In this week’s update: “Old Fisherman’s Bait Recipes” now available for sale, Memberships Update, Millfest Sponsorships at nearly $4,500, and more!
In this update, keep up to date on what staff and volunteers at the Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum are working on to lift up the history of Lindsborg and the surrounding region. This weekly update both looks back at what happened and looks ahead at what’s coming.
For January 12-18, 2026:
- The “Old Fisherman’s Bait Recipes” booklet is now available for purchase in our gift shop and online! A recreation and transcription of a 70-year-old handwritten manuscript in fountain pen; this booklet includes old-fashioned bait recipes, angler folklore, and fishing tips and tricks! We think these are likely the very recipes that the Runbeck Brothers were making and selling in the mid-1950s as part of their bait business, even as the flour mill was coming to an end. It’s just $5+tax and the applicable rate for media mail if you’re having them sent to you.
- Adam processed 4 renewing memberships last week!
Even so, we are currently showing about 85 recent membership supporters who are overdue on renewing.
Have you renewed your museum membership? (Are you sure?)
By board approval, membership rates have also increased in 2026 to $50 for an individual membership, $70 for a family membership, and $135 for a business membership to help keep pace with inflation and to help offset the significant reduction of government support from the county. This is the first increase to museum membership rates since the membership program was established in 2022.
Memberships are a critical source of reliable support for the museum!
Give us a call at 785-227-3595 or email at oldmillmuseum@gmail.com, and we will be glad to check on your status. It’s also a great time to think about becoming a new member if you’ve never been one before, or to purchase a gift membership for someone special in your life! See www.oldmillmuseum.org/members for details!
Last week, the Board of Directors also approved a new membership option which will be rolled out this week! Stay Tuned!
- Sponsorship opportunities for Millfest 2026 are now open and available! With three new sponsorships coming in last week, already we have had $4,450 in event sponsorship dollars come in!
Scheduled next year for Saturday, May 2, this is the one time annually that our visitors can take guided tours of the 1898 Old Mill IN OPERATION! The festival also includes, music, entertainment, arts & crafts, antique tractor show, games, demonstrations and face painting!
Giving levels to sponsor run from as little as $25 to get your name in the program to $5,000 or more to secure topline “Brought to you by…” overall event sponsorship. You can also choose to direct your donation to specific Millfest attractions, including face painting, tractor show, Old Mill tours, or music performances! See full details including how to arrange your sponsorship with the forms included below.
- We want to extend congratulations to some of our “Museum People” recognized last week!
Our own Lenora Lynam was honored last Tuesday night for 25 years of service as a board member with the Smoky Valley Historical Association!Also last week, the Lindsborg Arts Council announced Bill Olson (museum board member) and Beth Olson (museum volunteer and supporter) as the 2026 Artists of the Year! They will be recognized at the Art Lovers Affair and Auction on Feb. 7.We’re so glad to have these wonderful people on our team and to see them honored and recognized in the community!
(Olson photo by Taton Tubbs.)
- We are more than 1/3 of the way toward the funds we will need under the “Raise the Roof” campaign to repair the 1904 World’s Fair Swedish Pavilion’s roof in a more durable and historically accurate way, with $106,431.15 donated to the roof phase of the project. Last week we applied for a Legacy Nutt grant to try to close the funding gap to finish the project; even so, more will likely be needed to be able to complete this phase 2.
If you would like to help with Raise the Roof, you can learn more at www.oldmillmuseum.org/raise-the-roof. Contributions made now will not be eligible for the special tax credit opportunity, but may have tax benefits as a qualifying donation to a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization charity.
We have several recognition reward levels available: These include recognition on our website and an invitation to a special VIP event once all of the funds needed for the roof (at $100 or more) and opportunities to have a “roof tile” with custom wording added to a permanent honor wall (at $1,000 or more)!
- We are excited to offer the first “Discover Your Past” Virtual Genealogy Workshop, set for a week from this Saturday on January 31, 2026!
Rather than the usual focus on Swedish genealogy research resources, this time the sessions will be able to apply to ANY genealogy or family research, regardless of country background! Museum members register with a $20 discount. We hope you can join us!
We also recently added a half-day Beginning Swedish Workshop for February 21, 2026. It will cost $20 or just $10 for members.
- We are continuing our critical Harvest of Giving fundraising event into 2026 as our topline goal in $50,000 in unrestricted donations – to keep the museum lights on and the doors open in 2026 – has not yet been met. Currently, this effort is at about $40,000.
In the space of four years, a major source of public funding has gone from covering half of our annual expenses to less than 8% and is not showing any signs of returning. Because of this, it is more important than ever for generous private donors, businesses, and organizations to step in and ensure that the rare experiences at the Museum continue to be available in 2026. Learn more and make your charitable donation today at www.oldmillmuseum.org/harvest-of-giving.
- Adam finished the winter newsletter! With printed copies expected to be done today, final publication and mailing should happen this week.
- Adam sent feedback as the museum is working on development of a new flour mix for sale in the museum gift shop.
- Lenora and Adam worked together to finish an SVHA application for infrastructure improvements for the road to Coronado Heights.
- Lenora met for coffee with ladies at Sunflower Terrace on Tuesday and Swedish Friendship Coffee on Friday in these ongoing community outreach efforts.
- The Museum Handy Crew worked hard last week on rearrangement and organizing in the Implement Building on Heritage Square that freed up space. This is allowing us to space out and better display these artifacts, which includes a number of antique vehicles and wagons.
- Lenora worked on ArkivDigital document indexing for five hours last week under a contract with the organization.
- Tyler is continuing to work on digitizing our collection of printed literature, while Julie Ann continues with adding to our Historic Image Database collection.
Thank you to our weekly volunteers!
This week that included Julie Ann Neywick, Betty Amos, Jerry Hammerton, Leland Nelson, and Karmon Almquist!