Kids come out for a Night at the Museum

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

Ghosts of Charles City’s past came to life on Friday, Oct. 11, as the Floyd County Museum put on its annual Night at the Museum event.

Kids got in free for the evening to tour of the museum and receive a history lesson from volunteer “ghosts” placed around the building to share information about Charles City’s history and historical figures.

“Once they meet our ghosts they’ll give them a little spiel about the person they’re representing,” said library Director Mckenna Lloyd.

From life on the frontier to the heyday of White Farm Equipment, there was plenty for kids to learn about what Floyd County was like at different points in history.

“Ghosts” for the evening event included pioneers Jefferson and Sarah Mutchlar (Christopher and Harley Anthony); druggist John Legel (Scott Galliart); Charles City Press founder Azro B.F. Hildreth (Jeff Sisson); an unnamed school teacher (Julie Mellody Townsend); a Dr. Salsbury Laboratory employee (Ginger Williams); and White Farm engineer Dean Tjaden (played by the still living Dean Tjaden).

The museum’s “ghosts” weren’t the only ones in costume either. Attendees were encouraged to dress up in their own Halloween costumes as they trick-or-treated through history.

“It’s kind of their earliest opportunity to wear their costume,” said Lloyd. “Which is fun.”

While the museum enjoyed a big turnout of kids for the event, there is more macabre programming coming up for the grown-ups this Halloween season. On Saturday, Oct. 19, Scott Galliart will be presenting a special Chautauqua Talk about Unusual Deaths in Floyd County.