The Merrill Historical Society will realize a significant achievement April 21 when it invites the public in to see the new Merrill History & Culture Center at 100 E. Third St. A million-dollar museum will be opened to show a new home for Merrill history.
The open house begins at 1 p.m. and closes at 4 p.m.
Bea Lebal, Society President, said the directors were “Inviting donors, Society members, and the community to ‘preview’ our new building,” and the renovation of the adjoining Heritage Center Wing.
The Historical Society reached this milestone after a challenging trip since 2002 by the planning committee. Ownership of the property came to the historical society by gift and purchase when the congregation members dissolved the Bethlehem Lutheran Church. A subsequent favorable feasibility study lent encouragement. It didn’t, however, foresee an economic downturn.
Patience and confidence in the Merrill community, however, have been rewarded. The opening of new research, education and cultural facilities will write a contemporary chapter in Merrill history. It will relate how positive people accomplished good and encouraged pride in the city.
Lebal credits David Oberbeck, architect, and Randy Williams, project manager, Holster Construction, for preparing a plan that achieved good museum function and was affordable in size and cost.
Each director contributed seed money totaling $50,000 to start the “It’s About Time” capital campaign in June 2010. Fund raising was successful and ground was broken in July 2012 for a $1.2 million museum building and The Pinery forestry exhibit hall.
A second campaign – “The Time Has Come” – is underway to raise an additional $250,000 to complete the entire center development.
The exhibits committee will open with small, changing exhibits before the permanent exhibits are put in place. The committee members think people will enjoy just being in the museum because the exhibit spaces bring a fresh look to Merrill history.
Lebal asked people to join with the Historical Society during the open house in thanking the donors. She would like the community to come and see how the Merrill History & Culture Center presents a pleasing addition to the landscape of Merrill.
For information, contact the Merrill Historical Society, by phone at 715-536-5652, by email at merrillhistory.org and postal mail to: 100 E. Third St., Merrill, WI 54452.