“Excuse me. Shouldn’t you recycle that?” - this is a question that is not asked often enough. From day one in school we are told to recycle, though when we get home everything goes right in the trash. It may seem silly to sort out plastic from paper but in the end it makes a big difference! By reusing materials, we can reduce the amount of waste and create a better planet for future generations. At the museum we are doing our part to recycle.
We run off of a fixed budget, volunteer work, and donations from people like you to keep us going. Since we started renovations at the museum we have become very resourceful with what was left in the old building. Old desks, chairs, tables, and hardware have been collecting dust in a classroom, our junk room, for years. A few months ago Leon, resident handyman, started to volunteer his time weekly to fixing things around the museum. Since he started we have had many improvements such as working board table and improved display cases.
Today when I came into volunteer Leon and Tom directed me to a large pile of heavy blue velvet curtains. Tom told me that the curtains used to hang in the school’s auditorium and were being thrown away. Upon examining them we decided that they would make great curtains for our own windows! I was thrilled about this idea because our artifacts are getting sun damage so it will be nice to protect them properly. Leon suggested to cut panels out and super glue them to the curtain rods that way we will not have to pay someone to sew the curtains.
Another project we have going on is reusing the old whiteboards to make wall displays. Leon removed three layers of whiteboard and is now replacing it with white plaster. Once the boards are smoothed down we can attach displays to them. Tom has ordered a new one on Captain Nathanial Austin that will be on display in the Meeting Room in a few months. Also from the old whiteboard Leon created a nifty “Open” sign that will hang on our front door. He cut out a section of board and glued strips of green wood found in the junk room to the edges. It is a great little sign!
Projects like the ones mentioned are going on all the time here at the museum. You may see one going on the next time you come in! So, when you are going through your house and are wanting to throw out your broken desk, used binders, or an old table cloth stop and think, “Maybe I should recycle this?” We are happy to take some things off your hands. Just remember to recycle!