Updated: 1/23/2010 
Fern Dell Historic Association
Newark, Illinois
Description

Fern Dell has purchased an old store building at the corner of Front and Jackson Streeets in Newark. The building consists of 3 rooms, the front room has been refurbished with a new floor, lighting, fans and paint from top to bottom. It is in the process of being fitted with showcases full of artifacts and partitioned alcoves with specific interest items from donated collections. There will also be a miniature display of the Midland Railroad, which has fame as being the shortest railroad in the world. It ran two miles, from Newark to Millington, Illinois. Pictures are being hung and a large mural of Newark, painted by the Newark High School art class will be transferred to the museum in the near future. The remaining two rooms of the building are being transformed into an office and meeting area and a large working area.

History

Formed in 1985, and incorporated in the State of Illinois, the Fern Dell Historic Association started when the 1-room Fern Dell School was donated and moved into Newark near the present day grade school. A few years later the run down Misner Blacksmith Shop was purchased and completely renovated to a working shop, currently with a blacksmith on duty daily. Still wanting to have a museum for general artifacts, we kept looking for the "perfect answer". It was found when the owners of the Leland Hatchery Store finally agreed to sell to us in 2008. This building became our possession April 10, 2008 and volunteers worked steadily to get it ready for the grand opening, held on July 4, 2009. The museum is open Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 4 pm during the spring, summer and fall months. Open by appointment any time.

Artifact Collections

Pictures,books, family collections, items depicting the farming area of the community. Railroad pictures, articles, mini display. Indian artifacts, Norwegian artifacts as this originally was a community of many ancestors of Norway.

Research Collections

Books of local cemetery listings. Plat books, Kendall & LaSalle County history books.

Governance

Board of 12 directors

Library

Access: General Public, Students, Members

Appointment required: False

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MUSEUM CONFERENCES

April 27 - April 29, 2025

Oregon Museum Association 2025 Conference

TBA

Independence, Oregon

Beginning in 2025, the OMA annual conference will be held in Spring rather than Fall

The conference this year is all about trying new things. We are hoping to organize the conference into the following four tracks: Collections Care, Leadership, Emergency Preparedness, and Tourism

Check our website for more details in early 2025

The OMA newsletter is emailed every month with updates on OMA events, museum news, other events, trainings, jobs, grants and more for the museum community in Oregon.

For more information, please email connect@oregonmuseums.org.

October 1 - October 4, 2025

Western Museums Association’s (WMA) 2025 Annual Meeting

TBA

Reno, Nevada

Save the Date for WMA 202

As we celebrate our 90th anniversary, join us to build relationships and soar higher than ever before. With the theme of ELEVATE, WMA 2025 will explore ways to lift up the experiences of cultural professionals and the communities they serve.

In Reno, Nevada, 4,400 feet above sea level, we will forward the progress of museums by looking to the future.

May 6 - May 9, 2025

2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) ANNUAL MEETING & MUSEUMEXPO

Los Angeles Convention Center

Los Angeles, California

AAM 2025 will focus on the theme, Museums & Trust.

Museums have long inspired high levels of public trust, surpassing news outlets, government organizations, researchers and scientists, corporations, and social media platforms. This consistent finding underscores our institutions’ unique position in society as stewards of knowledge, culture, science, and history—areas where credibility and reliability are paramount

In an era marked by mistrust and misinformation, museums have a rare ability to counterbalance the proliferation of false narratives and polarized perspectives. Using our trusted position, we can cultivate a more healthy, empathetic, and informed society.

But to do so, we must maintain our credibility proactively, embracing thoughtful, transparent, and collaborative practices that will defend against influences like bias, resource challenges, abuse of power, and social injustice

An Incredible MuseumExpo

AAM is again partnering this year with the Museum Store Association to host an incredible combined expo hall. Find the most innovative services, products, and solutions in the museum field. With 350 exhibitors, you are bound to find the right partner for your museum’s current challenges and opportunities.

May 5 - May 9, 2025

Museum Store Association FORWARD 2025 in LA

The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles, California

Join MSA in LA

We’re excited about our next MSA FORWARD Conference & Expo in “The City of Angels” – Los Angeles, California in conjunction with the American Alliance of Museums

Join the Museum Store Association (MSA) and hundreds of nonprofit retail professionals for the 70th Annual MSA FORWARD Retail Conference & Expo, taking place May 5-9, 2025 at The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Once again, MSA FORWARD will be held in conjunction with the 2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Annual Meeting & Expo

Learn best practices and new ideas for store merchandising, operations, marketing, and sale

Participate in dedicated networking events and create connections that will inspire new ideas

Meet with over 200 MSA vendors about your product needs

Hear from knowledgeable industry experts during session breakouts and keynote presentations

Network with AAM attendees and exhibitor

September 10 - September 13, 2025

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

TBD

Cincinnati, Ohio

The 2025 AASLH Annual Conference, in partnership with Ohio Local History Alliance, will take place as the history field makes the final preparations to kickoff off the 250th commemoration of the founding of the United States.

The 2025 conference theme, inspired by AASLH’s Making History at 250: The Field Guide for Semiquincentennial, is an opportunity to broadly explore one of the guide’s themes, The American Experiment. For many in the American colonies in 1776, independence from Britain represented a “leap into the dark” into an unknown future

We are excited for you to join us in Cincinnati as we encourage discussion about our democracy and civic institutions and how they can help strengthen understanding, inspire action, and reveal ways that all of us can participate in and shape the ongoing American experiment.

For more information, please call 615-320-3203 or email info@aaslh.org.

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