HISTORICAL MUSEUM NEWS
Barbershop Harmony Society
80 years of song … the Greater Ozark Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, established 22 years ago, is celebrating the 80th anniversary for the Society for Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Singing in America, which was founded in 1938. The theme and goal of the Society is to “Keep the World Singing.” The local chapter is inviting the community to celebrate with it by visiting the display at the museum. Some items include the Youth in Harmony project coordinated with local schools, which provides barbershop singing training to students and culminates in a show where the students participate. The display will continue through the end of April. A musical program is planned for mid-April at the museum, with more details to follow.
Book signing March 24
Dan and Suzanne Chilton, authors of “Blue and Gray Cross Current,” a creative nonfiction historical novel, will be at the museum on Saturday afternoon, March 24. There will be a presentation on their book at 2 p.m. The book leads the reader to 1860-1882 Missouri and Arkansas Civil War settings straight from official records, family memoirs and letters.
Pioneer Cabin project
The museum recently learned that a pioneer log cabin located in Bella Vista is available to be moved to the museum grounds. It was originally built in the early 1900s and located on a farm in what is now the Branchwood area. It was dismantled and moved to another location about 70 years later, and the present owner has offered to donate it to the museum. While the hope is to obtain a grant to pay for the move, the museum is starting a fundraising campaign to help cover additional expenses, including the need for a roof replacement and the placement of period furnishings inside the cabin. The museum welcomes any contributions to this project. Those who donate $100 or more will be recognized by name on a plaque on the cabin. One of the volunteers has set up a GoFundMe page for this purpose at www. gofundme.com/cabinfever. Thank you in advance for supporting this project.
Village on the Lakes Writers and Poets Society
In honor of April being National Poetry Month, the Village on the Lakes Writers and Poets Society will meet at the museum at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 15. The public is invited to hear a talk on the Poet Laureate of Bella Vista, “Uncle Henry” — Henry Coffin Fellow of Wichita, Kan., who lived in the Bella Vista area in the 1920s and published several volumes of poetry, a few of which will be for sale following the talk. National Poetry Month is a celebration, introduced in 1996, of poetry organized by the Academy of American Poets as a way to increase awareness and appreciation of poetry in the U.S.
Website features vintage recipes
The museum website is now featuring vintage recipes for anyone interested in a sample of what dishes were served in Bella Vista in the past. Visit www. bellavistamuseum.org/ bella-vista-vintage-recipes.
Museum gift shop
A variety of Bella Vista souvenir items are available for purchase, including jigsaw puzzles that feature Bella Vista area photos. Other gift shop items available include magnets, mugs, T-shirts, postcards, books and more. Payment by cash, check, credit card or debit card are all accepted. Check it out for birthday presents, anniversaries, or other gift-giving occasions.
Private tours available
Private tours of the museum are available outside of normal open hours for church groups, students, civic clubs, businesses, etc. To arrange for a tour, leave a message at the museum, 479-855-2335, or contact Xyta Lucas at 479-8766118.
Memberships available
Memberships in the Bella Vista Historical Society are available now for first-time members or for renewals for 2018. Pay in person at the museum using cash, check or credit card or by mail with a check payable to the BVHS. Membership information is also available at www. bellavistamuseum.org.
Hours of operation
The Historical Museum is located at the corner of Highway 71 and Kingsland, next door to the American Legion, and is open 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Phone 479-855-2335.