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History comes alive at BCHS “Night at the Museum” gala

Photo by Connor Cummiskey Guests at the Brown County Historical Society Museum gala mingle among the exhibits at the museum on Saturday. See more photos on page 6B, and at cu.nujournal.com

NEW ULM — Historical figures from all over Brown County were entertaining and serving guests in the Brown County Historical Society (BCHS) Museum Saturday night.

BCHS’ Night at the Museum Gala filled the museum with roughly 90 guests who chatted with volunteers acting as historical figures.

“This is our second annual, we are on a roll,” BCHS Board Chair Lisa Besemer said.

In some cases, the actors were descended from the character they played. For example Bob “Butch” Domeier played his own grandfather, Anton Hillesheim, who founded a creamery in Sigel Township.

All three floors of the museum were open for exploration as guests dodged between an bar and volunteers dishing out hors d’oveures.

The annex was open, decorated in photos of old movie theaters in town. In the center was an early 20-century projector.

It had been set up next to a modern projector, making it appear to be the source of silent films screened on the wall of the annex.

This year the turnout was similar to last year, though sponsor donations increased. The BCHS raised over $9,000 in sponsorship donations, Besemer said.

As of this writing the total money raised is unknown; however, the BCHS anticipates raising up to a net of $12,000, Besemer said.

The money goes to the local side of matching grants that will pay for repairs and maintenance to the HVAC system, windows and masonry work of the building.

The gala started last year as the brainchild of David Sturges and Marcia Halverson. The BCHS kept the program fairly similar, while throwing in some new historical figures.

Besemer plans to make the gala an annual staple, keeping the past alive well into the future.

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