Time Warp 2008 Mule Gazette, pg 4
The Mule Museum Building was built about
1850 by Mr. J. J. Higdon on his property a
few miles north of the present location of the
building. Originally it was the Higdon
Commissary, a general store that would
have stocked goods such as coffee, nails
and metal items that would be needed by
people in the area. It offered an opportunity
for area farmers to trade eggs, potatoes and
cane syrup and sugar for salt or fancy cloth
such as gingham.
In June 1869, a post office was established
in the Higdon Commissary, with Harrison
Fairbank as postmaster. By the 1880’s, mail
arrived twice weekly from Whigham on
Wednesdays and Saturdays at mid-day.
The postmaster collected postage from the
recipient when mail was picked up. From
1869 to the present, Calvary has had a post
office and an officially designated person in
charge.
Our Mule Museum has very few items that
hint of life in those days of 1850 or earlier.
The stoves that burned wood or coal for
cooking were not the earliest means of
cooking. Until there was better
transportation to bring in the stoves,
cooking would have been done at a fireplace
or out on an open fire. The display includes
a “spider“ - an iron skillet on legs. Originally,
it had a lid with a rim, so that hot coals
placed under the pan and on the lid could
make an oven for “baking a cake”.
Generally, food was limited to what was
grown by the individual or his neighbors.
The earliest of the photos include a few
people who lived in the area before 1850,
but most of the farm implements, as well as
the “addressograph” and the kitchen items
date from 1900 or after. However, several
years passed before electricity was available
in the area. In the years from 1880 until
World War II, the Calvary area was well
known for the agricultural products produced
by the residents. Hard work and mules were
the foundation of the prosperity of the
region!
For more than 180 years, families of the
Calvary area have continued the traditions
of the community.
In recent years, we have started a “new
tradition” of having eighth grade history
students involved with the Museum. The
students select and research topics that
relate to the lifestyles of the region in years
gone by.
On Friday before Mule Day, the students
share their research by explaining what they
have learned. We’re now calling this our
“History Here Today“ program.
This is a much appreciated addition to the
museum collection! If you are interested in
knowing more or volunteering to help with
the museum operation, please call Jeanette
Sickel at 229-872-3260 or Sue Rodemoyer
at 229-377-6550.
The Mule Museum Building was built about
1850 by Mr. J. J. Higdon on his property a
few miles north of the present location of the
building. Originally it was the Higdon
Commissary, a general store that would
have stocked goods such as coffee, nails
and metal items that would be needed by
people in the area. It offered an opportunity
for area farmers to trade eggs, potatoes and
cane syrup and sugar for salt or fancy cloth
such as gingham.
In June 1869, a post office was established
in the Higdon Commissary, with Harrison
Fairbank as postmaster. By the 1880’s, mail
arrived twice weekly from Whigham on
Wednesdays and Saturdays at mid-day.
The postmaster collected postage from the
recipient when mail was picked up. From
1869 to the present, Calvary has had a post
office and an officially designated person in
charge.
Our Mule Museum has very few items that
hint of life in those days of 1850 or earlier.
The stoves that burned wood or coal for
cooking were not the earliest means of
cooking. Until there was better
transportation to bring in the stoves,
cooking would have been done at a fireplace
or out on an open fire. The display includes
a “spider“ - an iron skillet on legs. Originally,
it had a lid with a rim, so that hot coals
placed under the pan and on the lid could
make an oven for “baking a cake”.
Generally, food was limited to what was
grown by the individual or his neighbors.
The earliest of the photos include a few
people who lived in the area before 1850,
but most of the farm implements, as well as
the “addressograph” and the kitchen items
date from 1900 or after. However, several
years passed before electricity was available
in the area. In the years from 1880 until
World War II, the Calvary area was well
known for the agricultural products produced
by the residents. Hard work and mules were
the foundation of the prosperity of the
region!
For more than 180 years, families of the
Calvary area have continued the traditions
of the community.
In recent years, we have started a “new
tradition” of having eighth grade history
students involved with the Museum. The
students select and research topics that
relate to the lifestyles of the region in years
gone by.
On Friday before Mule Day, the students
share their research by explaining what they
have learned. We’re now calling this our
“History Here Today“ program.
This is a much appreciated addition to the
museum collection! If you are interested in
knowing more or volunteering to help with
the museum operation, please call Jeanette
Sickel at 229-872-3260 or Sue Rodemoyer
at 229-377-6550.
History Match 2008 Mule Gazette, pg 2
Last year a match was made when the Grady
County Historical Society and the Dr. Maxwell
Office Museum united. For two years, the
building that had been used by Dr. Maxwell as
his office, and later moved to the Mule Day
Grounds, had been closed due to its
deplorable condition. The Calvary Lions Club,
in a desire to preserve the history of the
building and the memory of the owner, set out
to spruce it up and bring it back to a condition
that would allow its reopening.
The Grady County Historical Society has
been represented at Mule Day for the past
few years and was the perfect match to help
with the reopening. The Society operates the
Grady County Museum and History Center
and is dedicated to preserving the history of
the county for future generations.
Together, the two allow for a stroll back in
history. At the same time, it gives visitors a
chance to check out the complete line of
publications and other items that are for sale
by the Historical Society. On Mule Day plan
to stop by the Maxwell Museum and meet
members of the Grady County Historical
Society. The rest of the year you can visit the
Grady County Museum and History Center
which is located at 1 North Broad Street in
Cairo.
Last year a match was made when the Grady
County Historical Society and the Dr. Maxwell
Office Museum united. For two years, the
building that had been used by Dr. Maxwell as
his office, and later moved to the Mule Day
Grounds, had been closed due to its
deplorable condition. The Calvary Lions Club,
in a desire to preserve the history of the
building and the memory of the owner, set out
to spruce it up and bring it back to a condition
that would allow its reopening.
The Grady County Historical Society has
been represented at Mule Day for the past
few years and was the perfect match to help
with the reopening. The Society operates the
Grady County Museum and History Center
and is dedicated to preserving the history of
the county for future generations.
Together, the two allow for a stroll back in
history. At the same time, it gives visitors a
chance to check out the complete line of
publications and other items that are for sale
by the Historical Society. On Mule Day plan
to stop by the Maxwell Museum and meet
members of the Grady County Historical
Society. The rest of the year you can visit the
Grady County Museum and History Center
which is located at 1 North Broad Street in
Cairo.
Proud to be a MAXWELL t-shirts are on sale
in our Mule Store online. Proceeds from
the sale of these shirts will be earmarked to
restore and maintain the Dr. Maxwell
Museum!
in our Mule Store online. Proceeds from
the sale of these shirts will be earmarked to
restore and maintain the Dr. Maxwell
Museum!
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