Donating to the Barnes Historical Museum

THERE ARE MANY WAYS YOU CAN HELP TO CONTINUE THE EFFORTS OF DISPLAYING AND PRESERVING THE HISTORY OF BARNES FOR THE BENEFIT AND ENJOYMENT OF THE PEOPLE OF BARNES AND ALL OF OUR VISITORS AND GUESTS.  HELPING CAN BE BY VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME AND TALENT, DONATING HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS FOR DISPLAY AND BY CONTRIBUTING FINANCIALLY TO SUPPORT THE ONGOING AND FUTURE COSTS OF THE MUSEUM.

The beautiful Museum and Historical Center and its exhibits and programs was only possible to have been achieved through the efforts and contributions of the many volunteers, members and donors who so generously donated their time, talent and dollars.  To continue to operate, maintain and grow, there are several ways you can help.  We appreciate any support, large or small.

Volunteering:  Several fundraising events are held annually and help is needed to set-up and operate those events.  To find out about being a part of an event, contact the following members:

Summerfest; Tam Larson (715) 796-2402 & Lu Peet (715) 795-3065

Gordon MacQuarrie Pilgrimage; Larry Bergman (715)795-2442

Christmas Bazaar; Lu Peet (715) 795-3065

Help is also needed at the Museum during the hours of operation to serve as a Docent, and to help with tours and presentations. Please contact  Steve Lynch 425-318-0851 if you are interested.

When improvement projects are being worked on, help is needed in various forms and skills to plan and execute the project objectives.  If you have time and talents to donate and are interested in this kind of activity please call Steve Lynch, (425) 318-0851.

The BAHA Board of Directors always welcomes new people to become part of the inner workings of the organization.  Become an Officer or Director.  Come to the Monthly meetings and see if that is an area of interest for you.

Artifacts:  If you have items of historical interest, or information of a historical nature, it is always welcomed by BAHA.  Please call Tam Larson (715) 796-2402 and discuss your artifacts for donation.

Financial Support:  It takes financial support beyond our fundraising events and memberships to keep the organization operating and growing.  Your generous contributions in the past have enabled BAHA to successfully create and present the Museum and its programs.  To continue the progress and to add new and exciting options, we do additional fundraising through our Capital Campaign.

In 2013, this effort was established began to raise money with an overall plan and goal of reaching $300,000.00.

Funds raised in this effort have been used to purchase and renovate the Museum building that was purchased in 2013 and opened in 2016, and helped to pay off the Mortgage in 2019!

Part of the Capital Campaign includes the Heritage Village Project, which is intended to acquire and preserve historical buildings of the Barnes Past.  In 2019 the Pease one room school was moved to the Museum grounds, and it will be renovated and opened for viewing in 2021.

Other future improvements and projects are planned that will continue to add to and further the history of Barnes.  Maintenance of the Museum building such as a new furnace and new roofing will soon be needed.  Expansion of the Museum building footprint is being planned.  Adding to the Heritage Village with existing historical buildings and possibly creating a Barnes Avenue replica lane to feature building fronts that have long since been lost is another objective.  We would like to build an outdoor pavilion to allow events to be held on site. Many other items on our wish list are dependent on more funds being raised.

Endowment to create financial stability and future security is another goal of the Capital Campaign.  We are placing Donor Plaques in prominent display in the Museum this year with various levels of financial contribution to recognize and thank our many donors.

We need and are thankful for your continuing support.  If you would like to help and would like more information about this Campaign, please call Larry Bergman (715) 795-2442 or Steve Lynch (425) 318-0851.

Invitation to Join

The Old Duck Hunters Association Circle

I am writing this to invite you to join the Old Duck Hunters Association Circle, a special category of membership in the Barnes Area Historical Association, Inc. This designation was created in honor of Barnes’ own legendary outdoors sports writer Gordon MacQuarrie and his mythical Old Duck Hunters Association, Inc. (ODHA, Inc. -“Inc.” for incorrigible), of which his hunting and fishing partner, father-in-law and mentor Al Peck, was “Hizzonor” and its President.

This special membership category, the Old Duck Hunters Association (ODHA) Circle, conveys all benefits of the Museum including free access to the Museum and all of its exhibits, the ability to arrange special visits to the Museum outside normal operating hours and more. Membership also includes a “collectible” laminated ODHA Circle membership card, notices of upcoming MacQuarrie events and a twice annual magazine “The Other Drivel” (TOD). New members receive all back issues of the TOD.  By joining you will help support the continuing expansion and maintenance of the Museum’s MacQuarrie Exhibit. Lifetime Memberships include a Member’s only shirt, an ODHA, Inc. hunting cap, books, and some other goodies. We are proud to count 239 original memberships as of this writing.

The Barnes Area Historical Museum has a substantial exhibit featuring Gordon MacQuarrie, his history, writings, and historical personal artifacts. Located near MacQuarrie’s beloved writing cabin on Middle Eau Claire Lake, where he hunted and fished, and the locations that served as settings for many of his published stories, the Museum is unique with its substantial exhibit, events and educational programs devoted to the MacQuarrie legacy. The exhibit, which continues to grow, contains his duck boat, decoys, typewriter, writings, pictures, medals, awards, and many other historic and personal items of interest.

The Museum annually sponsors a Gordon MacQuarrie Pilgrimage and Canoe Trip Weekend featuring an optional Sporting Clays Shoot, displays and exhibit tables, a Pine knot Campfire gathering, a guided Lake or Road Tour of local sites that served as settings for MacQuarrie’s stories, and a Banquet with a program featuring MacQuarrie tales passed down to local people whose father or grandfather knew Gordon alond with other special features.   There is an optional Brule River Canoe Trip on Sunday that visits many of MacQuarrie’s fishing sites where many of his stories originated.  The Pilgrimage will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the last weekend in August.

We also offer two MacQuarrie books, Right Off the Reel, and the newest book, Dogs, Drink and other drivel, both compiled and edited by Dave Evenson. Dave is currently working on a new book that includes magazine articles written by Gordon and not previously published in book form.  Go to the BAHA web site bahamuseum.org for information and order forms.

If interested in becoming a member of the ODHA, please complete the membership application on page two as soon as possible.  Or, you can complete the online form.  BAHA is a 501 (3) (c) registered non-profit organization, and all donations are tax deductible. If you have any questions, please contact Museum board member Larry Bergman (larrygbergman@yahoo.com) or me, Steve Lynch.

Thank you for your consideration,

Steve Lynch

President, Barnes Area Historical Association, Inc.