MARYSVILLE – If in doubt, don’t throw it out.
That could be the new slogan for the Marysville Historical Society.
“When people pass away their kids and grandkids don’t know what they’re looking at,” historical society president Kenneth Cage said. “When in doubt, call the historical society.”
He said experts there can look at items found in attics and under beds to determine if they are important to the history of the town.
“It’s crucial to find out how Marysville got to be Marysville,” he said. “If there’s no significance we can get rid of it for you.”
Bobby Johnston was in town this week from Arkansas helping plan the Class of 1965’s 50th high school reunion. Ken and his wife, Ethel, met with the group and brought a box full of photographs that were donated to the museum on 3rd Street but not identified.
Johnston and his reunion planning group were able to identify Al Young, an art teacher.
That gave Johnston the idea to work with Cage to get items to put in the new Marysville museum being built on 51st near Jennings Memorial Park.
Johnston donated a copy of an old photograph of Ron’s Hamburger Stand, “a famous place in Marysville history,” Cage said.
Johnston said “the old salts of Marysville” used to have their fishing and hunting 8X10 photos on the wall of his grandfather’s restaurant.
Johnston said every time he comes back to town it’s all about the history now. He said he “hears bits and pieces” about history, but it’s important to have artifacts to prove things are fact, not just hearsay.
“This is really important. Does anybody care?” he asked, adding with tangible items, “history really comes alive.”
Johnston said even at his age he’s still finding out new family history. Some longtime friends told him about a local grave of a distant relative. He went to see it. “I had an epiphany in the cemetery,” he said. “These are my people.”
He also in recent years found out a longtime friend actually was something like a distant cousin.
To make sure his own history isn’t lost, Johnston asked his kids to give him 150 questions about things they would want to know about him if he died. He’s in the process of answering them. Johnston said he didn’t do that with his elders.
“They’re gone,” he said.
As for Cage, Johnston has nothing but praise for him.
“He’s an immigrant to Marysville,” Johnston said of Cage, who was raised in Colorado. “And look at what he’s doing for us.”
