The Empire Area Museum celebrates Heritage Day this year on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 1-4 pm with old-time music and old-fashioned arts and crafts and tricks and treats. Treats include Moomers ice cream, free popcorn and samples of homemade maple sugar candy, sauerkraut cake, apple cider and butter made on site. Exhibits include demonstrations of yarn spinning, hand quilting, rug hooking, chair caning, corn shelling, washboard laundering, sauerkraut making and log cutting.
The sudden death of Dave Taghon on Jan. 3 struck family and friends from far and wide. Despite the fact he spent most of his life in Empire, Taghon’s influence spread far beyond the little village. He was a ready source of information about the area’s history, but more importantly, a vital part of its present and presence through his work on the village council, at his church, with the local Lions Club, and at his family’s gas station for nearly 40 years.
The Empire Area Museum Complex celebrates Heritage Day at the museum on Saturday Oct. 12 from 1-4 p.m. Special features this year include a fantastic collection of hand made Faberge type eggs made in Empire in the 1970s by Helen Witt. A must see.
The Empire Area Museum invites you to check out its new exhibits this year, including Ted Pelky’s model school bus collection, Russell Van Houzen’s woodcarvings and Helen Witt’s decorated eggs. Pelky started drawing buses at age 5 and building them at age 10. He works off school bus brochures and photographs.
The Empire Area Museum will conduct a series of fun-filled history lessons over four Fridays in May and June at the Empire Township Hall. “It’s a great opportunity to meet with summer friends, munch some free popcorn and learn about this area’s wonderful heritage,” said museum spokesperson Dave Taghon. “We encourage all newcomers, as well as the old natives, to come out and share their thoughts after each presentation.”