RUNNELSTOWN — More than two decades after Hurricane Katrina disrupted Perry County’s historical museum, the county is set to reopen the space April 18 in Runnelstown, restoring a place to preserve and share local history.
The Perry County Historical and Genealogical Society, founded in the 1980s, has played a key role in the reopening. The group previously operated a museum at the old jail site in New Augusta, which was severely damaged during Katrina. The storm forced residents to evacuate and scattered many of the museum’s remaining artifacts.
In recent years, society members have worked to track down and recover those items, encouraging residents and families to return pieces of the county’s past. Many of the once-lost artifacts will now be displayed for future generations.
After years of anticipation, the Perry County Board of Supervisors helped secure a new home for the museum in a former library building in Runnelstown, assistant director Wanda Henderson said.
“Fortunately, the Board of Supervisors had this building,” Henderson said. “It was once a library and it was vacant, so we were able to use it. It belongs to Perry County.”
Ancient artifacts, historical documents and military items will be on display, Henderson said, giving residents a chance to experience Perry County’s heritage.
“We hope visitors will be able to see artifacts from the past, things you do not encounter in everyday life, that bring Perry County’s history and heritage to mind,” Henderson said. “We have some great pieces, like a desk from the old courthouse, a soda fountain counter from Full of Love Drugstore in New Augusta, and several items related to the Copeland hanging in the 1800s.”
A section of the museum is also dedicated to veterans, reflecting an important part of the county’s history, Henderson said.
“Our military history in the United States, as well as in Mississippi, is a very important part of our story,” Henderson said. “We want to show the people who have served and share artifacts that help tell that history.”
Expanding educational opportunities
Although some residents preferred a New Augusta location, Karen Mims, vice president of the Historical and Genealogical Society, said the Runnelstown site offers new educational opportunities.
“At first, I wasn’t so interested because of us moving locations from New Augusta,” Mims said. “But once I came over and visited the building, I saw how nice it was and what we could do.”
Located behind Runnelstown Elementary, the museum could expose students to local history in a new way, Mims said.
“It’s interesting to see how some of the kids have a light come on whenever they see things that they’ve never seen before,” Mims said. “Especially being this close to the school, we could get some of those kids who are really interested in history. We may even ask some of them to start volunteering.”
Henderson said the location next to the school could give students a break from digital learning and help them connect with their ancestry.
“The elementary school is adjacent to us, which gives us an opportunity to offer programs for students to learn what types of items were used by their ancestors,” Henderson said. “It gives them a different perspective, that it’s not all just digital now and that these were some of the things used back in the day.”
Near the entrance, a few genealogy books are already on display. Mims said she hopes the collection will grow to include more books on heritage and ancestry.
“I hope one day that we can have a lot of books here that would interest people who want to come in and look up their family history and their genealogy,” Mims said. “A lot of kids don’t know where they come from. They don’t know their family history.”
Looking ahead
Promoting the museum will be important during its opening month, Mims said. The building sits uphill behind several other structures, which could make it difficult for visitors to find.
Mims said the goal is to install signs throughout the county to help direct people to the site.
“We’ve got a little handicap with it being back here in the back, but we’re going to handle that,” Mims said. “We’re going to get some signs out on the road so people will know where we’re located.”
A soft opening is scheduled for April 17 from 4 to 6 p.m. Regular hours begin April 18, with the museum open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Henderson said she is also working on a short historical film for the opening that will feature residents, including older community members.
“When people come in, they’ll be able to sit down and watch this film, five to seven minutes long, and it will encompass some of the major points about Perry County,” Henderson said.
Admission is free. Visits are also available by appointment through email at [email protected] or through the Perry County Museum Facebook page.
