By Anne Scheck
TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF
It’s only a month until autumn officially begins, and this fall will bring more than a seasonal change to Trammart News. The Independent will return to several downtown stores and restaurants in September, in the same display holders that have been missing for more than a year.
That first delivery also will celebrate another publication, The Polk County Itemizer-Observer, which survived a near-death experience more than a year ago when it was threatened with closure, then rescued, and stayed the course through the long, hard pandemic. A brief front-page article will explain why the I-O, as it is fondly abbreviated, is more than the sum of its parts.
And, as the next school year begins, Trammart News will drop school board attendance in The Linking Loop, focusing instead on education metrics -- and occasional features.
The five-year tradition of Trammart News has been to stay on this side of the S Curve – out of Monmouth – but that dividing line became blurred during the period of covid. Some outside residents took concerns about their own city government to someone who couldn’t and wouldn’t cover that city; It's time to return to inside the boundary of that river city known by the nickname Indy. Public Health Points will expand to include environmental challenges, from the walkability of sidewalks to an examination of the water supply.
Also, look for a series of profiles on those who are making a difference here, like Katie Schaub, the owner of the Ovenbird Bakery, who celebrated her 10th anniversary this summer. She has agreed to sit down to discuss a decade of creating a place on Main Street that keeps bringing us all back for more.
Finally, Trammart News plans to spend more time in professional circles this year, to ensure coverage improves and increases along with the growth in sign-ups for The Linking Letter. One recent lesson already putting a new notch in the learning curve: Steve Scheck, spouse of the editor-publisher, really shouldn’t be serving on any city-related boards while tied to someone who may write articles about them. He currently is on the library board, and he has declined to step down – so there will be disclosure of this marital relationship every time the library is the focus of an article that goes beyond a "brief" or a photo.
Thank you everyone for helping Trammart News grow a little, even during the worst time in recent memory, as we all plowed through a year that I hope we can put behind us in the most positive way possible.
EDITORIAL: BENEFITS OF NEW MUSEUM SITE
As the Heritage Museum relocates to a recently refurbished space across from the Post Office in downtown Independence, some have expressed reservations about the investment the city made – and the move from the previous location in a historic church a few blocks away. An editorial by a longtime volunteer for the Heritage Museum offers an explanation of the advantages of the move. --AS
By Vickie McCubbin
Heritage Museum Advisory Board - Chair
If you haven’t visited the Independence Heritage Museum lately or have never been, you are in for a big treat when the doors open in the new location at 281 2nd Street in September. Moving an entire museum is a big job and Curator Amy Christensen and the City are geared up and moving! Since the museum first opened on July 4 of 1976, it has been the mission of the City to preserve the heritage, culture, and historic artifacts and stories of Independence and the surrounding area. Two obstacles to the sharing of that story have been accessibility and visibility. Tucked away on 3rd St. in the historic Baptist Church with its many stairs, the museum has not been able to meet its full potential in fulfilling its mission. The move to downtown Independence will change that.
As Chair of the Independence Heritage Museum Advisory Board and volunteer for five years, I would like to offer some insight into what the future of the museum holds and how the move and upgrade will benefit the community and its visitors.
The challenge of making the museum accessible has been on the radar of the city since the 1980s and part of the Independence 2020 Vision plan. The most recent strategic plan for the museum included the goal of moving to a new location. Because the building is an historic property, making structural changes to the building become problematic. Cost estimates for making the current location accessible and remedying other condition problems have also been cost prohibitive. When the building on 2nd street became available, the City carefully studied the building as a potential resolution to the current issues, taking into account upgrades, remodeling, and selling the church building. An eager buyer has purchased the building for the asking price of $350,000, defraying a large amount of the cost of the new building. Additionally, the Heritage Museum Society, which has been working for years to raise money for upgrades, has donated $20,000 to help defray costs of the move. The Society will continue to fundraise and has plans for making more contributions.
The strategic plan for the museum also included goals for greater outreach by engaging more youth and young adults and reaching out to the Latinx community. The museum will soon be able to better connect with the numerous downtown events and can better extend its outreach to those communities. The annual Independence Birthday Party Celebration will be easier for people to attend since building clues will be nearby. The new location is within easy walking distance for visitors at the Independence Hotel. The gift shop will have space for local artisans to sell their products. Its boardroom can potentially be available to other community groups for gatherings and also be a welcoming space for classes hosted by the museum and be a quiet space for researchers.
The larger and more open location will allow the museum to host the speakers and presentations that have been housed in the Civic Center due to space limitations. Students and staff from Independence Elementary will also enjoy the open space. Instead of dividing the classes into small groups students, parents, and staff will be able to tour as a group and participate in interactive displays.
Expect to see changes in the displays at the new museum. Research shows that visitors who find stories in a museum enjoy their time spent much more. Jake Barton, designer and founder of the museum consulting firm Local Projects feel that if museums are boring “it’s because the museum has failed to capture humans’ deep-seated love of storytelling. It hasn’t made the exhibit, artwork, or artifact relatable.” Independence City Councilor Shannon Corr would agree, “When someone pulls an exhibit together and can share their inspiration and the road to getting there, it really brings it to life for me.” she said. Ms. Christensen feels, “the best museums are the ones that offer an exhibit with multiple styles of connection available.” She feels telling engaging stories of the area are important and her plans for the August opening will include an agricultural exhibit with tools that are labeled, informational panels, a video display, and more. There will be a focus on the Independence heydays as the Hop Capital of the World with displays and photos that will “pull the viewer into a story.” The exhibit will time well with the annual Hop & Heritage Block Party in downtown Independence. The Independence Downtown Association, host of the block party, has had requests for more of an emphasis on the heritage and history of hops in the area and the museum will be able to accommodate that request.
The new Heritage Museum represents an opportunity for creating community involvement, education, partnership with downtown businesses, and a welcoming spot for all. To read more about how museums benefit communities check out these helpful links:
https://www.colleendilen.com/2009/07/31/10-reasons-to-visit-a-museum/
http://museums-now.blogspot.com/2012/10/place-based-learning-in-museums.html
https://www.businessinsider.com/why-awesome-museums-are-still-boring-2015-11
TRAMMART NEWS BOOTH WILL BE BACK AT RIVERVIEW FARMERS' MARKET ON AUGUST 14, STOP BY!
TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF
It’s only a month until autumn officially begins, and this fall will bring more than a seasonal change to Trammart News. The Independent will return to several downtown stores and restaurants in September, in the same display holders that have been missing for more than a year.
That first delivery also will celebrate another publication, The Polk County Itemizer-Observer, which survived a near-death experience more than a year ago when it was threatened with closure, then rescued, and stayed the course through the long, hard pandemic. A brief front-page article will explain why the I-O, as it is fondly abbreviated, is more than the sum of its parts.
And, as the next school year begins, Trammart News will drop school board attendance in The Linking Loop, focusing instead on education metrics -- and occasional features.
The five-year tradition of Trammart News has been to stay on this side of the S Curve – out of Monmouth – but that dividing line became blurred during the period of covid. Some outside residents took concerns about their own city government to someone who couldn’t and wouldn’t cover that city; It's time to return to inside the boundary of that river city known by the nickname Indy. Public Health Points will expand to include environmental challenges, from the walkability of sidewalks to an examination of the water supply.
Also, look for a series of profiles on those who are making a difference here, like Katie Schaub, the owner of the Ovenbird Bakery, who celebrated her 10th anniversary this summer. She has agreed to sit down to discuss a decade of creating a place on Main Street that keeps bringing us all back for more.
Finally, Trammart News plans to spend more time in professional circles this year, to ensure coverage improves and increases along with the growth in sign-ups for The Linking Letter. One recent lesson already putting a new notch in the learning curve: Steve Scheck, spouse of the editor-publisher, really shouldn’t be serving on any city-related boards while tied to someone who may write articles about them. He currently is on the library board, and he has declined to step down – so there will be disclosure of this marital relationship every time the library is the focus of an article that goes beyond a "brief" or a photo.
Thank you everyone for helping Trammart News grow a little, even during the worst time in recent memory, as we all plowed through a year that I hope we can put behind us in the most positive way possible.
EDITORIAL: BENEFITS OF NEW MUSEUM SITE
As the Heritage Museum relocates to a recently refurbished space across from the Post Office in downtown Independence, some have expressed reservations about the investment the city made – and the move from the previous location in a historic church a few blocks away. An editorial by a longtime volunteer for the Heritage Museum offers an explanation of the advantages of the move. --AS
By Vickie McCubbin
Heritage Museum Advisory Board - Chair
If you haven’t visited the Independence Heritage Museum lately or have never been, you are in for a big treat when the doors open in the new location at 281 2nd Street in September. Moving an entire museum is a big job and Curator Amy Christensen and the City are geared up and moving! Since the museum first opened on July 4 of 1976, it has been the mission of the City to preserve the heritage, culture, and historic artifacts and stories of Independence and the surrounding area. Two obstacles to the sharing of that story have been accessibility and visibility. Tucked away on 3rd St. in the historic Baptist Church with its many stairs, the museum has not been able to meet its full potential in fulfilling its mission. The move to downtown Independence will change that.
As Chair of the Independence Heritage Museum Advisory Board and volunteer for five years, I would like to offer some insight into what the future of the museum holds and how the move and upgrade will benefit the community and its visitors.
The challenge of making the museum accessible has been on the radar of the city since the 1980s and part of the Independence 2020 Vision plan. The most recent strategic plan for the museum included the goal of moving to a new location. Because the building is an historic property, making structural changes to the building become problematic. Cost estimates for making the current location accessible and remedying other condition problems have also been cost prohibitive. When the building on 2nd street became available, the City carefully studied the building as a potential resolution to the current issues, taking into account upgrades, remodeling, and selling the church building. An eager buyer has purchased the building for the asking price of $350,000, defraying a large amount of the cost of the new building. Additionally, the Heritage Museum Society, which has been working for years to raise money for upgrades, has donated $20,000 to help defray costs of the move. The Society will continue to fundraise and has plans for making more contributions.
The strategic plan for the museum also included goals for greater outreach by engaging more youth and young adults and reaching out to the Latinx community. The museum will soon be able to better connect with the numerous downtown events and can better extend its outreach to those communities. The annual Independence Birthday Party Celebration will be easier for people to attend since building clues will be nearby. The new location is within easy walking distance for visitors at the Independence Hotel. The gift shop will have space for local artisans to sell their products. Its boardroom can potentially be available to other community groups for gatherings and also be a welcoming space for classes hosted by the museum and be a quiet space for researchers.
The larger and more open location will allow the museum to host the speakers and presentations that have been housed in the Civic Center due to space limitations. Students and staff from Independence Elementary will also enjoy the open space. Instead of dividing the classes into small groups students, parents, and staff will be able to tour as a group and participate in interactive displays.
Expect to see changes in the displays at the new museum. Research shows that visitors who find stories in a museum enjoy their time spent much more. Jake Barton, designer and founder of the museum consulting firm Local Projects feel that if museums are boring “it’s because the museum has failed to capture humans’ deep-seated love of storytelling. It hasn’t made the exhibit, artwork, or artifact relatable.” Independence City Councilor Shannon Corr would agree, “When someone pulls an exhibit together and can share their inspiration and the road to getting there, it really brings it to life for me.” she said. Ms. Christensen feels, “the best museums are the ones that offer an exhibit with multiple styles of connection available.” She feels telling engaging stories of the area are important and her plans for the August opening will include an agricultural exhibit with tools that are labeled, informational panels, a video display, and more. There will be a focus on the Independence heydays as the Hop Capital of the World with displays and photos that will “pull the viewer into a story.” The exhibit will time well with the annual Hop & Heritage Block Party in downtown Independence. The Independence Downtown Association, host of the block party, has had requests for more of an emphasis on the heritage and history of hops in the area and the museum will be able to accommodate that request.
The new Heritage Museum represents an opportunity for creating community involvement, education, partnership with downtown businesses, and a welcoming spot for all. To read more about how museums benefit communities check out these helpful links:
https://www.colleendilen.com/2009/07/31/10-reasons-to-visit-a-museum/
http://museums-now.blogspot.com/2012/10/place-based-learning-in-museums.html
https://www.businessinsider.com/why-awesome-museums-are-still-boring-2015-11
TRAMMART NEWS BOOTH WILL BE BACK AT RIVERVIEW FARMERS' MARKET ON AUGUST 14, STOP BY!
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