of the Ozarks (Monett) and holds two degrees from Yale and after active duty as an army officer, earned a doctorate from Harvard. He took up beekeeping after retiring in 2010 and is an active member of the Beekeepers A

25 Jan, 2023
Happy New Year! 2023 is well under way, and so are we volunteers at the Historium under way with planning some new events. First up will be: On Thursday, February 9, at 10:00 a.m., we are hosting JEFF PATRICK, the museum curator at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, for a program about researching one's ancestors who served in the military. There will be a special emphasis on Civil War service, since the Battlefield was the scene of an important battle curing the war between the states. Jeff is very knowledgeable about the resources available and will share tips on what information is available and how to access it. Please plan now to join us for this helpful and informative event. Even if you are not interested in researching your own ancestors, you'll learn about the Civil War in the Ozarks!

10 Oct, 2022
 Greetings from the Ozark County Historium!On Thursday, November 17, 2022, we will welcome Kaitlyn McConnell to the Ozark County Historium! Kaitlyn, who is from Marshfield but now lives in Springfield, is a popular blogger, speaker and supporter of preservation of Ozarks culture and history. To help others enjoy the Ozarks as much as she does, Kaitlyn wrote a book in 2019 called Passport to the Ozarks -- and now she has written Volume 2, which she will be sharing with us! Please make plans now to join us for this free event at the Historium at 10:00 on November 17, to meet and enjoy getting to know Kaitlyn McConnell. Our facility is located on the west side of the square in downtown Gainesville and is easily accessible. We'll have the coffee ready for you!

29 Mar, 2022
 Our program featuring Dr. Brooks Blevins was such a success in January that we have invited him back in April for another presentation. At the OpryThis time the subject will be "Ozarks Roots of the Grand Ole Opry."Dr. Blevins will share some interesting and perhaps surprising information about the inception of the iconic country music venue. Hint: It was close to home!Bill Monroe in an early performanceJoin us on Thursday, April 21, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., for an enjoyable time, learning from one of the preeminent scholars of Ozarks history who also happens to be one of the nicest men you've ever met -- we promise you won't be disappointed. The coffee will be ready for you, too!
11 Jan, 2022
 As we enter a new year, we are doing so with high hopes for an active, successful year of events and activities at the Ozark County Historium! After two years of cancelling, postponing and waiting, we're ready to invite our friends and neighbors to join us, as we plan programs that will educate, inspire and entertain. We make these plans with fingers crossed, hoping that most everyone is vaccinated and that we can open our doors to groups in safety.First up is a visit on Thursday, January 27, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., from Dr. Brooks Blevins. As head of the Ozarks Studies department at Missouri State University in Springfield, Dr. Blevins is knowledgeable about all aspects of the area known as the Ozarks. He also is a personable and engaging speaker, an Ozarker himself and proud to be so. Dr. Blevins will give a talk about "How to talk Ozarks in Seven Simple Steps." He will also introduce his newest book, Volume 3 of a comprehensive History of the Ozarks. Anyone interested in local history will enjoy hearing Dr. Blevins, so please make plans to join us that morning. You'll be glad you did!Stay tuned for updates on other plans -- many are in the works, and we'll post as we have details. Thank you for your continuing support of the Historium and the Ozark County Genealogical and Historical Society.

09 Mar, 2020
We are so pleased to invite everyone to visit our new exhibit, The Struggle for Statehood! This wonderful display is a museum-quality exhibit and is on loan to us from the Missouri Humanities Council. In the photo, MHC employee Claire Bruntrager is shown after she came from St. Louis to help get the exhibit set up. We will be hosting this exhibit for five more weeks, so you have plenty of time to plan your visit. You'll be impressed, and you'll learn a lot about the history of Missouri, the impact it had on the Union and the controversy it inspired. Call our facility at 417-679-2400 for more information. Hope to see you there!

11 Feb, 2020
Welcome to 2020! It's going to be a great year at the Ozark County Historium, with several new things in the planning stages. First up is a new quilt exhibit, this time featuring the quilts of Virginia Gaskell McMurtrey of Dora.Virginia has been making quilts for more than 60 years, and she estimates she has made a MINIMUM of 200 big quilts, as well as hundreds of small wallhangings, table runners, baby quilts, etc. She has shared a sampling of her work for us to display. Be sure to come in to the Historium to see it -- the display will continue until mid-March.COMING SOON! Struggling for Statehood, an exhibit provided by the Missouri Humanities Council, will fill our space for six weeks, beginning March 2. As we approach the Bicentennial of the State of Missouri in 2021, we're thinking about what it took for Missouri to become a state. Come in when we have this fine exhibit to learn more about the process, which included the controversial Missouri Compromise.CIVIL WAR DISCUSSION GROUP CONTINUES: On the third Thursday of each month, a group gathers at the Historium to discuss things that happened during the Civil War. If you are interested in the historic conflict and the effect it had on Ozark County, please join us! The next meeting will be on Thursday, February 20, at 10:00. A warm welcome and a hot coffee pot await you! Everyone is welcome.

07 Nov, 2019
Donna Murphy WalkerOur newest quilt exhibit at the Ozark County Historium is a varied collection from the delightful Donna Walker, Ozark County native now living in Ava, Mo.Donna, age 92, has a life-long love affair with quilts and fabric! She owned a fabric store in Gainesville at one time, and she made her first quilt when she was 10 years old.Please come by and see this wonderful, colorful display when you are in Gainesville. And look for the story about Donna in the Nov. 6, 2019 issue of the Ozark County Times!

05 Oct, 2019
Wouldn't you just LOVE to be able to say you painted this lovely scene? Well, you have that very opportunity! Jim Tindall, painting instructor extraordinaire, will return to the Historium on Tuesday, November 5, at 5:00 to teach this class. Cost is $50, which includes everything -- supplies and instruction (and maybe a homemade cookie!) Let us know if you'd like to join the class. Email at ozarkco1@ozarkcountyhistory.org or call the Historium during hours of 10-2, Monday thru Friday, at 417-679-2400 to register. We'd ask that you prepay so we can be assured of having enough participants. It's going to be GREAT!

01 Oct, 2019
Finally, October is here! There is the promise of cooler weather and fall color ahead -- at the Historium, we cannot wait!We have two things coming up this month that we're excited to announce! First, on Thursday, October 10, at 10:00 a.m., Dr. Brooks Blevins of MSU-Springfield will speak about his new book, History of the Ozarks, Volume 2--The Conflicted Ozarks. Dr. Blevins, who will have copies of his book for sale, is a gifted speaker, and this talk will surely be of interest to the many who are interested in knowing about the Civil War's impact on the Ozarks. This event is free and open to the public. Seating is first come, first served! Hope to see a good crowd next week!Second, Michelle Werther, our basket queen, is going to teach another beginner basket-making class on Tuesday, October 15, at 10:00. For this event, there is a charge -- $45, which covers instruction and all supplies. You'll go home at the end of the session with a small market basket like this:Let us know if you'd like to be part of this class so we can have plenty of supplies on hand. You can call  the Historium at 417-679-2400 or email us at ozarkco1@ozarkcountyhistory.org.

20 Aug, 2019
CHINA PAINTING CLASS AND EXHIBIT AT THE HISTORIUM!An exciting new class is being offered at the Historium next month! Vicky York, Certified Master Porcelain Artist, will teach a beginner's china painting series in which participants will learn to paint a hummingbird on a china saucer. The cost is $100 for three painting sessions, three firings, all paint and supplies. Plus, Vicky will be conducting a tour of her home studio and firing room for those taking the class. Dates for the classes are Sept 4, 11 and 18, from 10-12, at the Historium.Vicky began learning this beautiful craft at age 19, and she has become a Master, teaching all over the country and in Europe for many years. Her works have been featured on the covers of professional publications and she has won many awards at competitions and shows.When Vicky and her husband retired to Ozark County two years ago, she decided she was not going to travel to teach any longer. But she paints every day and is now ready to do a few classes at the local levelYou may sign up at the Historium or call there at 417-679-2400; or you can email at ozarkco1@ozarkcountyhistory.org. Classes must be prepaid, and a minimum of six participants is needed.Many fine examples of Vicky's work are also now on display at the Historium and may be viewed during regular hours of operation -- 10-2, Monday through Friday. The exhibit will be in place through September 18. There is no charge to see these beautiful works of art.

08 Jul, 2019
Jim Tindall, noted artist from Mtn. View, Arkansas, will return to the Ozark County Historium on July 16 to teach another painting class!Those participating in the class will be led, step by step, to paint this lovely picture of roses. The cost is $50, payable to the Ozark County Historium; all supplies are included. The class will begin at 5:00 p.m. and run about two hours or slightly more. Jim is wonderful at giving lots of hands-on help and is a delightful and informative teacher. His classes are always fun as well as productive. Join us by calling the Historium to sign up at 417-679-2400. Or mail a check (right away!) to OCGHS, PO Box 4, Gainesville, MO, 65655. Class size is limited so don't delay!

28 May, 2019
Blacksmiths were essential members of early Ozarks communities, performing necessary tasks vital to the daily life of settlers. Using anvil, hammer and forge, their skills in heating and shaping metal allowed them to build and repair tools such as plows, wagon wheels, knives and other implements that were essential to the life of people who were settling a new country. Today, blacksmiths, while fewer in number, still work with metal, heating and shaping it in much the same way. But because of the ready availability of mass-produced tools, the products produced are often quite different. There is a still a demand for high-quality, handmade metal objects, but now blacksmiths are able to focus on specialty items -- and in the case of one Ozark County man, the end result is art. Jim Davis of Thornfield is reluctant to allow his creations to be called art because he doesn’t consider himself an artist. However, when examples of Davis’s work are displayed at the Ozark County Historium for the next several weeks, those who see it are going to know that this is not the work of an ordinary metalworker. Davis is a metal sculptor whose pieces reflect creativity, ornamentation and whimsy, all hallmarks of true art. While many artists have moved to the Ozarks seeking inspiration, that was not the case for Jim and his wife, Carol, who came to Ozark County in 1975. They were, instead, looking for a small farm where they could introduce their children to a country life. Jim grew up in eastern Oregon, and Carol hailed from Florida. They met and married in California, and later lived in Colorado where they owned a motel. Yet they longed for a quiet, rural place where they could have some animals and teach their children about a more nature-connected lifestyle. While passing through Ava, they fell in love with the area and found their acreage near Thornfield. The pair of non-farmers had to figure out a way to make a living for themselves and their son and daughter, so they determinedly taught themselves skills, such as raising feeder pigs and then early weaners, cows and even cats. Jim also collected and traded antique tools, a hobby that turned into a profitable side business. They remodeled the small circa-1939 farmhouse, and Carol gardened and planted flowers, creating a haven of tranquility near the headwaters of the Little North Fork of the White River. Ten years ago, a frightening accident was the impetus for a life change for Jim. He fell from a tree while hanging a swing for his granddaughter and broke his back, and the forced recuperation gave him time to think about what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. Jim drew and sketched as a child and had always enjoyed building and designing things, so working with metal seemed like a natural progression. Once he was back on his feet, metal working began in earnest, and according to Jim, it continues to be “the thing that gives me the most satisfaction.” Jim, whose website www.ornametalthings.com shows fine examples of his creations, uses a traditional, coal-fired forge, as well as a propane-fueled one, depending upon the need. He has three treasured antique anvils, all with a story to tell. “This one is really special,” he notes of a beauty weighing upwards of 450 lbs. “It was made for railroad work.” As Jim taps each in turn, he notes the different sounds created by metal on metal. It is music to this sculptor’s ears. Jim enjoys making things, from farm gates to furniture to kaleidoscopes, for his family members, neighbors and customers who seek him out from far and near. He holds membership in ABANA (Artist-Blacksmith’s Association of North America), BAM (Blacksmiths Association of Missouri), the Ava Art Guild, and the Area Art Club in Mtn. Home and regularly participates in shows and exhibits. Jim Davis’s metal sculptures, which will appeal to children as well as adults of all ages, will be on display at the Historium from May 24 through June. The exhibit is free and open to all. The Historium, located on the west side of the square in Gainesville, is open from 10-2, Monday through Friday. For more information, call the Historium at 417-679-2400, or email at ozarkco1@ozarkcountyhistory.org.

08 Mar, 2019
We are so excited about a new opportunity coming to the Ozark County Historium! On Thursday evening, April 18, 2019, artist/teacher Jim Tindall of Mtn. Home, Ark., will be at our place to teach YOU how to create this beautiful scene! Jim is well known throughout the area and teaches numerous classes, which always fill up. The cost to participate is $45, and that covers instruction and all supplies. All you do is show up and learn and have fun! The class will start at 5:30, but come a bit early to claim your place. At the end of the evening, you'll take home a beautiful painting to display with your very own signature on it. We do need to know in advance if you would like to be part of this class, and we are asking that you pay in advance. To sign up, email ozarkco1@ozarkcountyhistory.org, or just go ahead and mail you check or money order to The Ozark County Historium, PO Box 4, Gainesville MO 65655. Or you can drop your payment at the Historium; we're open 10-2, Monday through Friday. We anticipate that this will be a very popular event, so don't wait -- save your place now!Jim Tindall
03 Mar, 2019
We are very excited about a special guest who will visit the Ozark County Historium on Thursday morning, March 7 ... none other than famous Missourian Mark Twain! Please plan to join us at 10:00 a.m., for this special presentation. Don Nicholson, who lives in Hannibal as did his inspiring muse, will be in character and in costume to share some of the author's wit and wisdom. This event is free to everyone, so plan now to join us! The Historium is easy to find on the west side of the square in Gainesville, with convenient parking and handicapped access.
11 Feb, 2019
The Ozark County Historium is excited to be hosting Dr. Phillip Howerton on Thursday, February 21, 2019, at 10:00. Dr. Howerton will be speaking about his newly-published book,  The Literature of the Ozarks: An Anthology. The anthology includes varied writers such as an Osage priest, a Pulitzer-prize-winning poet and African Americans, as well as native-born writers. Howerton is a poet, editor and professor of English at MSU-WP, and is an Ozarker with an interesting and inspiring life story of his own. Come and hear Dr. Howerton talk about Ozarks literature. Perhaps he can also be persuaded to read some of his wonderful poetry! This event is free and open to all.On February 26, Michelle Werther and Sis Green will teach an advanced basket-weaving class. Cost is $60 for instruction and all supplies; contact the Historium to sign up at 417-679-2400 or email ozarkco1@ozarkcountyhistory.org.
16 Nov, 2018
And if one amazing program isn't enough, how about TWO! On December 13, at 10:00 a.m., join us again for a visit from Cowboy Rick Hamby, his wife Arkansas Bev, and Dennis "Wichita" Crider, as they share stories of their stagecoach journeys in the original 1888 coach from Silver Dollar City! The coach will also be out front, for you to see and enjoy. There is a beautiful new book with amazing photos of the journeys, which will be there for you to see and buy, if you wish (a wonderful Christmas gift for Western-style friends.) And you will hear the special connection this authentic stagecoach has to Ozark County (I'm not going to give it away -- you'll have to come and hear for yourself.) Rick and Bev have a radio show called Great Moments in American History, which airs on KUKU 100.3 FM, in Willow Springs. Dennis is an award-winning photographer and musician. All in all, the morning of December 13 is going to be really festive at the Historium! This event is free and open to all, so plan now to join us! Maybe
16 Nov, 2018
Please Join Us! On December 6, 2018, at 10:00 a.m., at the Ozark County Historium, we will have a special guest. None other than Henry Rowe Schoolcraft himself will be on hand to tell us about his historic trek through the Ozarks TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO! In fact, it was on December 6, 1818, that Schoolcraft and his traveling companion, Levi Pettibone, camped along Lick Creek in present-day Ozark County! The two men are sometimes referred to as the "Lewis and Clark of the Ozarks." The intrepid explorer is well known because he was the first white man to document in journal form his travels through the rugged and unmapped wilderness through the area now known as the Ozarks. Schoolcraft will tell us how different the landscape was back then and will discuss how the last 200 years have impacted the environment. The Historium is proud to host a visit from such a distinguished historical figure. This event is free and open to all. Come early to be assured of a good seat! In the afternoon, Schoolcraft (also known as Dr. Robert Kipfer) will visit Gainesville Elementary School, where he will tell his tales to 4th through 8th graders.

03 Mar, 2018
We are busy planning for a really special day -- Tuesday, March 6, 2018, will be our first Native American Day!!! We have three presenters coming to share several aspects of Native American culture. Carol Silvey of West Plains will give a historical overview, ending with the Trail of Tears. Vincent Anderson, archivist at the library in Mtn. Home, will bring research materials that are used to search one's Native American roots. Jim Decker, retired teacher from West Plains, and Pam Dale of Tecumseh, both avid collectors of artifacts, will have a display of some of their favorite finds and will discuss proper methods of searching and preserving artifacts. Please join us at 10:00 a.m. at the Historium for this fun day of celebrating Native Americans and their culture, especially as found in the Ozarks.
16 Feb, 2018
2018 is shaping up to be a busy year at the Historium! We have a new quilt exhibit in place right now, through March 15, featuring the works of sisters Martha Martin and Donna Lemons of Dora. Their contrasting styles of quilting (Martha does hand work, while Donna prefers machine!) makes for a unique exhibit.Valentine's Day was celebrated with a basket-making workshop led by Michelle Werther of Protem and Sis Green of Theodosia. Eight participants each made a beautiful basket, start to finish, in one day! A second workshop is planned for March 14, and a third will be held if there is enough interest.Old-time music is on the menu for Saturday morning, February 24. Guest blogger Kaitlyn McConnell, who writes about a wide variety of interesting Ozarks cultural  phenomena, will join us and will host a discussion with musicians such as H.K. Silvey, Alvie Dooms and J.R. Johnston, who are some of the best (and sadly, some of the few remaining) old-time musicians. After the discussion, music will ring through the rafters of the Historium! Join us if you can for this fun morning of music and information.

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