If you are in the Texas panhandle area [e.g. Amarillo] you may want to stop and see this. Next to a typical oil rig of the
1920's oil boom.====== Borger News-Herald article follows ========
By: Brooke Huff Reporter
The Hutchinson County Historical Museum has been working on its new Machine Shop exhibit for several years. On December 14, 2007 it was finally completed. At the Hutchinson County Historical Commission meeting Monday evening, the commission discussed the progress of the exhibit. Hutchinson County Historical Museum director Ed Benz told the commission that the construction has been completed, and they were able to move all of the artifacts in on December 18. He also said that the project cost them about $5,000 less than they expected. The Machine Shop, located across Main Street from the museum, is open to tours, but they are still seeking exhibit sponsorship for some inside work, such as wiring, that still needs to be done. Benz said that they are working on a building fund for exhibitory and restoration of some of the artifacts. Benz hopes to be able to use the Machine Shop exhibit to help promote Borger?s petroleum heritage. It will help improve the museum?s outdoor exhibitions. The new exhibit, Benz said, is only one of two complete Machine Shop exhibits in the country. He said that back in the early 1920?s Borger was famous for its large number of Machine Shops. Many of the artifacts currently housed in the exhibit were once a part of working Machine Shops in the surrounding area. The Machine Shop exhibit will also be home to a Central Supply exhibit and an original Mac truck. At the meeting, the commission also discussed the importance of more volunteers. Benz said that recently, due to uncontrollable circumstances, they have lost several of their faithful volunteers. They are seeking volunteers because, Benz said, volunteers play a vital role in the daily operation of the museum. They help in the preservation of the county?s history by assisting with building projects and giving tours. They also travel the Panhandle giving educational presentations about Hutchinson County and its heritage. On weekends, the volunteers man the museum so the museum?s few full-time employees can have a day off. Other duties include assisting with special presentations at the museum and organizing events. Benz did report to the commission that their number of volunteers and Friends of the Hutchinson County Museum members have doubled. They have also been able to increase their exhibits and donor sponsorship. ================