A Walk through Historical Muncie Coming Soon

Recently, I told you about upcoming renovation work to be done on the Oakhurst house. It must be the season to refresh and re-do. Work has been going on in The Center Building’s lobby for the last several weeks, and now the Heritage Collection Gallery is getting new carpet.

As soon as carpet installation is complete and some repair is done to the walls, the next Heritage Collection exhibit will be installed. Since we are celebrating Muncie’s 150th anniversary in 2015, we’ll pull out all things Muncie for two exhibits this year. The first will feature Muncie’s businesses and industry and the second, coming later this year, will feature the people, places, and events of Muncie history.

What will you see in the first exhibit? Ball jars, of course, but also other products made in Muncie such as Hemingray insulators, the Excel Dandy Darning Dome, a Feeny vacuum broom, the Stero Timeter made by the Sterolectric Company, and a Fireless Stove made by Durham Manufacturing Company. There will also be lots of advertising material—rulers, pens, pencils, mugs, and more—from places like the Moore Company, Marhoefer, and Riggin’s Dairy. Photographs will show businesses from the Boston Shoe Store of the 1870s to Nottingham Pontiac in the 1980s.

Come enjoy a walk through Muncie history. The exhibit will be open no later than May 15, earlier if all goes well.