HISTORICAL MUSEUM NEWS
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.
Book Signing Feb. 24
Linda Pumphrey, the Bella Vista author of “Mountain Mist Historical Quilts,” will be at the museum for a book signing on the afternoon of Feb. 24, with a special presentation at 2 p.m. All quilters are invited to attend.
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.
January’s Hot Stove League meeting
After two meetings last winter, the third Hot Stove League meeting was held for all baseball fans at the museum on Sunday, Jan. 28, with Bella Vista resident Elwin Roe, son of famous baseball pitcher Preacher Roe, as the special guest. Forty fans filled the museum for the program, moderated by Steve Morrow, manager at Allen’s Food Market, who is also a board member for the Bella Vista Historical Society and a lifelong baseball fan. Baseball fans who are interested in future Hot Stove League meetings are asked to contact Steve Morrow at 479644-9769.
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
Jigsaw puzzles, featuring Bella Vista scenes, including photos of Lakes Ann and Loch Lomond are available at the museum’s gift shop. 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. More information is available at bellavistamuseum.org or by calling 479-855-2335.