A Message from the Director

The Museum is still recovering from the torrential rain and resultant flood that hit Aberdeen on May 4 & 5, 2007. Because some areas of our basement flooded, artifacts stored there became moldy in the damp conditions. Museum staff members have been working throughout the summer and fall to clean up the mess left by the floodwaters and treat the affected artifacts. The work is not difficult, just time consuming and messy.

Moldy artifacts were moved from the basement to an off site facility where they were given a bleach bath to kill the mold spores. The artifacts were then placed in the sun to dry naturally. When this process was complete, the treated artifacts were taken to a secure off site storage facility where they will be housed until the basement storage areas are completely dry and mold free.

The leather pieces stored in the basement became particularly moldy and required a more specialized conservation treatment. Vinegar was substituted for bleach as a tool to kill the mold. After being rubbed down with vinegar, the leather was cleaned with saddle soap then rubbed with several coats of oil to renew its pliability and soft texture. This was time well spent as these pictures show.

All of us at the Museum want to express our thanks to the community for its patience throughout these past months since this unexpected work required us to cancel all our summer programming. We’re looking forward to sharing those programs with you next summer.

Before leather cleaning	Leather cleaning in mid process	Leather cleaning done

Wondering What to do the Friday after Thanksgiving--Visit the Museum

The Museum will be open its regular 9 - 5 hours on Friday, November 23, the day after Thanksgiving. So if the thought of another leftover turkey sandwich, an afternoon of football, or a frenzied post-Thanksgiving shopping spree doesn’t excite you, come to the Museum. Christmas Tree Lane featuring decorated trees and wreaths provided by area groups and individuals will be open for your enjoyment as will all the other exhibits. You can also find some wonderful items for your holiday decorating and gift giving in the Mercantile. This year put a visit to the Museum on your list of things to do with your holiday guests.

How Did Aberdeen Celebrate the end of WWI on November 11, 1918?

The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918 marked the end of World War I. The Germans signed an armistice with the US and her allies at 5am on November 11, 1918, and the cease-fire officially took effect at 11am that day. The war that had eventually involved soldiers from 35 countries including the United States was finally over, four years after it had begun. Reporters at the Aberdeen Daily American received the news of the armistice over the Associated Press Wires at 1:46am local time and hurried to produce an extra edition bearing the headline “Armistice is Signed” for inclusion in its November 11 issue. After learning the news, Aberdeen celebrated the war’s end all day long despite being in the throngs of a flu epidemic. Click here to read the details of the city’s celebration.

Mistletoe on Main

Thursday, November 29 marks the beginning of Mistletoe on Main. Downtown businesses including the Museum will remain open until 7:00pm each Thursday through December 20 for the convenience of holiday shoppers. Our exhibits will be open and there will be specials in the Mercantile too. Make downtown your Thursday evening destination this holiday season.

Terry Francona, whose Boston Red Sox recently won the 2007 World Series, is the son of John “Tito” Francona and Roberta Jackson Francona, one-time residents of Aberdeen. Tito, a Pennsylvanian, was a member of the 1953 Aberdeen Pheasants baseball team, and Roberta was a local girl who graduated from Aberdeen Central High School in 1954. The pair met and married during Tito’s time playing for the Pheasants. Terry was born in Aberdeen on April 22, 1959, during his father’s first season with the Cleveland Indians. Tito went on to have a very distinguished 15-year professional career playing in 1719 games as an outfielder and first baseman for such teams as the St. Louis Cardinals, the Philadelphia Phillies, the Atlanta Braves, the Oakland Athletics and the Milwaukee Brewers. He retired in 1971 with a career batting average of .272. His career stats also include 125 home runs and 656 RBIs.