The Rockford Historical Society has received the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Historic Preservation Recognition Award. The Jonas Babcock Chapter DAR nominated them for the award.
For many years, the members of the society have been working together to collect and preserve their history. The local historical society has had a litany of fundraising projects, written grants, and raised funds for their buildings in whatever way they could.
Their creativity has yielded three museums, the Rockford Military Museum, the Pioneer Museum, and The Rockford Historical Society Farm Museum. The group has spent many hours in sweat-equity, as well as donation from personal funds, and recruitment throughout the region to bring these buildings back to their former glory in as much of the original condition as possible.
Members of the society man the buildings on a volunteer basis, and work to accumulate as much history and original items from their area as possible. They also take oral histories to be stored for posterity.
The farm museum houses farm/shop item and things too heavy to put in the other buildings. It is open by appointment and at fair time when it draws a large crowd. The newest acquisition is an original turn of the century cook wagon in good condition.
These members truly have a love of history and of preservation. They also have the knack of drawing people in and awing them as they weave the stories of the past. Their members are not just members on paper; they are fully involved in the whole process.
According to Rae Anna Victor, the Washington State Society Daughters of the American Revolution History Preservation Chairperson, who presented the award to Evelyn Fricke member of the society,
“The dogged perseverance that this group has shown to the preservation of their local community is commendable. Their long-term dedication to this project is to be admired and emulated.”
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