Dear members and prospective members of the Cleveland County Historical Society:
The President, Mark Williams and the Board of Directors of the Cleveland County Historical Society, would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who have given so generously to the Society through their time, through their membership, and through their donations of artifacts.
Since 1973, when the City of Norman appointed the Society as guardians of the Moore-Lindsay Historical House at 508 N. Peters, the board and curators of the museum have worked to improve the house each year. From the generous donations of the citizens of Norman and Cleveland County, the Society has been able to educate visitors about Norman’s prosperous Victorian era at the turn of the twentieth century through and into the twenty-first century.
In order for the Historical Society to continue to operate and oversee the Moore-Lindsay Historical House, we are asking for your support. Even though the City of Norman offers financial support to run the City owned historical house, the city has asked all non-profits operating city owned buildings to start paying for the utilities to run the buildings. The $31,500 granted to the historical society from the city pays for two part-time curators, taxes, accountant’s fees, and events. The city has indicated that in the future we cannot count on the same financial support, we expect the grant to be lower in the 2013 fiscal year starting July 2012. The added cost of operating the Historical House, along with a reduced grant from the City, will effect the number of days that the Historical House will be opened to the public (gas to heat the house is one of the biggest utility cost), and the quality of programs offered.
In the last year we have had very successful events, including our annual Christmas Open House Dec. 9th, 2011. Participation in this event has increased steadily each year with more and more people enjoying our free carriage rides from Main Street to the Historical House, where they are offered warm drinks, sandwiches, and deserts, including Victorian plum pudding. Currently there is a World War II display at the house entitled “World War II: Norman, Oklahoma and Beyond.” Through the donation of wonderful artifacts, each room of the House expresses the history of the war and Norman’s involvement in preparing men and women for America’s war effort.
As an historian, I continue to believe that history matters, and I would hate to see the only agency in Norman that has preserved and interpreted that history, the Cleveland County Historical Society, to find it difficult to continue the work of 45 years. We ask your support in helping to continue CCHS’s work with the Moore-Lindsay House Historical. We understand how family budgets are more difficult to maintain during these financially challenging times. Therefore, we are offering individual and family membership for $15.00. For those who wish to contribute more, we appreciate your contribution and we have higher levels of membership up to $50.00. With each membership, we provide an online quarterly newsletter and a hard copy for members who so request. For $50.00 donation we also offer American Heritage Magazine.
Thank you for your support.
Sue Schrems
Membership Chairman, Cleveland County Historical Society
