Museum Memo

Exhibits

• We’ve been hard at work revamping one of our permanent exhibits in time for Veteran’s Day. “In Memoriam: Jackson County in America’s Wars” tells how our communities and our veterans have served their country for the past 160 years. Maybe you’ll see someone you recognize in the exhibit!

• Next, we’ll be working on an exhibit about Jackson County’s entire history that will include approximately 30 objects. We’d love to hear from you about what you think are the most important stories and objects that we should include.

Events

• On November 17 at 6 pm, Professor Ric Dias will present a free webinar called “Soil to Foil: Kaiser Aluminum’s Assault on Ravenswood.” You can view the webinar live on the City of Ravenswood’s YouTube page (https://youtube.com/live/hIxBVkHxf54?feature=share) or attend a watch party at the Ravenswood and Ripley Libraries where refreshments will be served.

• Our fall photography contest is still open until November 24. We’re looking for photos of the inside and outside of the museum and log house. If you would like to submit any photos or if you have any questions, stop by or send us an email.

Donations

• Elizabeth Monahan gave an 1832 hand-drawn map of Ripley that belonged to her grandfather, Gay Duke, a veterinarian and former mayor of Ripley. We’re excited to receive this treasure and preserve it for future generations.

• Doug and Judy Ritchie gave an assortment of archives and photos from Doug’s father, Ray. Many relate to Ray’s time at Kaiser Aluminum, including a very cool ca. 1962 yearbook of KACC’s salaried employees.

• If you or anyone you know have objects you’d like to donate, let us know. We collect objects, photos, and archives from all around Jackson County and always look to build and improve our collection. The more we have, the more stories we can tell.

Volunteer Spotlight

We are so grateful to all of our talented volunteers who dedicate their time to making our museum and our community better. This month, we want to feature Carol Crow. Carol is our longest-running volunteer, having been with us since October 2021. She’s helped catalog and organize hundreds of items in the museum, as well as given tours to the more than 3000 visitors who have stopped in since she began. She enjoys exploring the stories in our collection and learning new things about the history of our community; most recently, she found a news article about Ted Kennedy, who accompanied his brother John to Ravenswood. John had lost his voice on the campaign trail and needed Ted to give his speech for him. We knew about John’s visit, but who remembers his brother giving the speech instead? Carol’s work is helping us uncover new stories about our history. Her dedication and generosity are truly remarkable and serve as an inspiration to everyone around her. If you or someone you know would be interested in volunteering at the museum, stop in or contact us at the addresses provided below.

Mystery of the Month

We wish we knew more about a 1902 crazy quilt in our collection. We don’t know who gave it or who made it — or why. It has 9 individuals’ initials on it: BJB, MSM, BBM, EB, EJM, JFM, VMM, LB, and another whose piece has been lost. Was it a fundraiser, like another signature quilt we have? How did the makers know each other? These mysteries, combined with the elaborate piecing and embroidery covering it, make it an endlessly intriguing artifact. You can see an image of the quilt on the outside of the museum. If you recognize it or identify the names, please let us know! We’re constantly trying to learn more about the history of the objects we have.

Closing Thoughts

We hope this column has inspired you to explore, learn, and appreciate the beauty of our museum’s offerings. We are a museum of all of Jackson County, for all of Jackson County. Share your experiences with us, bring your friends, and help us spread the magic of our history.

The hours of the museum, located at 220 Riverfront Park in Ravenswood, are Tuesday through Saturday 12 pm to 4 pm. Contact by emailing museum@cityofravenswood.com, call 304-273-1999 or mail at 1 Wall Street, Ravenswood, WV 26164. Follow the Great Ben Museum on Facebook or visit www.cityofravenswood.com/museum.