The Best Museum
There were plenty of proud and happy people in Madera County this past Sunday. They were proud and happy because our Museum in the Old Courthouse on Yosemite Avenue in Madera had officially been named “Best Museum in Central California” in an annual contest run by the Fresno Bee.
It was an incredible achievement because the contest had included nominees and voters in four counties — Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Madera. Fresno County has, by far, the biggest population — and in years past in this “Best of” contest, two “jumbos” in Fresno had dominated the voting for best museum.
But this year, our Madera County Museum won the “gold” — first place. The Fresno County Historical Museum finished second (“silver”) and the Fresno Art Museum finished third (“bronze”).
Yes, David had overcome Goliath.
And that’s not all our Museum did. We also won “gold” in the Best Place to Volunteer category. The Valley Animal Shelter in Fresno won “silver” and Poverello House in Fresno won “bronze.”
And we finished third in the “Best Attraction” category — behind Fresno’s Chaffee Zoo and the famous Underground Gardens in Fresno.
This was the first time the Madera Museum had been nominated in this contest. We have no idea who nominated us, but whoever you are — thank you.
Once the Madera community found out we were “on the ballot” months ago — along with dozens of others in each of our three categories — it sprang into action, big time. Very big time. On-line voting lasted three weeks, and to say Madera was energized would be an understatement.
We had amazing support from many, many constituencies around the community. I won’t go into specifics here, but let’s just say that every part of the community apparently heard about the contest — and responded with votes.
We had previously scheduled a Museum open house this past Sunday to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the county Historical Society. It became a joyous double celebration when the contest results were announced early in the morning, and a couple of hundred people showed up. The museum was jammed, and we were delighted.
County supervisor Rob Poythress came by, as did Madera Mayor Cece Gallegos. Madera Tribune editor Nancy Simpson and her husband were there, and Nancy told us that, in church that morning, when she had told the congregation about the Museum’s contest wins, that congregation had applauded, and loudly.
(On Tuesday, the Tribune placed the story of the museum’s wins on the front page, left. Thank you, Nancy.)
Yes, Sunday was an important day for the Madera community, and it might well have been the most important day in the history of the Museum since Opening Day in September 1974.
It had been a long, winding journey to get to that Opening Day.
The Historical Society — which runs the Museum — was founded in May 1955, largely thanks to the gigantic efforts of two energetic and foresighted people — Marcia Putney and Guy Crow.
Putney (right) was the judge in the Madera County mountain community of North Fork. She was the first female judge in county history. She also was the first person to publicly suggest the creation of a Historical Society, in 1951.
Crow was a well-known, successful Madera businessman who, like Putney, loved history. In 1955, he organized the first meeting of the Historical Society — a meeting that drew about three-dozen people, including Putney.
Crow (left) became the Society’s first president. Putney became the second. And it was Putney who, as president in 1957, became the first person to suggest using the by-then-abandoned Old Courthouse as a museum.
It would take about 20 years to make that dream come true. The Museum became reality in 1974 after Bill Welton (below, right) convinced the Board of Supervisors to let the Historical Society put together a museum inside the Old Courthouse.
And it became reality after Maud Lindemann (below, left) — who had become the Society’s first curator — had gathered about 6,000 items for the Museum.
Of course, hundreds of other people had volunteered in the effort to create a Museum over those years between 1955 and 1974 — but Putney, Crow, Welton and Lindemann had taken the giant leadership roles that led to this past Sunday.
So here’s a toast to you, Marcia and Guy and Bill and Maud and to the many other folks who, past and present, have worked so hard to “reach the top” with the Museum.
You made it.