Spring 2017 Volume 31 – Number 2

Give Local SJC Make a Big Impact for HLCM through Donation Matching Funds!The Community Foundation’s 24-hour “giving event” – is happen-ing on Tuesday, May 9. This is your chance to make a BIG difference for Hannah Lindahl Children’s Museum!

Along with more than 65 other local charities, Hannah Lindahl Children’s Museum is participating in Give Local St. Joseph County. Every dollar that HLCM raises on May 9 will be increased by a share of $2.4 million in matching funds provided by major sponsors.

Please consider a gift to Hannah Lindahl Children’s Museum for Give Local SJC. Every donation of $25 or more will help us earn a bigger share of the matching pool!

How you can participate in this exciting community-wide event:

Give by check. Make it payable to the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County. Be sure to list Hannah Lindahl Children’s Museum

in the check’s memo line and date the check May 9, 2017. Then mail or drop off your gift to Hannah Lindahl Children’s Museum, 1402 S. Main Street, Mishawaka, IN 46544. Checks must be received no later than May 9, 2017, so plan to mail it early.

Give by credit/debit card, online by making your gift at the secure web-site GiveLocalSJC.org May 1–9, using your credit or debit card, and choose Hannah Lindahl Children’s Museum as the beneficiary of your gift.

Give as you deliver your donation in person by visiting the Museum during regular business hours. The day of Give Local SJC, Tues-day, May 9, HLCM will be free with extended hours until 6 p.m.!

Giving in the form of appreci-ated stock or from an IRA is also an option for this special donation match opportunity.

Tucked-Away Treasures

Their tiny, curved husks stopped me dead in my tracks. I was only just starting the re-labeling process of the museum’s stored collec-tion, when already I encountered a big problem: carpet beetles.

Anyone who works with precious items will tell you that keeping themsafe from decomposition—especially from fabric-infesting insects like carpet beetles—is a top priority. I knew what this meant.

“Um, Lexie, I think I saw some car-pet beetles on one of the Africa boxes,” I said. It was my third week on the job, and before then,

By Kathleen Dunn, Lucy M. Minnix Intern

I hadn’t given any bad news to the Museum Director. Mrs. Schroeder Kobb frowned. “Well let’s open it up and have a look,” she replied.

I carried the box to a table, was given a fresh pair of sterile gloves, and told to look carefully for any signs of damage. Hopefully, the husks were old, and there wouldn’t be any living beetles inside the box. I delicately unwrapped the first item.

A gorgeous, stoic face stared back at me. The plaque wrapped alongside the statue head titled it “The Prin-cess,” and labeled its origin Kenyan. I was both intensely curious and

awestruck. The statue was so striking in its aspect that its motionless stare made me feel vulnerable. Suddenly, like a kid at Christmas, I needed to know what was underneath the wrappings and I needed to know it yesterday.

Piece by piece, I detangled, unrav-eled, brushed off, and unfolded everything I could get my hands on. Though I was technically inspect-ing the items for damage, I knew what I was doing was something far more intimate. As I brushed away dust and turned the objects over in my hands, I realized that I was peering into a different time and place; I was touching history.

In total, I found two statues, two drinking cups, one wooden musical instrument, and one beautiful woven blanket. What I didn’t find? More carpet beetles.

I packed the box up and hauled it back to storage, moving slower than my usual pace. Knowing what precious cargo lay in my arms, I couldn’t help it. I set the box back on its shelf, and caught a glimpse of the tag on the front: ‘Africa Box #10.’ Stepping backward, I saw rows upon rows of Africa boxes, so much so that I had to swing my neck from left to right to see them all.

What kind of treasures did they hold? The prospect overwhelmed me. If ‘Africa Box #10’ was any indication of what lies within the Museum’s collection, I knew that the other Africa boxes I saw were full of pieces that would amaze and astonish.

Eventually, I had to keep re-labeling the boxes, begrudgingly moving my way through the A’s and onto the B’s. I shot a glance back at the Africa boxes.

Secretly, I prayed for more beetle husks.

Thank YouThe Hannah Lindahl Children’s Museum Endowment Fund administered by the Community Foundation of Saint Joseph County was begun with a founding dona-tion of $10,500 by Don and Nancy Crawford in 2000. The Endowment has since grown to more than $225,000.

The Endowment Fund ensures the ongo-ing legacy of Hannah Lindahl Children’s Museum in the local community. It supports our mission to provide a collec-tion of unique artifacts that encourages families to explore, learn and enjoy the history of the Mishawaka area.

We wish to thank our 2016-2017 Donors

to the Endowment Fund

$150 – $200 Bob and Mary Alice Beutter

Barbara J Byrum

Ilene M. Crutchfield

William and Linda Gray

Nancy Harter

Donna Hums

Alison Kerchner

Jim Kish

Lexie Schroeder Kobb

Peggy and Allen Marker

Tomi Mason

Connie Saltzgaber

William Welling

$1,000 – $5,000 Patricia L. Tollens

If you wish to make a donation to the HLCM Endowment Fund, please contact director@hlcm.org, 574-254-4540 or contact the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County at 574-232-0041.

Museum CalendarMarch 31, 2015 – Ongoing Clothing Store After 2 years, hundreds of volun-teer hours, the financial support of our Museum Artifactors, and a grant from the Mishawaka Business Association, the Museum’s Clothing Store Exhibit is now open. The exhibit features WWII era clothing, the his-tory and products of Ball-Band/ Uniroyal, fashion accessories for men and women through the decades and more.

October 5, 2016 – May 31, 2017 World Famous Mishawakans, Part II This exhibit features three world famous residents from Mishawaka’s past and present. This year we are highlighting the life and influence of Anna Rohrer (track and cross country athlete), Allan “Rocky” Lane (movie and television actor) and Wallace Dodge (inventor and entrepreneur). This exhibit changes annually, to see past featured World Famous Mishawakans visit HLCM’s website!

October 2016 – Ongoing Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library Display The Museum’s display case in the lower level of the downtown

Mishawaka library features a rotating adventure of objects from the Museum’s permanent collection. The case currently features vintage games and toys. April 10 – May 15, 2017 From Pencils to Pixels: Hoosier Cartoons and Comics Your opportunity to discover the creativity of Hoosier cartoonists with this traveling exhibit from the Indiana Historical Society. The exhibit explores the adventures of comic strip characters such as fat-cat Garfield, Brown County savant Abe martin, and “Chic” Jackson’s “Roger Bean,” which featured the lives of a typical Hoosier family.

May 9, 2017 Give Local St. Joseph County The Museum will be free to the public and open with extended hours from 9 a.m.– 6 p.m. Spe-cial Museum-Hunt games will be available for ages 5 – adult.

News with an Amusing TwistWith special thanks to David Eisen for collecting comical local newspaper articles.

SOUTH BEND WEEKLY TRIBUNESouth Bend, IN • December 1905

SNAKE IN BUGGY WITH HERGoshen, Ind., Nov. 25 – While riding in her carriage east of Goshen, Mrs. George Everheck felt something moving at her feet in the buggy box. She made an examina-

tion and was startled to find a huge rattle snake tangled in her shoes. After succeeding in killing the snake with the butt end of her whip, Mrs. Everheck collapsed and has since been suffering with nervousness.

Museum hours: Tues. – Fri. 9 AM to noon & 1 PM to 4 PM,

(closed whenever school is not in session in SCM) Admission charges: $1.00 – Children ages 2 – 4 $2.00 – Seniors ages 62+ & students ages 5 – 17 $3.00 – Adults Free Admission for Museum Members

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1402 South Main StreetMishawaka, IN 46544

Telephone: (574) 254-4540FAX: (574) 254-4585

www.hlcm.org

The mission of the Hannah Lindahl Children’s Museum is to provide a collection of unique artifacts that encourages families to

explore, learn, and enjoy the history of the Mishawaka area.

Museum Advisory Board 2016–17Dave Eisen, president • Linda Irish, vice president • Linda Gray, secretary

Connie Saltzgaber, treasurer • Dr. A. Dean Speicher, Superintendent • Ruth Ann Bauert Kevin Davis • Peter DeKever • Dave Eggleston • Annette Ernst • Lisa Gartee • Eva Jojo

Avery McCool • Dr. Bruce Stahly • Dr. Theodore Stevens • Ellen WestEmeritus: Emmy Cokewood • Karen Jackson • Paula Meersman

Ann Sharp • Jane WeaverDirector: Lexie Schroeder Kobb

Wall of Fame 20+ YearsAtef M. Tawadros D.D.S.Bryan Chiropractic CenterGarden Patch MarketGary’s Barber/Style Shop

15 – 19 Years1st Source BankDr. Brian D. EberhartMagrames Motor SalesMichiana Accounting ServiceSchindler, Olson & CurreyTeachers Credit UnionWeber Electric, Inc.Woodcox Cleaning & Restorations

11 – 14 YearsGeorge A Mighion DDS PCKeyBankMagrane Pet Medical Center

6 – 10 YearsPrincess City Dental

2 – 5 YearsHinges & Handles, Inc.John Boettcher Sewer & Excavating

2016 – 2017 ArtifactorsNew Donors United BeverageAJ Heating & Cooling, Inc.

Special Project Donors Beta Gamma Chapter of Tri-Kappa, Inc.Four Winds CasinosMattress WarehouseMishawaka Business AssociationMishawaka Education Foundation

Thank you for your support!For information about becoming a Museum Artifactor,

please contact director@hlcm.org