Henry County Heritage Trust lays out the year

The annual meeting of Henry County Heritage Trust (HCHT) was held on Tuesday, March 26, and officers were elected: Sheila Allender to president; Terry McNairto vice president; Waunita Gibbons to secretary; and Pat White to treasurer. The following highlights of 2018 were noted:

The installation of chair lifts in the Museum building enables access to the basement, main and second floors, making the building fully handicap accessible.

Maintenance of the building continued with the help of Trustees from the Mt. Pleasant Correctional Facility. They cleaned and waxed floors, moved furniture and helped arrange new displays, one being the Van Allen Hallway on the upper level. This includes the work table of patriarch George C. Van Allen, objects belonging to his son, A.M. Van Allen, a lawyer and mayor of Mt. Pleasant and items and photos of A.M.'s sons, George O., James, Maurice and William. Panels included in the 2016 University of Iowa's exhibit 'Explorer's Legacy - Dr. James Van Allen and the Discovery of the Radiation Belts” are found here.

To honor the Centennial of the end of World War I, an attractive display case was placed in the South Entry honoring the service of men from Henry County.

Two stone pillars were placed outside the Museum building adding a plaque describing their original location at the Van Allen family home's entrance on West Washington.

At the Van Allen house, new sleeping porch storm windows were installed. Original family furnishings were added to ready the house for 2019 tours.

2018 fundraisers included the annual historic house tour, a talk on Henry and Des Moines County Potteries, a talk on Chief Blackhawk's final resting place, and the popular annual Trivial Pursuit Night in July.

The group published a new book: Remembering: Civil War Impact on Henry County, Iowa, an edited collection of articles published by the Mt. Pleasant News and other local newspapers. A revamped membership letter was mailed in November.

Plans for 2019 include a continuation of Saturday tours, 1-4 p.m., May through October, featuring the new 'Henry County Women of Impact” display in the foyer. Sunday, April 14, 1-3 p.m. will be the historic house tour, featuring the Van Allen House and the home at 403 West Monroe Street. HCHT will host the Chamber of Commerce's 'Alive After Five” on May 1. The annual Trivia Night will take place during the summer. At year's end HCHT will again contribute to the Mt. Pleasant Woman's Club 'Trees of Christmas” exhibit at the Courthouse.