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February 24, 2006
MUSEUM TO BE EXPANDED Pahrump's historical past could be vital to tourism
By ELENA CORDERO-ARMS
"The Pahrump Museum has been so successful, the commissioners gave us a $435,000 grant to double the size of the current museum," Harry Ford, the museum's founder, said. "Because the people of Pahrump have been so good to us by giving and lending us more and more items, we need more space to display it," said Ford. Although the museum is several years old, the official grand reopening in Nevada in 2003 gave the museum a new fresh start. The original two acres the museum is now sitting on was donated by Ford, but he realized that another two acres will be needed to expand the site, so he and his wife Mary decided to donate the additional acres. One of the attendees was Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Kari Frillot who said, "The museum is the best kept secret. "The chamber is a large supporter to the historical enterprise and hopes everyone realizes the museum is definitely a site to see for everyone in our community." After opening with a civil war poem, museum curator John Weisser talked about the pride there is about the items on display, and how critically important it is to bring Pahrump's first structures safe to the Pahrump Museum site. Many of the historical buildings have been vandalized or have burned down. The first item on the agenda is buying and transporting Pahrump's original store after acquiring two one-room motel buildings. "We have a few historical buildings left," Weisser said. "The old west still lives." Much of the grant will go to transporting these historical buildings and two displays from the Red Rock Canyon Visitors center, donated by Juan Palma. The first celebrates the Native American presence in Nevada up to 1905. The second is a grand geological display portraying an indigenous setting. Continuing his speech Weisser recited a poem called "A 100 Years to Come," bringing home the idea the museum exists to value those who came before us and our hope for the future through our children. With 3,097 people signing the guest book in 2005, it's their guess the museum will play a large part in Pahrump's tourism. A representative from Senator John Ensign's office, Kathie Ambrosio, presented a Certificate of Commemoration. Ending with a special thanks to the Town of Pahrump for its assistance, Weisser said, "We are excited about our growth." Future events on the museum's agenda is a talk from author and Nye County historian Robert McCracken at 1 p.m. Saturday and a Blue Star Memorial May 20. A historical society is now forming. If interested contact John Weisser at 751-1970. Admission is free. |
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