Savanna museum is a good move

October 03, 2007 10:02 am

— For years, Gene Wright has been bringing his Civil War-era mannequins to area events to educate area residents about that period in our nation’s history.
Now those mannequins will have a permanent home.
The Savanna Historical Society recently closed on the purchase of the Allied Furniture building on Main Street in downtown Savanna, Ill., which marked the culmination of a year-long effort by citizens to find a place of permanence for the society’s numerous collections that includes Wright’s massive Civil War display of more than 85 uniformed mannequins as well as artifacts from the period.
It is expected that this museum will make Savanna a destination to visit, with officials estimating 50,000 to 75,000 visitors per year will make their way to the completed museum.
The Allied Furniture building is a three-story, 18,000-square-foot structure, featuring tin ceilings, a mezzanine on the first floor, a turn-of-the-century freight elevator, and hardwood floors on each level. And its former owners, Al and Verna Geistkemper, have kept the 1899 building virtually identical to when they purchased it 50 years ago — the original light fixtures remain, as well as the solid oak roll-top desk and cabinetry left by the original owners, Fuller Furniture & Funeral Home.
Wright’s Civil War display will occupy the third floor, with the huge front windows overlooking Main Street uncovered, soldiers acting as sentinels.
The second level will house Scott Law’s Wayne King collection, which includes music, videos, memorabilia and pictures; an exhibit detailing the history of the Savanna Army Depot; and the Savanna Train Car Project, a collection of the city’s railroad history.
The main level will serve as a community area, where lectures, presentations and fundraisers will be held. There are also plans for a gift shop, coffee shop and a meeting room for the society. And the mezzanine that encircles the first floor will be an ideal location for additional displays.
This was a massive undertaking to create, with funding raised from individuals, businesses and organizations who sought to have the museum become a reality.
We want to wish the Savanna community well on its endeavor, one that has taken the interests and collections of its residents and opened them up for the world to see.