The month of May is dedicated to National Preservation Month. Also known as Historic Preservation Month, the month celebrates the nation’s heritage through historic places. Organizations across the country promote a variety of activities on the local, state, and national levels to commemorate Preservation Month. This month also marks the 10-year anniversary of when we held our grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for the historical society’s new home in the former Marshall-Lyon County Library. On May 16, we are having an open house from 4:00-6:00 PM followed by a program at 6:30 PM. Join us for cake and ice cream and register for door prizes. Below is history of the Lyon County Historical Society before 2013:

The Lyon County Historical Society was established in June of 1934 by Arthur P. Rose, the author of the 1912 History of Lyon County book. The Society was “reactivated” on November 18, 1954. At the 1954 meeting, held at the courthouse, the following officers were elected: Bruce Pierard, President; J.E. Conner, Vice President; Mrs. Arthur Freese, Secretary; Charles Chapman, Treasurer; Kermit Huso, C.E. Peterson, and William Beasley. In 1965, the Society was incorporated as a non-profit organization in accordance with state law.

1957 – The society created a museum within a Great Northern Railroad baggage coach located alongside the Lyon County Courthouse.  When this coach was damaged by a storm in the mid-1960’s, the artifacts were moved to the basement of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Tracy and the Lyon County Fairgrounds. 

1968 – Exhibits were created in the lower level of the Marshall-Lyon County Library.  Eventually, the library needed the space and the exhibits were dismantled and moved to private homes in the city of Tracy for further storage.

1975 – The society was given the original 1892 Lyon County/District courtroom to use as a museum.  Some of the society’s artifacts were moved and displayed in the new space, much remained in storage.  As the county prepared to expand its office space and demolish the 1892 courthouse, the society was again looking for museum space.

1994 – The society moved the museum to the Knights of Columbus building on 3rd Street.  This location provided space for growth in the collection and exhibits, notably, the log cabin, prairie schooner, and Schwan’s ice cream counter.

2009 – In need of a new lease and still looking for a permanent home, the museum was moved to 356 West Main Street.  However, with limited space, much of the collection was put back in storage.

2012 – Lyon County purchased the former Marshall-Lyon County Library, providing a permanent home for the LCHS museum.

2013 – The first floor of the new museum in the former library building opened to the public.

The photograph featured this week from the Lyon County Museum’s collection shows a quilt that was donated to the collection. The quilt was made by Melissa Lindsay, who lived in Fairview Township near Green Valley. She was born on April 23, 1846 in New York and passed away on August 31, 1936 at her home on the farm in Fairview Township.

The Lyon County Historical Society (LCHS) is a non-profit, member-supported organization. LCHS operates the Lyon County Museum at 301 W Lyon St in Marshall. The Lyon County Museum is open year-round to visitors. To contact us, visit our website: www.lyoncomuseum.org, call: 507-537-6580, email: director@lyoncomuseum.org, or on our Facebook page.