Showcased in a new light

What was once a dark, dated and dreary place to visit has been transformed into a well-lit, modern and inviting showcase of Jackson Countys history.

The renovation of the Jackson County Historical Society Museum in Lakefield began the last week in March. Through the cooperative efforts of local contractors and volunteers, the first phase of the project has been completed.

One of the first things we had done at the museum was the drop ceiling, said Mike Kirchmeier, society director.

Interestingly, a piece of Jackson County history was incorporated into the museums ceiling, that being lights salvaged from the recently demolished 1938 Jackson High School.

In the back rooms and ag room, all the light fixtures were replaced with new efficient fixtures and bulbs, Kirchmeier said. They are motion-activated and stay on for 30 minutes once activated, then automatically go out unless some motion occurs in the room.

All of that work was part of the plans for the original project. Some work was not.

In moving the exhibits around, we discovered some holes in the exterior walls that needed to be repaired, Kirchmeier said. Todd Post volunteered his time to do the work and gave us a very good job.

Once the drop ceiling and lights were installed and volunteers finished painting the walls, Kirchmeier said the museum had already taken on a much-improved appearance.

The ceiling looked good, the walls looked good, Kirchmeier said. So we had to do the floors.

The floors in the front room were done with carpet tile, which Kirchmeier noted allows the rollers on various pieces of equipment and storage cabinets to roll easily, but also makes replacement of a stained or otherwise damaged tile easily replaceable.

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Showcased in a new light