Beautiful Morning In Russell, Iowa

Woke up this morning to this beautiful sight outside my front door.  Didn't last very long so thought I better get a picture while I could.  I know most of you don't miss the winters in Southern Iowa, but maybe you can enjoy this picture.

Outside Christmas Decoration Awards

There weren't as many decorated homes in Russell this year or not everyone had their lights turned on when I was out doing the judging.  The ones I did see were very pretty and that made it hard to decide on a winner.  Blue lights and white lights seemed to be the most popular; although many used the old traditional multicolored lights.  

Congratulations, Duane and Cindy Bedford, you are the 2010 Russell Wayside Garden Club winners of the Best Outside Christmas Decorations.  Their home sits back off the main streets in Russell, but it is worth finding.  It is a block south of the Russell School building.

Be sure to drive through town and enjoy all the pretty decorations.  Marilyn and Butch Evans have a beautiful display all in blue lights.  Also take a look at the home at 515 W. Stanton; very pretty with all white lights.  And of course Ron Hoover's home on W. Ames St. is beautiful, as it always is every year. 

The History Book

We had hoped to have the Russell History Book ready for publication and sale in time for Christmas gifts.  Ever hear the phrase "bit off more than we could chew?"  That's not exactly the whole story but it is part of it. 
First, one of our volunteers has had to drop out due to family health issues.
Second, one of our contributors has also offered to contact a publisher and determine if the book could be published in hardback form and at what cost if possible.  He hasn't gotten back to us on that as yet. We'd really, really like to be able to offer it to you in hardback if we can do so at a reasonable price.  Copies of the book will also be sent to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah; to the Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne, Indiana; and to the Mid-Continent Public Library in Independence, Missouri, for inclusion in their genealogy collections. 
So, you have more time to get a story or stories in to us to include in the book.  Our new goal for publication and sale is going to be May 1, 2011.
Snail mail any stories and/or pictures to Russell Historical Society, P.O. Box 412, Russell, Iowa, 50238.  Or e-mail them to us at rihs106@yahoo.com.

Lucas County Businesses Donate Toward Building Expansion

Wanda Liddell and Larry Davis

These pictures and the articles (by Bill Howes) appeared in the Chariton Leader on December 14, 2010

$1,000 check donation to the Russell Historical Society

Earlier this fall, the Chariton Arts and Recreation Board, which is the board for the Vision II Theater, made a $1,000 donation to the Russell Historical Society to go towards the building expansion of the Russell Historical Society Museum.  Presenting the check on the right is Chariton Arts and Recreation Board member, Larry Davis, and accepting on the left is Wanda Liddell, the president of the Russell Historical Society Board of Directors.

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Bancorp Foundation Makes Donation 

to the Russell Historical Society 

 

The U.S. Bancorp Foundation made a $500 donation to the Russell Historical Society on December 10.  The money donated will be used towards the Russell Historical Society Museum's building expansion.

Wanda Liddell and Bob Stump

Chariton US Bank Branch Manager, Bob Stump, presented the check on behalf of U.S. Bancorp Foundation to Wanda Liddell, the President of the Russell Historical Society Board of Directors.

For the expansion, a new 30 ft. x 70 ft. building has been built, which will be the Russell Historical Museum.  The new building is attached to the existing building, which will house the Russell Library.  The existing building is 30 ft. x 50 ft.

Liddell said that so far $5,000 has been raised for the new museum building from fundraisers and grants.  The Russell Historical Society has held a lot of fundraisers to raise the money they have so far.  "We'll probably have a lot more fundraisers over the next year.  We'll also try to have a new membership drive," Liddell said. 

The outside portion of the new building is done.  The inside walls and ceiling still need to be sprayed and painted and Liddell said that they have close to 3,000 items that need to be displayed.  "We have a lot of display items, but we need mounts and cases to display them on and in," she said.

The new museum will house different sections including a school section, music section, and military section.  There will also be a quilting frame set up for a quilting display.

One item that will be displayed is a full-sized 1936 tractor.  Another item is the Russell Oil original horse drawn tank wagon.