By Amelia Chamberlain, Director
For the past three years, the Stillwater History Museum at the Sheerar has created a datebook entitled “The Way We Were.” The bound booklet contains images of the permanent collection of the Museum as well as historic photographs and stories of Stillwater icons, businesses, and people.
The datebook is a way to raise funds for the Museum, with sponsors of sections, tabs, and covers to help defray printing costs. Additional monies to support the museum are obtained through the sale of the publication. As one thumbs through each of these Datebooks, you can take a stroll back through time to meet Stillwater movers and shakers, reminisce about buildings and businesses perhaps no longer a part of the landscape, or at least, much changed, and gain an understanding of the breadth of collections to be found at the Museum.
One date you’ll want to mark in your calendar is the Museum’s Holiday Open House on December 5, at 5:30 p.m. to enjoy holiday music and refreshments.
The current edition of the Datebook contains a 2020 calendar in which to write appointments, birthdays, and other important dates. The books make great gifts and are part of a limited edition printing available for $20 each. The books may be found in the Museum gift shop along with other new merchandise—just in time for the holidays. One date you’ll want to mark in your calendar is the Museum’s Holiday Open House on December 5, at 5:30 p.m. to enjoy holiday music and refreshments.
TEN TRIVIA QUESTIONS TO ANSWER AFTER READING
“The Way We Were 2020 Datebook”
- What is the history behind the historical marker at Ninth and Lewis?
- What does a Taos, New Mexico, Center for the Arts have to do with OSU?
- What other uses did the structure referred to as the Methodist Church’s “Scout hut” have?
- How did Tiger Drug get its name?
- How much did a hair appointment cost in the 1930s?
- Where can you go to see the final resting places of many Stillwater pioneers?
- If it could talk, what stories could the house at 516 West Elm Street tell?
- For how many different purposes has the building at 8th and Duck been used?
- Where can students go to attend territorial days school in a one-room schoolhouse?
- What is the current name of the 1940s business, the B & L Tin Shop?
The Hanner-Sharp American Legion Post 129 is one of several sponsors of the Datebook, and the Post celebrates its centennial year in 2020. Later named after two soldiers who gave their lives in World War I and World War II, the Post dedicated a new building in 1925. Funds to build the building were raised by selling opportunities to have individual names inscribed on a quilt block for 25¢ each and by selling chances to win the finished quilt for $1. In the very center of the quilt is Carter C. Hanner’s name. You can see this featured quilt as part of a display supplementing the traveling quilt exhibition, “200 Years of Color Quilts,” available for viewing through February 1, 2020.
The traveling exhibit includes 23 quilt studies made by members of the American Quilt Study Group (AQSG). Participating members of AQSG chose quilts made out of solid color fabrics between 1800 and 2000 as the inspiration for the creation of their quilt. Many museums, historical societies, and individuals have given permission for some wonderful quilts in their collection to be used for inspiration. The displayed quilts measure no larger than 42 inches by 42 inches and include the quilt maker’s name, name of their quilt, and information and a photograph of their inspiration quilt.
In conjunction with the quilt display, on October 27, 2019, the Stillwater History Museum hosted a Quilts of Valor presentation. The mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor. Stillwater resident and veteran Major General James R. Sholar was the recipient of his own Quilt of Valor in a touching ceremony.
Sholar is a 39-year veteran who began his military career at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. He then moved on to Ft. Leonard in Wood, Missouri. Sholar left active duty in 1975 and entered the U.S. Army Reserve in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Among his many commendations and awards are the Army Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit, but he has also distinguished himself in the academic field as well. Sholar graduated from the University of Tennessee in Martin and has his Masters and Ph.D. from OSU in agronomy and plant science. He is Professor Emeritus at OSU and a great supporter of the Oklahoma 4-H program. The quilt presented to Sholar was completed at the 2017 4-H Round-up. It was being saved to award to a person of distinction. Sholar’s wife was at his side during the program that ended with Sarah Wheatley’s presentation of the above-mentioned quilt. Other family members surprised Sholar with their presence during the award, after which Sholar said a few words. The Stillwater History Museum at the Sheerar offers a variety of monthly adult programs as well as monthly family-friendly programs. To find out about the Museum’s offerings, go to the events page on the website sheerarmuseum.org or the Museum’s Facebook page. The Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; admission is free. The museum will be closed Thanksgiving weekend, but will resume normal hours on December 3.
