TWO NEW EXHIBITS OPENING AT THE WILLIAMSTON DEPOT MUSEUM
Despite being closed for a year due to the pandemic, the museum has continued with the development of two new exhibits which will officially open on Sunday, June 27 from 2 - 4 pm. All are welcome.
"From Dry Goods to Men's Wear" is the title of an exhibit about Barrett’s clothing store which was located at 111 West Grand River in Williamston until it closed several years ago. It was a family-owned clothing store known for many years as “Barrett’s Store for Men and Boys.” Exhibit creator Linda Siciliano said she was inspired to do the exhibit because Barrett’s was the “longest operating business in Williamston.” The exhibit features many items carried by the store over the years, including a 1920's credit safe which will be available for visitors to peruse and possibly find the name of an ancestor who shopped in town.
“Williamston Depot’s Telegraph Station” is the title of the new permanent exhibit that recreates the railroad/Western Union telegraph station that originally was in the depot, located “by the railroad tracks.” The Depot was moved in 1979, by volunteers, to its current site. The “bay window” area was once the telegraph station. Board member Earl Wolf, who spearheaded the creation of the exhibit, states: “the board had talked about recreating a telegraph station in that spot for a long time, but we lacked many artifacts and the expertise.” Earl stumbled upon the name of Robert Hibbard, who is 92 plus and learned telegraphy after WWII. He worked as a telegrapher at nearly every train depot across lower Michigan. Mr. Hibbard volunteered to donate priceless telegraph artifacts as well as his knowledge to complete our exhibit. He is the "last of an era.” Best of all, he is articulate and will be at the museum for the opening and will talk at 3:00 pm about "his life as a railroad telegrapher."
Expenses incurred in creating the telegraph exhibit were covered by a grant from the Wilbur and Ruth Wright Charitable Trust, the Ruth Jones Memorial Fund, and donations by Depot board members.
"From Dry Goods to Men's Wear" is the title of an exhibit about Barrett’s clothing store which was located at 111 West Grand River in Williamston until it closed several years ago. It was a family-owned clothing store known for many years as “Barrett’s Store for Men and Boys.” Exhibit creator Linda Siciliano said she was inspired to do the exhibit because Barrett’s was the “longest operating business in Williamston.” The exhibit features many items carried by the store over the years, including a 1920's credit safe which will be available for visitors to peruse and possibly find the name of an ancestor who shopped in town.
“Williamston Depot’s Telegraph Station” is the title of the new permanent exhibit that recreates the railroad/Western Union telegraph station that originally was in the depot, located “by the railroad tracks.” The Depot was moved in 1979, by volunteers, to its current site. The “bay window” area was once the telegraph station. Board member Earl Wolf, who spearheaded the creation of the exhibit, states: “the board had talked about recreating a telegraph station in that spot for a long time, but we lacked many artifacts and the expertise.” Earl stumbled upon the name of Robert Hibbard, who is 92 plus and learned telegraphy after WWII. He worked as a telegrapher at nearly every train depot across lower Michigan. Mr. Hibbard volunteered to donate priceless telegraph artifacts as well as his knowledge to complete our exhibit. He is the "last of an era.” Best of all, he is articulate and will be at the museum for the opening and will talk at 3:00 pm about "his life as a railroad telegrapher."
Expenses incurred in creating the telegraph exhibit were covered by a grant from the Wilbur and Ruth Wright Charitable Trust, the Ruth Jones Memorial Fund, and donations by Depot board members.
