04/27/12 This week the Marshall County Historical Society held their 41st Annual Dinner at Christo’s Banquet Center in Plymouth.
After a wonderful dinner the business meeting was conducted by Dr. Ron Liechty. The financial report ending December 31, 2011 showed a total of $185,702.93 in all funds including the Expansion Fund, Endowment Fund, and Operating Fund. Liechty also recognized the significant donation of Elizabeth Marshall who passed away on August 26th at the age of 91. She bequeathed the museum a 159 acre farm and 14 room house and all the contents. In February the ground was sold for an even $1 million. The museum staff and volunteers have spent many hours going through the belongings and making the determination of which items to keep for the museum and which ones to sell. An auction of the contents of the home will take place in Bourbon at a later date.
The Executive Director of the museum, Linda Rippy and Research Specialist Karin Rettinger honored those volunteers who have reached mile-stones in the hours they have donated to the museum. The 100 hour club were Mandy chalk, Jerry Eby, Marilyn Gochenour, Linda Hindman, Carol Jeffirs, Marilee Johnson, Anita Kopetski, Richard Rippy and Harriet Scheetz. Volunteers giving over 200 hours to the museum included Mary Ann Norris, Barbara Quivey and Phyllis Schoonover. Sherry Benedict and Karen Marks were recognized in the 300 hours club.
The Annual meeting also included a slate of candidates for election to the Board of Trustees for a three year term. Those candidates approved for re-appointment to the board included Dr. Tom Buchanan, Charles Dalton, Emilie Huffman, Mary Ann Norris and Sandra Wallace. Mayor Mark Senter was the only newly elected member to the Board of Trustees.
Following the annual meeting, the program was Debra Conner who portrayed Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, the only female to be an assistant surgeon during the Civil War. While crossing enemy lines to tend to Confederate civilians along the Tennessee and Georgia border, she was captured and sent to a Confederate prison camp for four months in 1864. One year later, President Andres Johnson awarded her the Congressional Medal of Honor for her devotion to tending sick and wounded soldiers. She remains the only woman ever to receive that honor.
