What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1444962
BECCA MARTIN-BROWN NWA Democrat-Gazette I t's that time again, the time when new year's resolutions lead to upended closets, trips to Goodwill and the Samaritan Shop — dropping off everything you've outgrown and picking up new-to-you storage solutions — and promises to limit acquisition and promote minimalism. Thank goodness none of that's true if you run a museum! Instead, staff members at the Rogers Historical Museum and the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History in Springdale both put together collections of their treasured artifacts for us to share. Rogers Historical Museum folks gathered up their favorite things and created an exhibit, which remains open through March 26. "In a typical year, the Rogers Historical Museum can only display a small portion of its massive collection of objects," says Serena Barnett, RHM director. "'Our Favorite Things' gives our museum staff an opportunity to exhibit their personal favorites by picking some of the most unique and often overlooked items in our collection. Along with seeing some rare pieces, visitors will also get the chance to vote on their own favorite things." Poppy Chocolate Pot The history of drinking hot chocolate goes back over a millennium ago, to the ancient Mayans in the pre-Columbian Americas. Hot chocolate was brought to Europe in the 1500s by Spanish explorers, but it was a drink enjoyed only by those who could afford such an exotic decadence. It wasn't until the late 1800s when trans-Atlantic shipping became faster and less costly that hot chocolate became more affordable, and therefore available to the wider public. This chocolate pot is one of Rogers Historical Museum's earliest donated objects, given by Vera Key. It was made sometime between 1900-1915 by Royal Bayreuth, a German porcelain manufacturing company known for their novelty designs. Serena Barnett: "The fanciful design and the vivid yellow and green colors of this chocolate pot has always caught my eye whenever it's on display in the Hawkins House dining room. It reminds me of another time when seemingly small tasks, as in the practice of serving hot chocolate, socially dictated the need to own such specialty items that were made for use and show, even for intimate occasions where you were surrounded by family and friends in the comfort of your own home." Woods Family Coverlet Coverlets are woven on looms and were commonly used as bedspreads as far back as the Colonial America period. This coverlet features the classic Whig Rose pattern considered to be in honor of the political Whig Party in opposition to President Andrew Jackson in 1834. It was woven by Elizabeth Greaves Dickson Woods, whose husband served on the first Grand Jury in Benton County. Elizabeth was born in 1809 and moved with her family to Benton County in 1832. Today, the site of their farm is located in Rogers at Woods Lane, east of the Northwest Arkansas Community College. Monte Harris, adult programs educator: "It is probably the oldest textile that we have of Benton Country history, and it is one of the few very old items that we can say without a doubt it's truly a Benton County owned artifact, through the Woods [family] line. Also, it is very beautiful." 8 WHAT'S UP! JANUARY 23-29, 2022 A Few Of Their Rogers Museum shares seldom seen artifacts FEATURE FAQ Rogers Historical Museum WHEN — 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday WHERE — 313 S. Second St. in Rogers COST — Free INFO — rogershistoricalmuseum.org or 621-1154 See Favorites Page 37 Woods Family Coverlet Poppy Chocolate Pot