BALDWIN COUNTY HERITAGE MUSEUM
Mission History Projects Membership Volunteers Acquisitions Donations Wish List Thanks
The Mission of the Baldwin County Heritage Museum is to preserve the culture of the farm communities of early Baldwin County through the creation of a home for historically significant buildings, documents and artifacts from community life.
The Baldwin County Heritage Museum Association, Inc. was organized in April 1981 by a group of area residents who wished to gather facts, tools, machinery, and histories and ethnic cultures of the men and women who settled in the county about the turn of the century and design a museum in which to showcase their collections
Understanding the importance of this project for Baldwin County, museum board members, John & Ruby Haupt donated 5 acres of land as a home for the museum. The site, named “Frieden Im Wald” or Peace in the Forest, provided a rural setting that realistically represented the land as it had been at the turn of the century. The conservation of this environment plays an important role in the preservation plans and activities of the museum. In June, 1983, the land was dedicated in a ground breaking ceremony.
The design for the grounds was done by the Landscape Architecture Program of Auburn University. There are over a hundred species of native flora and fauna growing on the grounds. Joe Manley, a member of the museum board, has supervised the care of the grounds for many years.
Construction on the first building began in 1984 and was opened to the public Oct. 31, 1987. It resembles a turn of the century barn with a working windmill in front. The windmill was donated by John & Ruby Haupt in memory of their parents Paul & Marie Haupt and Henry C. & Frances Vikers. The original building contains three public rooms – an all purpose classroom for lectures and meetings, a exhibit room and a large storage area for donated artifacts. In the NE corner of the addition to the original building is an extensive tool collection donated in 1998 by the widow of Dr. Kee, an area dentist. This area also contains a Post Office and a Barber Shop.
The second building called the Haupt Building in honor of the sponsors who donated the land. It was completed in late 1987 and dedicated on February 28, 1998. It houses vintage farm equipment, tools and machinery. Also housed in this building is a 1911 Titan Tractor.
The third edition was a working blacksmiths shop though it has not been developed into a full exhibit because of the unexpected addition of the fourth building, a 1908 church moved to its new home on the museum grounds in 1998.
General Mercantile Store: Plans for a fifth building are in the works. A vintage oil tank such as the ones use by area farmers and a gasoline pump with fuel for 17 cents a gallon will complete this addition.
Johnson Room: The Johnson Room is a showcase of early Baldwin County everyday life. It contains tools, farm equipment, house wares and appliances, as well as the machinery and equipment necessary for business and industry in rural Alabama.
This large area is badly insulated, unheated and without air-conditioning. It is without humidity control or proper electrical outlets. This has allowed mold and other issues to take hold in this area. There is serious decay and contamination of many artifacts in this area.
There is no
seating or rest area for visitors to spend time enjoying the displays. The poor
lighting detracts from the visibility and enjoyment.
BCHM Board of Directors recognize the need to address these issues in order to clean and protect the artifacts from further deterioration and to improve comfort and safety for visitors to the museum. Toward That end they have begun an extensive curative and preservation project. They hope to complete the initial cleaning and repair over the course of the next twelve months.
Your donations and volunteer time are badly needed for this project. Contact: Becky Holliday bchm@gulftel.com for more information or to offer assistance.
INFORMATION COMING SOON
INFORMATION COMING SOON
"To laugh often
and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of
children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of
false friends; to appreciate beauty; to leave the world a bit better whether by
a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know that
even one life has breathed easier because you have lived…………….This is to have
succeeded."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Volunteers
raised and moved St. Marks Lutheran church to its new home on the museum grounds
then lovingly restored to its original condition, built the handicap ramp to the
front doors and restored the 1911 Titan Tractor. Volunteers are the life blood
and the backbone of Baldwin County Heritage Museum. We welcome your
participation and look forward to the time you share with us.
Contact: .Becky Holliday
bchm@gulftel.com or click the image to print the application PDF format..
Contact Becky Holliday bchm@gulftel.com for more information on items you may wish to donate to the museum or to volunteer to assist her in cataloging, digitally recording, and tagging items in the museum collection.
The Baldwin County Heritage Museum welcomes donations to its various collections. Of primary importance and consideration are the artifacts, photographs or archival documents dealing with some aspect of Baldwin County history. If you are considering a donation, please remember that nearly every item has a historical importance. Everyday objects, such as pens with business advertising or a well-used tool or overalls, make wonderful additions to our collections because of the stories they tell.
Contact: Becky Holliday bchm@gulftel.com for items you can contribute to the operation of the museum.
Many thanks to all of you for all you have done to assist Baldwin County Heritage Museum. Your influence has had a major impact on the entire county over the last year. You are directly responsible for many of the major changes taking place at the museum. You encouragement that keeps us moving forward.