Buffalo Island Museum receives grant

The Buffalo Island Museum in Monette was the recipient of a $2,500 operational grant for small museums from the Arkansas Humanities Council, American Association of Museums and the Department of Arkansas Heritage.

Pictured are, from left: Monette Mayor Chub Qualls and Buffalo Island Museum committee members Ernestine Harrell, chairman, Royal Tilley and Larry Drummond. (Town Crier photo/Nan Snider)

"This is the largest amount they can give, and we were so pleased to be one of the museums to receive the award," BIM Committee Chairman Ernestine Harrell said. "This grant was used to reattach the museum's rear wall (south elevation) to the roof and the top of the walls. Also, the money will be used to replace the mortar around some of the bricks on the west side of the building that had deteriorated and allowed them to loosen and be in danger of falling. These repairs will make the building safer and help preserve it.

"We plan to apply for a grant in 2012 to paint both the south and west walls and other areas that have been painted previously. Areas that have not been painted cannot be painted because of rules related to being listed on the National Register of Historic Places."

"We have had a really good year in 2011, with visitors from many different states as well as from the local area," Harrell said. "We have had several fund raisers, such as bake sales, hot dog and hot chocolate for sale at the Christmas parade, and tee shirts, coffee cups, and other items for sale all year. We had our first quilt show and hope to make it an annual event. We had our second book signing by Charlene Pillow Little who grew up here."