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DMMPG's Journal
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
8:21AM
Where are you going to find a slew of original photographs depicting life in rural Texana organized into galleries with detailed captions to help you understand what you're viewing ? Right here, folks. Our web galleries give you more than just a photo - you get the background information behind the picture, too !
So, you like what you see but want to learn more ? There's one other place that is a wealth of information on our shared history - the Portal To Texas History project, which is administered by the University of North Texas Libraries, Digital Projects Unit. The Portal to Texas History offers students and lifelong learners a digital gateway to the rich collections held in Texas libraries, museums, archives, historical societies, and private collections.
It is almost impossible to wrap your brain around these numbers, yet we are happy to announce that this web site has received well over ONE MILLION hits since it was launched in late 2006. Yep, the "little museum on the prairie" has been catching the eye of Internet surfers from around the globe. And just guess what they come here to see - the pictures ! Our custom web galleries can be remotely administered from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection, and more photos from the past are gradually being added. We hope you'll stick around, explore the site, and learn more about "the simple life". We're glad to have you visit !
In yet another technological feat for a small Texas museum, we are now proud to announce the opening of The Medicine Mound Store - the ONLY place to get your official, custom embroidered casual apparel with our popular "Medicine Mound, Texas - Population 0" slogan ! This new storefront is pretty cool, we think, and a good portion of the proceeds go to support the Medicine Mound Museum. We hope you'll surf on over to the store and check out all the specials, and we appreciate your support.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Friday, February 1, 2008
8:35PM
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
9:12PM
So, how many ghost town museums do you know of that can boast of having a top hat worn by actor Johnny Depp sitting on a mannequin dressed in a Depression-era women's basketball uniform ? Not many, we'd bet....but that's the unique world that is the Medicine Mound Museum. Bet you're wondering how we got our hands on that hat, eh ? Well, it was donated by a dear friend of our founder, Myna Potts, that works "in the business" on the West Coast. Somehow, the hat looks right at home perched on that mannequin.
And what about that uniform ? It is original, and naturally quite old. But you'd be surprised how these old girl's basketball uniforms came into existence. A local farmer - a "Mounder" donated the proceeds from his cotton crop to the team so they could buy these swanky, new uniforms. Now that's what we call sacrifice !
While we're on the subject of giving back to the community, we are proud to formally announce the appointment of Mr. David D. Foster, AIA, to the position of Preservation Architect for our group. Mr. Foster grew up around Medicine Mound, and his father even helped in the construction of the old Cole building, so he has fond memories of the place and wanted to "give back" to the community where he grew up. David's practice is located in Houston, but he'll be making frequent stops in Medicine Mound in the months to come. Congratulations to Mr. Foster and his team for putting together a winning proposal !
Why in the world do we need a "Preservation Architect" in the first place ? Because there are strict government standards in place that must be closely followed if we are to retain our historic status. Fixing up these old buildings to meet modern standards while retaining their unique "look and feel" requires a special talent, which is why we are so grateful to have Mr. Foster's expertise at the Board's disposal. Developing a Master Site Plan that will carry us into the next decade means that the architect must consult with the Board of Directors to hone their vision for the future into working, architectural documents that reflect that vision. Then there is ADA compliance, regulations set forth by the Secretary of the Interior and the National Park Service, and so on..... the list is a long one, for sure. It takes a special type of architect to navigate through the myriad of rules and regulations to insure the finished product is acceptable to all.
Phase One of this project will consist of a site assessment to determine the structural state of the properties, gathering of historical data and photographs, etc. If anyone has access to ANY old photos of the downtown Medicine Mound area before the tragic fire, please let us know - we'd love to use them with this project !
There will be even more news to come in the days and weeks ahead, so be sure to check back often for news and updates as they become available ! And thanks again for everyone's support in 2007 - we're looking forward to 2008 !
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