MUSEUM MUSINGS

* If you are reading this, you surely have some interest in this community and its history. Hopefully, you are well aware of the Cynthiana-Harrison County Museum located on South Walnut Street in the old Rohs Theatre Building. How many small communities have two thriving theatre buildings?
* The ninth annual Raggedy Ann Festival will be held in downtown Cynthiana on Saturday, April 16, 2011. The festival is for the young and the ‘young at heart.’ It is for the historian and the genealogist. It is for the artist and the one who loves art. It is for the one who loves stories and dolls. It is for everyone.
* In the early 1900’s, Johnny Gruelle created the Raggedy Ann doll and stories. With all the marvels of technology today, how would you explain the continued popularity of Raggedy Ann and Andy?
* Since Joni Gruelle Wannamaker, granddaughter of the Raggedy creator, visited Cynthiana in 2002 on a genealogical quest, there has been a Raggedy Ann Corner in the museum. Now, that has been expanded to several areas of the museum. Watch the Raggedy show in the window.
* April is National Poetry month. There are several James Whitcomb Riley books in the Raggedy Corner at the museum. Riley was a family friend of the Gruelles. Two of his poems, “Little Orphant Annie” and “The Raggedy Man,” supposedly were the source of the name Raggedy Ann.
Please plan to visit the museum especially for the Raggedy Festival and on any Friday or Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s free and for you.