By Rodney Hays
Editor
A six-year project will finally be open to the public this week.
The Prosper Historical Museum will host a grand opening celebration Thursday at the new museum located in the board room of the Prosper ISD Administration Office at 605 East Seventh Street.
According to historical society member Judy Rucker, the "Prosper Historical Society organized in 2004, uniting two committees; The Centennial Celebration committees and the Prosper Community Circle and other interested Prosper residents. At that time, this group started cataloging and accepting information, items and artifacts of early Prosper."
The Society was officially registered with the Office of Secretary of State as a non-profit incorporation in February 2009. The Prosper Historical Society received its non-profit 501(c)(3) status on July 10, 2009.
Earlier this year, the group began displaying the historical items in the temporary location.
"In January, 2010, a group of faithful volunteers started working diligently on the exhibits. The group has met every Wednesday morning from 9 to 12 a.m. in the Board Room to work on the exhibits. Word of mouth, telephone calls, e-mails and letters have been used to communicate to the community, school alumna, early pioneer families and other interested citizens. Newspaper articles, letters; announcements have been shared with the museum by members of past generations," Rucker said.
Rucker said the historical society hopes to give the current residents a "bird's eye view of where, when and how we have arrived in the 21st century."
Rucker said, "Our goal is two-fold: to preserve the rich history of the Prosper community and early pioneers.
"We hope the exhibits will be an inspiration to all who come to view our displays of the pride, faith, dreams, hard work, perseverance of the early settlers and their foresight. The museum is a part of our heritage and who we are individually and as a community," Rucker said. "History is more than a collection of newspaper articles and old things. History is the story of people's lives, and how they lived and contributed to the future of Prosper."
The museum and the Prosper Historical Society are funded by private donations, membership dues and sales of historical throws, note cards and printed historical information. Donations of money and loan items for the museum will be accepted at the open house and any time.
"We are looking for a larger place to establish a permanent museum," Rucker said. "We have large items, like bale of cotton, a roll top desk, an old cooking stove, and other pieces of furniture."
The exhibits on display will be changed from time to time and lent items will be returned to the owners.
Doors open for the grand opening event at 6 p.m. with a presentation at 7 p.m. The interactive presentation is called Texas: Fact or Fiction, presented by Susan Boone, a renowned Texas storyteller. Admission to the event is free. "This museum has long been the dream of many people," Rucker said. "People that have faithfully collected and saved articles, letters, pictures of yesteryears hoping someday to have a place to display and have safekeeping of the history of Prosper. Two people I would like to personally thank are Juanice Stanton and Bill Hayes, without these two people, The Prosper Historical Society would not have taken on this monumental task."