Spring06

41st Annual Arts and Crafts Fair Scheduled for June 11 and 12

It hardly seems possible that we are about to celebrate the 41st year of the Oxford Museum Association Arts and Crafts Fair. Once again craftersfrom all over Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and even Florida, Illinois and Washington will gather at the Pioneer Farm on Brown Road on June 11 and 12 to show and sell their creations.
This year's array of artisans offer a wide variety of products including jewelry, decorator items, paintings, photography, yard sculptures, rag and woven rugs, pastel drawings, herbal soaps, wood carvings, shaker boxes, clothing, note cards, and candles. If you're shopping for something for the kids, the horseshoe art is always popular along with doll clothes, painted wooden games, fabric animals, children's furniture and toys. By the end of the weekend you will have completed your Christmas shopping and birthday buying, and may even wind up with something for yourself.
The event opens to the public at 10:00 a.m. and gates close at 5:00 p.m. each day. Tours will be conducted through the 1836 Doty Homestead and the 1840's Pioneer Barn throughout the weekend. Food is available on the grounds so plan on spending the entire day.

Admission remains at $2.00 per adult and children under twelve are admitted at no charge. We need lots of enthusiastic volunteers for parking, hosting and food service and Marty Miller is getting the schedule together. If he has not contacted you yet, give him a call at (513) 523-3665 and sign up.

This is a wonderful opportunity to spend a weekend at the farm and pick up a number of unusual and quality items. Mark your calendars and bring a friend. The proceeds from this event support the preservation and education activities of the Oxford Museum Association.

Oxford Community Foundation Provides Funds for Clothing Displays

The Oxford Museum Association has been engaged in an extensive artifact management program during the past several years. Curators have been documenting artifact holdings and creating a photographic database of the collection. PastPerfect software has been purchased bringing the OMA collections records into a format consistent with museum holdings throughout the nation. As this process has progressed, we have increased our awareness of our exceptional collection of clothing of the nineteenth century. We have had little option for display of these historic treasures beyond simply draping them on hangers or pegs. In line with our desire to present these fashions while emphasizing the human element of life in the early and mid 1800s we requested support from the Oxford Community Foundation to procure a mannequin designed specifically for historic museums. The Foundation has donated an amount of $900. for the purpose of procuring an initial mannequin.

Unlike standard mannequins used in contemporary display, museum mannequins are designed for maximum adjustability to duplicate the unique human form of different historic periods. Consequently, museum mannequins most effectively convey the historical human form with minimum stress on delicate fabrics. Because these mannequins are typically expensive due to unique standards of construction, we hope to procure additional units over a period of several years.

Trees are Disappearing at the Pioneer Farm

One of the most appealing features at the Pioneer Farm has been the presence of wonderful old maple trees surrounding the homestead. During the past few years it has been sad to witness the removal of a number of these trees as a result of extended draught and the toll of ageing. Safety concerns have necessitated removal of dead limbs and several entire trees.

We are at a point where this organization needs to invest in the future while celebrating our past. We hope to plant new trees in replacement of those lost. A few of the new trees need to be beyond sapling stage and will require more specialized transplanting. The cost is estimated at around $500. We are hoping that there will be members of the Oxford Museum Association who would like to fund a tree at the Pioneer Farmstead to be dedicated to the memory of, or in recognition of, someone who is or has been special in their lives. A bronze plaque will be placed by the tree to identify the donor and the individual being recognized. If you would like to sponsor a memorial or recognition tree please give Bill King a call at (513) 523-2546.

Robert T. Howard Lecture Features Meriwether Lewis

On Tuesday, April 5 we were treated to an evening with Captain Meriwether Lewis as he guided a record number of attendees on a journey that significantly impacted the course of history. Mr. Skip Jackson, president of the Ohio River Chapter of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation gave a convincing rendition of Captian Lewis complete with period costume and accessories. All ages enjoyed his descriptions of hardship and adventure as experienced by Lewis and Clark as they explored the uncharted territory of the west in the early 1800's.

The Robert T. Howard Lecture Series is an annual event that was originated by the Oxford Museum Association as a gift to the community and to honor an individual who was particularly influential in promoting an appreciation of area history.

Summer Interns Selected

Summer interns have been selected and this year's applicants were exceptionally qualified. Our intern program has been essential in maintaining summer activities for the Oxford Museum Association and is an excellent work experience for participating interns. Interns typically are involved for an average of twelve hours per week from Memorial Day through Labor Day. While primary commitment involves hosting at our Pioneer Farm and DeWitt Log Homestead sites each weekend, additional hours are applied to interpretation research and special projects relating to the individual's background and talents.

Jennifer Haney will be a senior History major at Miami with a minor in Music History. She comes from Bell Center, Ohio and hopes to attend Wright State University to gain a graduate degree in Public History. Her future plans are focused on employment in museum work.
Carissa Reppert has been an Oxford resident since 1994. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in History from Miami where she is currently pursuing her Master's Degree in Social Studies Education. After completing her studies at Miami she plans to continue her education in Museum Studies. She began her preparation for the internship very early as she served as a volunteer child re-enactor at Colonial Williamsburg while growing up in the Williamsburg area.

Sarah Templeton of Cincinnati is currently working toward a Master's Degree in Photographic Preservation and Collection Management at Ryerson University. She obtained her Bachelor's Degree from Miami in Photography and Art History. She has worked at the Cincinnati Public Library as a cataloger and served as an interpreter for the St. Peter in the Vatican exhibit at the Cincinnati Museum Center.
Kevin Wilson, also from Cincinnati, is currently a teaching assistant in the History department at Miami where he is working on a Master's Degree in History, with a concentration in American History. His Bachelor's Degree in History is also from Miami. While pursuing his studies, Kevin additionally served as Youth Director for the University Church of Christ in Oxford.

Cemetery Restoration Progress …OMA Display at Smith Library

Restoration work at the Doty Settlement Cemetery continues. At the present time most headstones have been reset, although the search is ongoing for headstones that may be buried or otherwise concealed. The location of the original Meeting House has been determined and marked. Plans include placing brickwork around the perimeter of the structure location and installing fencing along the front of the historic cemetery.John Curry and Tom Stander have done an exceptional job of moving this project forward with the continuing assistance of OMA president Ben Jones, OMA board member Marna Evans, and Dave Hoelle and Jim McDonough of the Oxford Township Trustees.

The site was recently inspected using a metal detector and several interesting artifacts were discovered. Some of the treasures found include shell casings thought perhaps to relate to a ceremony to honor World War I soldier Culla J. Moore, a handle for an early casket, part of the stove used in the Meeting House, brick chimney fragments, window glass fragments, and part of a gate latch.

During the months of May and June the Smith Library of Regional History has featured a display detailing the work that has been done in restoring the cemetery and providing background on the Campbellite religious movement in the 1800's. Marna Evans has been working on the application for an historic marker for the cemetery site and John Curry is researching information to include in a publication regarding the project.

Board Focuses on Planning for the Future

On April 9 the OMA Board conducted the second in a series of meetings to develop a long-range plan for the Oxford Museum Association. During the initial session in November goals were defined to guide Association activities. The follow-up session focused on an analysis of specific tasks to be accomplished in meeting stated goals. Future sessions will identify task completion responsibility, needed resources, and evaluation criteria.

In Tribute to Departed Members

We are saddened by the death of members Cora Macklin and Ginx Peck. Cora and Phil Macklin have been members for many years. Ginx and Lyman Peck date to the early years of the Association and are best remembered for their untiring work with the Maple Syrup Festival and the AppleButter Festival.Collections Corner

Collections activity doesn't take a holiday during the winter months. While much work still needs to be done in inventorying and photographing our artifacts, related projects are underway. A big thanks goes to JoAnne Hagerman who has been busy cataloging our historic books. Appreciation is also extended to Judy Fisher and Marilyn Perkins who have been doing conservation work on our collection of 19th century clothing.

Ethel and Clay Hock Gift of Dry Sink

Once the DeWitt Log Homestead restoration was complete the process of considering furnishings began. An obvious omission was a dry sink, a standard kitchen fixture of the time. Through almost a year of searching we were unable to find an appropriate vintage sink for the DeWitt site.

Ethel and Clay Hock made a generous donation to allow the purchase of a dry sink (vintage 1860) which fits nicely with the historic interpretation programs of the Oxford Museum Association. The artifact is an appropriate match to the historical period of the Doty Homestead and has replaced the dry sink at that location. The older unit has been moved to the DeWitt Log Homestead to aid in the interpretation at that site. The dry sink was an essential component of daily life through the 19th century and now can be incorporated into the stories of both of our primary sites.
Clay and Ethel have done so much in contributing to the programs of the Association. Their gift is an example of the support needed in preserving our local heritage for the education and appreciation of future generations.

Reminder…Check Your Current Membership Status

The 2005 membership year for the Oxford Museum Association is well underway. An involved membership is essential to the preservation activities of the Association, and membership dues are needed in order to maintain a broad range of programs and to support property needs. While many individuals have already forwarded their dues for 2005, we still have not heard from some of you. If you are not sure of your current membership status, check the box on the label of this newsletter. An X in the box indicates that your payment is up to date. If no X appears in the box your membership is due. Within the next few weeks board members will be contacting those who have not responded. Why not take a moment now and return your membership form along with your check.