By Nancy Freeze
Traditionally, the year-end marks a time to give thanks, reflect on accomplishments and set goals for the year to come. The board and staff at the Kelley House have no shortage of things for which to be thankful. We have over 100 active volunteers, from our docents who show up every week, to our one-time event volunteers, and everyone in between.
There are so many accomplishments to report that I hardly know where to start. Special projects included the installation of a new heating system, and framing and displaying the 1858 Colton map. Both of these are the result of contributions made by the community. We also worked with the Point Cabrillo Light Station to publish our annual review in honor of their 150th anniversary. The Kelley House was one of the recipients of the “Volunteer of the Year” award given by the Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce for its participation in Heritage Days. And, last but not least, we hosted our three annual events, including the July 4th BBQ, Silent Auction and Holiday Tree Lighting. ALL of these accomplishments were due to the generous donations of products and services from local businesses, and a lot of hard work by our volunteers.
Our new Web site (also done by a volunteer) has greatly increased the accessibility of our archives, and the research office is now receiving inquiries from around the world. Our archivist and a dedicated team of volunteers continue to work on our ten-year backlog, and they have catalogued over 2000 photographs and 4400 individual’s names. The house museum also received attention this year from our college intern, who inventoried the house contents and created new permanent and rotating exhibits.
With all of these accomplishments, you can see why we are so thankful and appreciative of our community. But, we won’t be resting on our laurels; we have big plans for the coming year.
The next phase of our building improvements includes the installation of additional insulation to complement our new heating system. We have added more volunteers to our Sunday Afternoon With program, and the team is putting together a wide array of speakers and topics for talks beginning in April. Now that we are down to a manageable number of uncataloged items, the research staff and volunteers will be embarking on a new collections effort focusing on the 1950s through 1970s. (Watch this space for more information on this effort!)
There are still many volunteer positions open and lots of opportunities for creative and energetic people to join our team. Give me a call, and we’ll find the right opening for your skills and interest! If you haven’t visited the Kelley House lately, stop by to visit the museum or the research office to see our accomplishments firsthand. Best wishes for a healthy and prosperous New Year!
www.KelleyHouseMuseum.org
