Museum Memo

Hello from the Great Bend Museum in Ravenswood!

We were founded in 1972 by the Jackson County Historical Society to share the history of our county and the Ohio River’s Great Bend region through objects, photographs, and archives. In 2020, the Historical Society entrusted the museum and its collection to the City of Ravenswood, ensuring that we can continue to preserve and promote county history for generations to come.

Object Stories: The iron safe seen in the accompanying photo is believed to be the earliest one used by the Jackson County Courthouse. Likely acquired in the 1830s, the safe was built by the John Scott Safe Co., one of the earliest to experiment with fireproofing by mixing asbestos and plaster and sealing it inside steel walls. I’ve always found pieces like this safe especially interesting, not just for how they were built but for what they might have once held. Though no documents remain inside, it’s easy to imagine what it might have once protected: land deeds, court records, or even wartime correspondence during the Civil War. It may have played a quiet role in some of the county’s most dramatic moments, including the trial of John Morgan. Retired around 1920, the safe was later used by the Board family in their flour and grist mills. Today, it stands in the museum as a quiet reminder of the ways communities have always tried to protect what mattered most.

Just Around the Corner: On July 12 at 1 p.m., join us for a free photography workshop at the Ripley Public Library, led by professional photographer Martin Unrue. This hands-on session will explore essential techniques, including composition, exposure, and lighting. These key skills can help you capture striking images no matter your experience level. Whether you’re new to photography or looking to refine your skills, Martin will adapt the workshop to fit your interests and needs. Bring any camera and receive personalized guidance along with helpful handouts to take home.

This workshop is a perfect complement to our current photography exhibit, “Behind Clara’s Lens: The Life and Photography of Clara Weisheit,” which highlights the rich visual history of our region through the work of a pioneering local photographer. By learning practical skills in this workshop, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation of the artistry and storytelling in Clara’s work and perhaps be inspired to create your own photographic legacy. Whether you want to capture family moments, landscapes, or scenes from daily life, this event offers a wonderful opportunity to connect with other photography enthusiasts and explore your creative potential.

Director’s Desk: While this month’s featured collection item, the courthouse’s safe, might seem like a heavy piece of metal (and believe me, it is), what it protected was far more delicate: paper. Old letters, deeds, court documents, even wartime correspondence!

These fragile pages once sat behind those heavy doors because they mattered. And if you’re anything like me, chances are you’ve got your own “safe” at home. It might be a shoebox of letters, a desk drawer full of newspaper clippings, or that one folder full of handwritten recipes no one dares to lose.

At the museum, preserving history is part of our daily routine, but the truth is, you don’t need a vault or a degree in conservation to care for the things that tell your story. A few small changes at home can go a long way.

One simple place to start is by thinking about where you keep your keepsakes. Try to avoid storing important papers in basements or attics. They’re too hot, too damp, and a little too friendly to mold. Instead, find a cool, dry spot inside where the temperature stays relatively stable year-round. And when you’re tucking away birth certificates or love letters, try using acid-free folders or boxes. These materials keep paper from yellowing or becoming brittle over time and are more affordable and accessible than many people realize.

We also get a lot of questions about what not to do. So, here’s the short list: no tape, no glue, and definitely no laminating. Those quick fixes might seem helpful now, but they can actually cause long-term damage. If you want to protect something fragile, archival sleeves are your best friend. Polypropylene, polyester (Mylar), and polyethylene are safe plastic options for sleeves and can often be found at craft stores.

Preserving your history isn’t about perfection; it’s about care. Just like that old courthouse safe, it isn’t about the place where we tuck our treasures, be it a box under the bed or a folder in a kitchen drawer; it’s about the stories inside. If you ever have questions, we at the Great Bend Museum are here to help, because preserving history, big or small, is something we all share.

The Great Bend Museum, at 220 Riverfront Park in Ravenswood, is open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Follow on Facebook, visit www.cityofravenswood.com/museum, call 304-273-1999, or email us at museum@cityofravenswood.com.