Photos of Current Happenings . . . (Lastest Photos on Pages 2 & 3)

The Historical Society offered Trolley rides around historic Avoca on July 5, 2019 during Avoca’s Sesquicentennial celebration.

The last Trolley ride of the day arrives back at the boarding place at the Courthouse. Would you believe EVERY trip out was a “full house” of interested spectators?

Historical Society member Julie Miller Young was an extremely knowledgeable guide on some of the trips into the community . . .

Bob & Barb Brown's daughters Wanda and Janet shared an amazing program at the Avoca Museum on July 14, 2019 as they "took us with them" on their trip to Thailand.

Wanda Schuler and Janet Graham talking about their experience in Thailand with a beautiful photo on the screen in the background. Of special note would be the flowers painted on Wanda's pant leg while in Thailand. She said it maybe took 5 minutes for the person to paint it.

Janet and Wanda pose with Avoca resident Leo Bargenquast who has also been to Thailand. He was able to answer some questions they asked him during their presentation.

At the end of the Thailand presentation, Bill Johnson shared a brass utensil set from Thailand that was made from used military brass salvaged in Vietnam after that war. (Leo Bargenquast, Bob Brown, and Janet Graham view the set.)

A drive by the Newtown/Avoca Historical Society's Memory Garden on July 18, 2019 showed lots of pretty flowers in bloom now. This main sign was donated in memory of Ivan Troll and Mr/Mrs Carl Noller.

Here's a nice view of the gazebo and one of the brick pathways leading to it.

Lucky horseshoes draw the eye to the lilies in the background.

Even with the excessively hot weather, the flowers just seemed to pop with their striking colors . . .

August 18, 2019 was a special program of photos and information about the 1969 Time Capsule presented by Time Capsule Committee member John Butcher. Here Mary Pearson reads the very entertaining letter from a 12-year-old that was in the Capsule.

Members from the Historical Society and the community visit about items in the Time Capsule.

The 1938 Fire Truck belonging to the Historical Society was entered in the Masonic Lodge Car Show on September 8, 2019 at Edgington Park.

It was entered in Category T which was Trucks - Stock, 1954 and Older.

John Butcher holds the first place trophy the 1938 Fire Truck received!

The sign says it all!

September 15, 2019 found Joyce True and family sharing with the community the amazing wood carvings of her late husband Bill True.

Perhaps you have noticed this amazing wood carving when you have signed the guest book at the Avoca Museum?

Mary Pearson visits with Joyce True about some of the intricate details of some of Bill's carvings. In the right of the photo are Bill's first carving (tall Native American) and last carving (mid-sized Native American).

The humor in Bill's carvings was very evident!

The detail was mind boggling!

One more example for you to see. If you weren't there, you missed a "once-in-a-lifetime" treat!

Visitors enjoying socializing after viewing the carvings.

September 24, 2019 was the day the Time Capsule Committee chose to bury the 2019 capsule.

John Butcher and J Pearson return 1969 items and new items to the 2019 Time Capsule. Being placed in this photo are several envelopes from various families to their descendants to be opened in 2069!

John uses the city backhoe to dig the hole for the 2019 Time Capsule at the courtyard in the same place where the 1969 capsule was buried.

2019 Time Capsule with a few notes and autographs . . . ready to be buried!

J helps direct the capsule as John operates the levers.

. . . almost to its final resting place . . .

John and J ready for the final touches setting the capsule stone in place.

THE OLD MUSEUM SIGN has seen its better days so is being replaced. Last view of it in place in front of the Sweet Vale of Avoca Museum on October 6, 2019.

This whole part of the sign was buried in cement and was quite a chore to remove.

Next the lilac bushes were destined to be moved.

John Butcher ready to take the lilac bushes to the Memory Garden.

The lone item left in the triangle now is the light pole. Next task will be the removal of dirt and pouring of concrete before the new sign is put in place.

October 8, 2019 J Pearson, Larry Petersen, and Devin Datus put new down spouts on the northeast and northwest corners of the Newtown School at Edgington Memorial Park.

Ty Johnk with Sievers Electric of Walnut is back October 9, 2019 to continue the work of replacing our old "yellow" lights with new LEDs. Wait to see the change there will be in viewing our displays with the new lights!!

A second day, October 10, 2019 and Ty Johnk continues with the task of replacing the light panels.

October 20, 2019 found a good crowd of community members gathering at the Museum to listen as Julie Miller guided those in attendance "down memory lane."

Herb Rock shares details and what he remembers about the 1937 incident where Night Watch George Barker shot WPA worker Robert Moore who didn't want his home quarantined.

Sandy Petersen relates a story told by Todd VanBeck about a "dead body found in a bathtub" . . .

Everyone seems quite attentive to the old photos being shared on the screen. We thank all those who came and especially those who shared their stories and comments!! What a fun afternoon!!

November 8, 2019 was a chilly fall day but John Butcher and helper Roger Heilig ordered cement from Stowe Red-E-Mix to pour the sidewalk in the Museum triangle.

The cement in the triangle beginning the drying process.

November 23, 2019 Larry Ploen and John Butcher begin the process of erecting the new sign at the Museum by determining the placement for the anchor brackets.

John Butcher and Larry Ploen get the triangular framework in place with supporting horizontal braces for the three sign panels.

John Butcher and Larry Ploen square up one of the panels before it is permanently attached to the framework.

In this album you will find photographs of current things/happenings we hope you will find interesting about our Society. Keep checking back to see if we have added more photos!

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