Hot Stove League Jan. 28 BELLA VISTA HISTORICAL MUSEUM NEWS
The Hot Stove League meeting is scheduled Sunday, Jan. 28. All baseball fans are invited to the museum at 2 p.m. to meet special guest Elwin Roe, son of “Preacher” Roe who was a major league pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates and Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1938-1954 timeframe. Fans are invited to bring their baseball memorabilia and any stories they would like to share. Moderator will be Steve Morrow, who has been a lifelong baseball fan.
Book signing Feb. 3
Monte Harris and Melba Shewmaker will be at the museum on Saturday, Feb. 3, for a book signing of their book, Barns of Benton County. Everyone is invited to hear their talk at 2 p.m. about their travels while photographing old barns all over the county. Their book is available for purchase, with a portion of the sales donated to the museum.
History Club Feb. 8
The Bella Vista History Club continues to meet the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the museum. The Feb. 8 meeting will feature a park ranger from the Pea Ridge National Military Park to talk about the battle of Pea Ridge which took place 156 years and one month ago, on March 7-8, 1862. The History Club has no dues and no officers. It’s just an interesting way to spend an evening. Refreshments will be provided by the sponsor for the evening, Acorn Realty.
Rotating exhibit
The Woodcarvers Club of Bella Vista is featured in the January and February rotating exhibit at the museum, coordinated by volunteer Nancy Bumgardner. Woodcarver members specialize in a variety of different arts and crafts using wood as the basis of their work. The club display includes full and partial relief carvings, wood burning and intarsia, a 1,000-yearold art form still popular today. Several members have shared their work and provide information about the medium they use.
Museum gift shop
More jigsaw puzzles, featuring Bella Vista scenes, including the Lake Ann waterfall, are arriving at the museum’s gift shop. If the museum is out of a product of interest, leave a message at the museum for gift shop manager Jill Werner. The gift shop also features a variety of other items, including magnets, mugs, T-shirts, postcards, books and more. Keep the shop in mind when looking for presents for Valentine’s Day, birthdays or anniversaries.
Memberships available
Anyone interested in becoming a 2018 member of the Bella Vista Historical Society, which operates the museum, is welcome to stop by the museum to complete a membership form or to sign up online at www.bellavistamuseum.org. All members receive the BVHS quarterly newsletter. Those who are already members may renew for 2018 and help the Historical Society continue to operate. Annual calendar year dues are $15 per person or $25 per family. Corporate memberships are also available for $50 per year, with members recognized at the museum and given a window decal for the organization to display. There are no paid staff members, so dues and donations are applied to general operating expenses unless designated for a specific project.
Hours of operation
The Historical Museum is open 1 to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays through Sundays except in inclement weather. More information on the Museum is available at 479-855-2335 and www. bellavistamuseum.org.