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Big Springs Museum highlights area heritage and history Like many newcomers to a small town, Patricia Garrett never thought she would meet and make friends with so many of the locals in such a short time. She certainly never thought she’d be asked to be the curator for Caledonia’s Big Springs Museum, but some of the town locals saw in her the qualities that they believed could enhance the potential of the museum and they quickly engrafted her in to the organization. In 1999, Garrett was named curator of the three-story, 28,000 square foot local history haven that is now a dynamic and educational pinnacle in the Caledonia community. Garrett moved to Caledonia in 1990, her and her husband Alan being neighbors to Marianna MacKay Wilkins, an active BS Museum Historical Society member. Garrett often accompanied her neighbor to museum functions where she began meeting people. Soon her name was submitted for membership to the Big Springs Historical Society Board. She recalls thinking, "I never joined anything in my life and I don’t know anyone!" As a board member, Garrett volunteered to clean the museum but soon teamed up with another local woman with an interest for the museum – Jean Guthrie. The two of them would go to volunteer at the museum on cold, winter days bundled up because they didn’t know if they could turn the heat on or not! But they had a common bond – "we both love old things," Garrett remarked. "We found out what a treasure trove we have here. I am very sensitive to the people that were here before us since the 1940’s who were so dedicated and who contributed to making this museum what it is today. We wouldn’t have the treasure that we have today if it weren’t for all of them," Garrett commented. Garrett was named curator in 1999 and says she and Guthrie, along with many faithful museum members like Betty and William DeNoon, John Keenan, Jack MacKay, Mary C. Hamilton, Marion Guthrie, Don Pullyblank and many, many others, worked tirelessly to archive the enormous collection of items already in the museum inventory and to showcase incoming items. Duct work was installed for a new furnace along with a copier and a telephone and then came the tedious task of going through the closets containing dozens of boxes filled with donated items. Many of them had to researched as to their origin and what was their historical significance to the area. Many of the items required costly archival procedures to protect them from the elements of time. "What we didn’t know, we learned. Our goal for years was to continue sorting. We found items related to Klondike in our collection," Garrett explained. Interesting items that are part of the collection include a handmade replica of Westminster Abbey, shown at the 1876 World’s Fair in Philadelphia, PA, a totally restored barn side advertisement for the Monroe County Agricultural Society and Fair, circa 1866 and the recreated beauty shop of Caledonia hairdresser Larry Rapone of Spring Street, who each week styled many a ladies hair in the Caledonia area. Garrett says the museum is home to over 360 women’s hats, a unique local military photo exhibit, an extensive early farm implement exhibit, numerous historically significant pieces of art, a collection of historic children’s toys and a mounted bird collection just to name a few areas of interest. The museum hosts a very popular Agriculture and African American photo pictorial exhibit created by Jean Guthrie, as well. What you will not find at the Big Springs Museum any longer is the 800-year-old skeletal remains of a Native American, believed to be pre-Iroquois that was exhumed during a 1950’s excavation at Jones Chemicals, Inc. on Iroquois Road in Caledonia. Representatives of the Iroquois Nation claimed and removed the remains in 2002 for repatriation at an unnamed Iroquois burial ground. Garrett, Guthrie, and numerous volunteers that have been on board with them in the last several years, have enhanced the complexion of the museum to what it is today - a bustling and vibrant educational organization in the community where people can learn about the rich heritage of the Caledonia area. Today, in addition to its expansive collection of local history artifacts, the museum hosts regular programs of interest and highlights the talents of many local artisans. Garrett says one of the goals is to tie the donated item to the historical story behind it and to raise enough funds through annual memberships to keep the museum open on Sundays from 1 – 4 p.m. There are many levels of membership starting at just $10 per year. For more information about Big Springs Museum, call 538-9880.
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