This blog is historical in nature. The Monmouth Museum, Inc. is now in its 50th year. In some ways, it is hard to believe. Earle Flanders first opened the Museum with one building the Blacksmith Shop. When I was about 7 or 8 years of age I remember going to the Blacksmith Shop to get grain, with my father. At that time it was known as Rollins Feed Store. I can still smell the feed. Horse feed smelled of molasses, chicken feed smelled of cornmeal and all the feed bags were of burlap. That of course was before Earle had his vision of starting a museum to preserve Monmouth history. The Museum turned into a Museum complex in just three short years with the addition of 6 more buildings. Earle added the Blossom House, the Stencil Shop, the Carriage House, the Freight Shed, the Country Store, and the Cobbler Shop.
I remember when I was in 8th grade Earle came to my class at the Henry L. Cottrell School. Mr. Ludewig was my homeroom teacher at the time. I was fascinated by the stories Earle told about Monmouth history. I remember him showing a copper-plated engraving plate of Dr. Charles M. Cumston. It had been found by Wendell Hartford down behind the Cumston homestead on a stone wall. It was one of a number of copper plates that were used to illustrated Harry H. Cochrane's History of Monmouth and Wales. I was hooked on Monmouth History. The next summer (1974) I was working for Earle at the Monmouth Museum giving tours. I followed Earle each time he gave a tour so that I eventually began giving tours on my own. There were one-page cheat sheets that identified the important items on display. But I took great pride in memorizing the stories that Earle told.
I am hoping that we will be able to feature some guest writers who will share their discoveries and research. And thus, we begin a journey of past events and peoples' lives that should not be forgotten.
