Saw this article on NewJersey.com and wondered to myself how often this scenario plays itself out time again. How much history is lost or forget when no one is left with the mean to take care of it.
The quest to save local history
BY KELLY NICHOLAIDES
STAFF WRITERThe small town museum and historical society — a place where residents research and browse local historical documents and photos — is becoming a challenge for volunteers and employees to run and keep relevant. But supporters say that even as they operate with limited funding, the key to museums’ and historical societies’ survival is to evolve, recruit younger members, choose artifacts wisely, adopt more programming and do more than provide a place filled with static items mounted on walls in aging buildings.
Small Local Museums such as the Meadowlands Museum are struggling with less funding as public and philanthropic funds dwindle. The museum needs funding not only for programming but also to maintain the 150 year old farmhouse that houses the museum’s collections. Many museums across the country are closing their doors.
For some museums, shutting the doors to reassess collections and repair structures is transformative. The Meadowlands Museum volunteers and its director are sifting through approximately 17,000 artifacts. It closed to the public earlier this year after Hurricane Irene caused more damage to an already sagging roof. The museum is housed in one of Rutherford’s oldest houses on Crane Avenue.
“One of the biggest changes is making the collections more local. Specific things like old washer boards you can find here as well as in Nebraska,” said Museum Director Jackie Bunker-Lohrenz. “We’re trying now to find ways that are fun, where we can connect people and history together, locally.”
Started in 1961, the museum focused on natural history, then evolved to become the Rutherford Museum in 1967, and changed to focus on local history in 1981, adopting the name Meadowlands Museum. The museum is fortunate to have a part time paid director, but there’s challenges to being stewards to a collection and an old historical building. Structurally, the museum needs a new roof and woodwork. The volunteers raised $108,129, which includes a $72,625 county grant and $15,000 1772 Foundation grant. The museum needs another $30,000, conservatively. Additionally, the museum has just gone through a national evaluation. Changes coming include more public input, more activities and programming, increased work with educators and students and focus groups.