Light fixture in the remodeled courtroom of the Buena Vista Heritage Museum. Photo by Carly Winchell.
From 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Friday, May 3, the Buena Vista (BV) Heritage Museum is inviting the public to attend their Annual Meeting to celebrate members and volunteers. The event will be held at the Museum (506 East Main Street, Buena Vista). There will be door prizes, goodie bags, and entertainment.
Buena Vista Heritage Museum and its mammoth. Photo by Carly Winchell
Those interested in attending should send an RSVP email to BuenaVistaHeritage@msn.com.
According to the release, attendees will “experience the charm of our newly renovated upstairs courtroom filled with cherished mementos, captivating stories, and even a heartwarming poem.”
In addition to previewing the upcoming season of events and seeing what is new at the Museum, attendees will get the opportunity to discover the myriad of volunteer opportunities available to become part of BV Heritage’s journey.
“Buena Vista Heritage was formed fifty years ago this October to save the Courthouse from being demolished, explained local historian Suzy Kelly. “No longer considered safe for a school with the wide staircase and its almost 100-year history, the school was planning to abandon it. As the most visible significant structure in Buena Vista, its preservation was a top priority of the citizens who gathered together to form Buena Vista Heritage.”
“The incorporation papers were signed in October, 1974. The school district sold the building to the town of Buena Vista and Heritage leased it until the citizens of the town voted to sell it to Buena Vista Heritage in November 2003. It is now used as a historical museum, with a model railroad and four rooms of artifacts,” added Kelly. “The big courtroom serves as a community gathering spot and hosts many town events as well as historical presentations.”
Most recently, the courtroom hosted the Buena Vista Civics Bee.
Suzy Kelly delivers a keynote speech at the 2024 Buena Vista Civics Bee on the history of the BV Heritage Museum building. Photo by Carly Winchell
Kelly is the last remaining of the three signatories of the incorporation papers for BV Heritage. She is a contributor to Ark Valley Voice‘s “History Lives” column and answers research questions through BV Heritage’s “Ask Suzy” page.
Buena Vista Heritage has other properties in addition to the courthouse, such as the Turner Farm and Apple Orchard at 829 West Main Street and the Depot and Caboose in McPhelemy Park at 116 U.S. Highway 24 North.
BV Heritage has designed the Volunteer and Member Appreciation Meeting to celebrate the richness of the community’s past, cherish the joys of the present, and explore the possibilities of the future.
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