Tag Archive for: Union County Heritage Museum

NEMiss.News Mississippi Boychoir

 

 

 

“Mississippi BOY CHOIR” coming to Union County Heritage Museum in New Albany, Mississippi, Saturday, April 1, 2023, for two concerts. April 1, 2023 at 1pm and 3pm.

Join us for this amazing choir from all over Mississippi!

2022-2023 marks the 28th Season of Mississippi Boychoir, but the Boychoir tradition began fifteen centuries ago with boys singing in the great cathedrals of western Europe.

Local School Choirs and Church Youth/Children’s Choirs are encouraged to attend this event!

See you at the Museum for this musical memory in the making! Message us for more information or call 662-538-0014.

NEMiss.News NAMS spring art exhibit

 

The annual Spring NAMS Art Exhibit will open at the Union County Heritage Museum on Monday, March 27, 2023, 5:30 – 7 p.m.   The exhibit features work done in many mediums.

Teachers Terri Watson and Tracy Vainisi are the instructors.

Pictured is a piece done by sixth graders Adrian Gonzalez and Jose Lopez-Paz . It is Animal Face Group , collage & paint on paper.

Jill Smith, Director

Union County Heritage Museum

114 Cleveland Street

New Albany,MS 38652

662-538-0014

NEmiss.News Tammy Greer, PhD

 

Museum Moments on Thursday, March 16, at 12 noon will feature Medicine Wheel Gardens. This topic will be discussed by Tammy Greer, Ph.D., a member of the United Houma Nation, and a faculty member at the University of Southern Mississippi. She is Director of the Mississippi Center for American Indian Research and Studies and is faculty advisor of the Golden Eagles Intertribal Society.

The program will be at the Union County Heritage Museum, located at 114 Cleveland Street in New Albany. A sack lunch will be available, courtesy of the New Albany Garden Club at 11:30.

Dr. Greer developed the Medicine Wheel Garden in 2005 along with others to highlight the plants that were used by the indigenous peoples of this area, and to promote awareness of the rich histories and cultures of Southeastern Native Americans.

Programming associated with the Medicine Wheel Garden includes the many uses of native plants from natural dyes to cordage to making medicine. Greer has a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to explore these uses.

These circular gardens are considered places for healing and tranquility. They are considered by some to be sacred spaces within certain cultures. The gardens follow simple, circular designs based around the number four for each of the four cardinal directions. Each direction represents a unique spiritual connection with the earth.

NEMiss.News Aerial view of Majorville Medicine Wheel

Aerial view of Majorville Medicine Wheel, circa 3200BCE

Medicine wheel gardens have been built and used for ceremonies for thousands of years. Each one has enough unique characteristics and qualities that archaeologists have not deciphered them in their entirety. One of the older wheels, located in Canada, has been dated to 3200 BCE (5200 years ago).

Museum Moments is a monthly lecture program which is free. It is made possible by the Community Partners of the museum. For more information contact the museum at 662-538-0014.

 

Jill Smith, Director
Union County Heritage Museum
114 Cleveland Street
New Albany,MS 38652
662 538-0014

NEMiss.News Pysanky Egg Workshop

 

Easter and symbolic egg traditions go deep into the history of our community and even deeper into our collective history.  Before Easter frocks and bonnets – there was the egg.

NEMiss.News Pysanka eggs

Union Co. Museum offering Pysanka egg class.

As Easter Sunday approaches, The Tallahatchie Arts Council and the Union County Heritage Museum will host a Pysanky Egg Workshop on March 4, from 1pm to 3pm and March 7, from 5pm to 9pm.

Denise Brown of New Albany, an artist in multiple mediums, will teach the classes.  She is also a member of the Mississippi Craftsman Guild.  One of Ukraine’s most famous Easter traditions is the psyanka, an intricately decorated Easter egg. The name derives from the Ukrainian verb “pysaty,” meaning “to write.”

NEmiss.News Pysanky Egg Workshop

Pysanky Egg Workshop 2022

This is a type of folk art from the Ukrainian culture.  This famous Easter tradition is the psyanka, an intricately decorated Easter egg. Using a wax resist method, the eggs are created before Easter. Pysanka eggs are given to friends and are sometimes decorated to match the personality of the receiver. To give a pysanka is to give a symbolic gift of life. In the Ukrainian culture everyone from the youngest to the oldest would receive an egg. A bowl full of the eggs was kept in every home. Some were put in the hen’s nests and near bee hives in hopes of a good harvest.

Cost of the March 4 workshop is $60, and it will cover all materials for a joint activity of one adult and one child.  The March 7, workshop is $30 and will consist of adults only.  You can begin registering for this event immediately by calling Stephen Bennet at 1-601-415-7283. Class size is limited.

Saturday, April 1, there will be an  Easter Parade and Egg Hunt in New Albany, as Part of new Albany Main Street Easter Events. The Hip Hop Hurray Parade will begin at 9:30 and the egg hunt will follow on the lawn of the Union County Courthouse.

NEMiss.News Pysanky Egg Workshop

Pysanky Egg Workshop 2022

The tradition of Easter egg hunting or gifting of eggs originated approximately around the 16th century and has been carried on for many centuries.  The great State of Mississippi hosts an Egg Hunt started in 2012 by our Governor Tate Reeves wife, Elee Reeves at the Capitol in Jackson, MS.

Easter eggs, also called Paschal eggs, are eggs that are decorated for the Christian feast of Easter, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. The Christian holiday commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ after he was crucified by the Romans on Good Friday more than 2,000 years ago.

Jill Smith, Director

Union County Heritage Museum
114 Cleveland Street
New Albany, MS 38652
NEMiss.News Dr. Ethel Scurlock

 

 

Museum Moments

Museum Moments on Thursday,  February 16,  features Dr. Ethel Young Spurlock, PhD  talking about “The History of Mississippi Black Physicians and Their Medical Journey.” The program will begin at noon and is free.  A lite lunch is provided by the Museum Guild beginning at 11:30.

NEMiss.News R.f.Boyd, MD, DDS

R. F. Boyd, MD, DDS practiced medicine and taught school in New Albany in the late 1880s.

Dr. Spurlock is Dean of the Barksdale Honors College at the University of Mississippi and is Associate Professor of English and African American Studies.  A Memphis native she joined the faculty of the university in 1996.  She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and from Bowling Green Sate University of Ohio. She has published numerous articles and reviews of African American literature.

She was named the College of Liberal Arts Teacher of the Year in 2003, UM Humanities Teacher of the Year as well as other honors.  She has been recognized by the Mississippi House of Representatives honoring her work promoting diversity.

NEMiss.News Croup vaccine administration

Administration of croup vaccine

Flag Program for Fourth Grade

Other activities during the month of February include a flag program for all of the fourth grade students in Union County and the City of New Albany .  All of the students will receive both national and state flags and curriculum materials related to the flags.  The museum will have an exhibit featuring  objects invented by African Americans through the years.

African American Community  Businesses

An ongoing project of the museum is collecting information and photographs related to the African American business which closed following desegregation as well as the communities that once existed.  If anyone has information to share on this project, please contact the museum so that the photos can be scanned and the information documents, said Jill Smith, director.

B. F. Ford and The Sporting Life exhibits

The museum is continuing to schedule videos on the history of B.F. Ford and for the upcoming exhibit The Sporting Life of Union County.  If you would like to participate in this, please call the museum to set up a time on the schedule call 662-538-0014.

The deadline is approaching for submitting photos to the sports exhibit, which is expected to open in April 2023.

The museum is located at 114 Cleveland Street, New Albany. Call 662-538-0014 for more information.  Follow the museum on Facebook at Union County Heritage Museum.

NEMiss.News January Museum Moments: Winter Backyard Birds

 

Museum Moments is beginning the 2023 season with a program all about birds.

NEMiss.News Hooded Warbler Museum Moments

Hooded Warbler
Photo by Chara Megelsh; birds are handled by a licensed professional.

Chara Megelsh, Wildlife Conservationist, will talk about “Winter Backyard Birds” on Thursday, January 19, at 12 noon.

Lunch begins at 11:30 and is courtesy of the Museum Guild.

Museum Moments is made possible by the Museum Community Partner Program. It is free.

For more information call the museum at 662-538-0014 . The museum is located at 114 Cleveland Street in New Albany.

Attached photos are by Chara Megelsh and the birds are handled by a licensed professional.


Jill Smith, Director
Union County Heritage Museum
114 Cleveland Street
New Albany, MS 38652

NEMiss.News NAMS Garden Dogs

 

 

For close to fifty years, the New Albany Garden Club has been an organization which works by the motto of Preserve, Protect, Plant. “2022 has been no different,” commented Tracy Vainisi, club president, adding, “New Albany Garden Club members have had a wonderful year of activity in the Best Southern Small Town.”

NEMiss.News Robert Ballard discusses native plants

Native Plant expert and owner of Camp Creek Native Plants, Robert Ballard, spoke at the September Club meeting to educate garden club members about native plants.

During 2022, club members hosted a variety of guest speakers who shared topics ranging from historic preservation to student-based community volunteers. Members read at Union County Library’s PreSchool Storytime and volunteered for cleanup days in neighborhoods and parks.

NEMiss.News Sherra Owen in Faulkner Garden

Sherra Owen, in the Faulkner Literary Garden, has dedicated countless hours to the garden, keeping it in top notch shape for visitors from all over the world.

Some of this year’s highlights were garden therapy activities with New Haven clients and residents at Dogwood, working with the New Albany Middle School Garden Dogs, and keeping the Faulkner Literary Garden at the Union County Heritage Museum in tip top shape.

New Albany Garden Club members enjoy the work they are involved with and look forward to a wonderful 2023.

NEMiss.News Main Street intern Alea Hudson

New Albany High School student Alea Hudson, shared her experience as a Main Street intern, recommended by 1st Ward Alderman, Parks Smith, at the club’s October meeting.

 

 

 

Please share any thoughts, comments or questions in the Comments section below!

NEMiss.News Bill Steber returns to museum

 

 

Musicians Bill Steber and Libby Rae Watson will be at the Union County Heritage Museum for a live performance on Thursday, December 15, 6:30 until in a closing reception for the Spirit in the Soil Exhibit.

Steber, Nashville photographer, artist and musician has spent the last 30 years photographing Mississippi blues musicians. He also collected bits and pieces of artifacts from locations the blues musicians played and lived.

With these remnants and artifacts he has created portraits of those legendary musicians.

This exhibit at the museum will end in December.

Steber who is an accomplished musician plays the blues along with longtime friend Libby Rae Watson who has also played with and studies under some of the blues greats of the Mississippi delta.

The exhibit has been at the museum since September and will close at the end of December. The public is invited to this free holiday event at the museum in New Albany located at 114 Cleveland Street. For more information call 662-538-0014.

More about “Spirit in the Soil” Exhibit

 

Jill Smith, Director
Union County Heritage Museum
114 Cleveland Street
New Albany, MS 38652

NEMiss.News Santa

 

 

The traditional visit of  Santa at the Museum with crafts is set this Saturday, December 10, from 9 – 12 noon at the museum in New Albany.  Santa arrives at 9 a.m. and will leave at 11 a.m.  The elves will be on hand to help with Christmas Crafts, and with  Santa Science.

The event is free, thanks to the museum’s Community Partners.  Bring the kids, have hot chocolate and cookies and visit with Santa.  Bring your camera and take photos.

The Historical Northside Garden Club members are helping with this event.

For more information call 662-538-0014.  The museum is located at 114 Cleveland Street in New Albany.

NEMiss.News J. M. Stevens, November Nights Tour

 

Performer, musician and songwriter J.M. Stevens will perform at the Union County Heritage Museum on Thursday. Nov. 10, 6 p.m. At the Beyond the Tracks show.

The West Point, Mississippi native began playing music when he was about eight years old. His family was musical. His mother, Carolyn Houston of New Albany, was a singer and pianist. When he was in high school his older brother Rogers was selling millions of records as guitarists in Blind Melon.

An unfortunate event when he was a teenager furthered his music but left him injured. A terrible automobile/train wreck derailed his life for months. So he spent the recuperation time playing the guitar. When he graduated from high school , the guitar led him on a rock and roll path , following in the footsteps of his brother. He ended up in Austin, Texas, where he lives today. He went there because of the music scene.
Opening a small recording studio, he began recording other musicians as well as himself. He told stories through his own songwriting. He formed the band Moonlight Towers, began touring and then opened his next recording studio EAR in East Austin.

After years of supplementing his income with odd jobs, because he is devoted to music, he now plays music full time. He writes, he records and he performs. Stevens played with Craig Finn on the Hold Steady’s European tour He played with Blind Mellon filling in for his brother on the South African tour. Currently the New Albany Nov. 10 performance is one of the stops on his November Nights Tour through cities from Austin, Tx through the eastern area of the US.

This is his second time to appear at the museum. The public is invited, and the event is free. Bring and friend and join the music at the museum. For more information call 662-538-0014. The museum is located at 114 Cleveland Street, New Albany.

Jill Smith, Director
Union County Heritage Museum
114 Cleveland Street
New Albany, MS 38652

NEMiss.News J.M. Stevens on November Nights Tour

 

 

J.M. Stevens will return to New Albany to perform at the Union County Heritage Museum on Thursday, Nov. 10, 6 p.m. This stop is part of his cross country November Nights Tour.

 

 

NEMiss.News November Nights Tour

Tour Schedule Click to enlarge

The Mississippi native (West Point, MS) is a songwriter, musician and performer now living in Texas.

 

There was a large, appreciative crowd for his first performance here last year. So come early to enjoy this talented guy with a local connection.

The event is free. Come and bring a friend!

J. M. Stevens’ videos

 

NEMiss.News Chad Fletcher at work

 

 

 

Museum Moments Features Chad Fletcher and Superior Artisan Wood Products on Thursday, November 17, 12 noon.

His topic is “4 Billion Board Ft.” He will have some of his wonderful woodwork at the museum that day.

 

NEMiss.News Chad Fletcher

“Live edge” wood work by Chad Fletcher

Fletcher’s mission is to save urban wood from the landfills, and in doing so create artistic live edge wood products as well as other objects.

Free lunch will be served beginning at 11:30 – thank you, New Century Club!

Superior Artisan Wood video.