Sumner Museum

Join us next Saturday to learn about and celebrate Sumner's libraries

A new years history story

All of us at SHS wish you a happy holiday and a historically enjoyable new year.

Take a moment and donate. With your support we will continue to share Sumner's history with you and the community.

The Sumner Historical Society has an extensive collection of heritage quilts that have been donated over the years. In the past there was always a yearly display at the museum showcasing the collection. They were also used in displays at the state fair museum.

This year we will again be sharing them with the community.

There are over 25 quilts in the collection, each has a special connection to Sumner and the valley.

Along with the quilts you will find items from the collection that relate to sewing. A unique rocking chair that has a built in drawer for sewing notions. An 1880s wood and whicker sewing cabinet that one belonged to the Wood family. A tabletop sewing machine that originally came from England. Articles about local quilters and quilting events from the Sumner weekly newspapers.

The exhibition runs from November 21 to the 23rd, during the library open hours.

Friday, November 21, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday, November 22, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday, November 23rd, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

This is a free exhibit, come with a friend.

Recent events are reshaping the near and far future of the Sumner Historical Society.

Since the early 1990s, the Society's roll has been to preserve the history of Sumner and it's surrounding area.

The Society's mission has been to share that history. We now have to do it in ways that are different than in the past.

We have an Interpretive Plan that uses three words to guide our work, Discover, Preserve, Share. There is a lot of detail explaining how each word shapes the plan. Feel free to read the plan on our website.

Saturday, August 16th, we will be at the Sumner Library to share our thoughts and plans with you, and to learn from you how we could serve you as Sumner's Historical Society. Stop by anytime during the day, bring a friend.

In 1995 over thirty local families paid $200 each to have a plaque with a family name placed on the fountain at Heritage Park.
A city publication called it a lasting tribute to their family legacy.
Recently the fountain was taken out so in this case, for a fountain, lasting is 29 years.
Community concerns lead to most of the family name plagues being salvaged so thankfully they are still part of the lasting arc.
The city put together a plan to return the plaques to the families. The plan has problems and the Sumner Historical Society wants to help with that. Our offer to help was refused.
So we are asking you, the community to step in. We have until September 8th, one day before the big giveaway to replace this plan with one that makes sure every plaque goes to the family that generously supported the new park twenty nine years ago.
Call and email the Sumner City Council and Mayor. Share this with friends and family.
Thank you

Heritage Park on Sumner's Main Street, was called Triangle Park in the 1890s. It had a bandstand and then, as now, it was the center for downtown activities. The bandstand was moved in 1910 and in the following years various businesses served Sumner at the Triangle. Hocking Brothers general store. Hi Figg Feed Store, Ron Gosselin moved his service station to the Triangle in 1937 and in 1955 leased the station to Leo Knoblauch and Mick Kauth. Gosselin retained ownership of the land.

In 1995, Kauth owned the property and agreed to sell it for a new park financed by a fund from the late State Senator, Rueben Knoblauch.
One stipulation was that a bandstand would be built. The community donated material and labor and additional financing came from families and businesses purchasing items that would be a permanent part of the park. Commemorative tiles and plaques for the fountain, inscribed paver bricks, flag poles, a drinking fountain, pear trees, bike racks, park benches, street lights and tables.
The park was dedicated as Rueben A. Knoblauch Heritage Park in 1996.

Sumner's favorite history book was the most hard to find, it is now easy to find. There is a second edition. Go to A Good Book in Sumner or order from the store page on the Sumner Historical Society website. https://www.sumnerhistoricalsociety.com

Rhubarb in Sumner, Lewis Ryan and hothouse, 28 ways to serve hothouse rhubarb. From the Sumner Historical Society's Rhubarb collection.