HISTORICAL MUSEUM NEWS
Hot Stove League Jan. 28
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 19381954 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 Pea Ridge National Military park ranger Troy Banzhaf as the speaker on “The Pea Ridge Campaign” of March 1862. The History Club has no dues and no officers. It’s an interesting way to spend an evening. Refreshments will be provided by the sponsor for the evening, Bank of the Ozarks.
The March meeting will be presented by former International Questers president and Bella Vista resident Jeanne Stokebrand on the World War II Japanese internment camps in Arkansas and will be sponsored by the Quester chapters of Bella Vista.
The January meeting was canceled due to bad weather, but that program, featuring Jeff McFarland and his unusual trading stamp collection, has been rescheduled for April 12 and will be sponsored by Acorn Realty.
Annual meeting March 4
Laura Jennings of the Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park will be the featured speaker on the “Trail of Tears” at the Bella Vista Historical Society’s annual meeting at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 4. The meeting is open to the public and refreshments will be served. Election of officers for the following 12 months will also be held.
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-year-old art form still popular today. Several members, including Jean Visnich, Betty Cermak, Tom Diepenbrock, John Brach and Kevin Attleson, have shared their work and provided information about the medium they use.
Museum gift shop
More jigsaw puzzles, featuring Bella Vista scenes, including the Lakes Ann and Loch Lomond, will be featured 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 those special gifts for Valentine’s Day, birthdays or anniversaries.
Hours of operation
The Historical Museum is open 1 to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays through Sundays except during inclement weather. More information on the Museum is available at 479-855-2335 and www. bellavistamuseum.org.