Julie Kimmer, director at Courthouse Square Museum, is always looking for ways to showcase Eaton County. What better way to do that than by bringing together the seven major public school districts in one exhibit.
Titled, Points of Pride in Eaton County, the exhibit officially opens to the public March 5 during a special reception from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The opening is free and open to the public.
“One thing we try to do here is create county-wide exhibits,” Kimmer said. “This is Eaton County’s museum. Any chance we get to highlight all parts of the county, we love to do an exhibit.”
Kimmer reached out to Bellevue, Charlotte, Grand Ledge, Potterville, Maple Valley, Eaton Rapids and Olivet school districts, their alumni organizations as well as local historical societies, opening the exhibit up to anything they wanted to share.
“Schools have definitely changed over the years,” Kimmer said. “We have things here that talk about the rifle club and what size knife you’re required to take to school.”
Sarah Buckmaster, Courthouse Square intern, said a couple of artifacts caught her attention.
“The Vermontville School sent an autograph book that dates back to 1895,” Buckmaster said. “There is a Communist and Socialist Propaganda book in the Eaton Rapids exhibit.”
Each district has its own display, Buckmaster said. Much of what the school districts sent over is from the past 20 to 30 years, though there are some older pieces. She said the exhibit also gives people a look at the timeline of education in America and how it has changed over the years.
Group and guided tours of the exhibit are available upon request. Courthouse Square Museum is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Points of Pride in Eaton County will be on display through Frontier Days in September.
