MONDAY MORNING MUSEUM UPDATE – May 19, 2025 – Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum

In this week’s update: See the Old Mill on PBS program; Upcoming genealogy workshops; Swedish Pavilion update; and more!

Heads up that the Monday Morning Update will be “on vacation” next week on May 26. Be sure to check here again on June 2 for an update covering the previous two weeks.

In our weekly 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 last week and looks ahead at what’s coming.

For May 12-18, 2025:

If you missed seeing the the museum represented on the new PBS Channel 8 KPTS program “Taste, See, Do” last week, you can now watch it for FREE and on your schedule on the program’s website!
Also featuring Lindsborg attractions of Indigo Moo’d ice cream and quadcycles at Hemslöjd, most of the first half of the program focused on the Lindsborg museum!
This proved to be probably the most uninterrupted television airtime the museum has had to speak in detail about all we have to offer, and we really want to thank the whole KPTS team for giving us the opportunity and to Visit Lindsborg for arranging the appearance.
We are so excited to share this program with you and to to represent just one part of all that Lindsborg has to offer!
Two upcoming genealogy workshop events are coming in the next few weeks (the first of them being a week from this Saturday!) and are currently open for registration! (Please note that we are now using a new process with the Eventbrite platform for registration and payment – don’t let that scare you off!)
Sue Schlichting with Pursuing YOUR Past will present “Inspiring the Next Generation of Genealogists” on Saturday, May 31. It is free for museum members or just $10 for non-members. Register and pay for the presentation at the link HERE.
Then on Saturday, June 7, we’ll have our next virtual Swedish Genealogy Workshop with four great sessions, including the return of Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective! The cost is $50, or $30 for museum members. Register and pay at the link HERE.
Perfect Blend Construction has nearly completed repair work on the north side of the 1904 World’s Fair Swedish Pavilion and has now moved to the last part of the work on the south side!
With the stabilizing shear wall on the north side installed and the board and batten siding restored to the exterior, the north side just needs some caulking, some paint touch-ups, and some material at the base of the wall.
They are now actively working on repairs on the south side – the “face” of the Swedish manor-style historic building. This includes installing two shear walls behind the exterior walls to either side of the entrance and attaching those to solid footings at the building foundation.
The work is estimated to be completed by early summer; and when completed, this will allow us to safely reopen the Pavilion to the public! Anticipating the work’s completion, last week Aubrey worked on planning a grant re-opening of the Swedish Pavilion.
Thanks to everyone who donated to help us reach the $151,500 needed for these critical repairs! Tax credits are now available for the 2025 tax year, with proceeds going to help with a new planned Pavilion roof that will be more durable and with a more historically accurate look! Learn more at www.oldmillmuseum.org/save-the-pavilion.
Our thanks to the “Upon Arriving” travel blog for a great story about many of the great attractions Lindsborg has to offer – including the Lindsborg museum!
Adam worked on edits, corrections, and feedback on proofs for the new back gallery history display being made by Display Studios, including securing and sending better quality images for the display. The display is set to be installed before the end of May.
We have been awarded a $3,000 grant from the Smoky Valley Community Foundation, which will support Tyler’s hours working on continuing to expand the Historic Image Database at the museum!
Adam gave an Old Mill tour to nearly 60 students and adults from St. Mary’s Grade School in Salina last Monday.
Lenora is working with the Smoky Valley Historical Association to collect information to apply for a grant to update and republish the Historic Lindsborg Business Directory.
Museum staff met last week for a planning session about plans for upcoming grant applications the museum will be pursuing.
Adam and Aubrey started reviewing pre-recording materials from the Preservation Oaks podcast that Aubrey will be appearing on later this year.
Aubrey worked to receive feedback from demonstrators and schools for feedback on Millfest and Millfest for Kids.
Aubrey met with a freelance grant writer who will be working with the museum.
Adam continued monitoring the watering of the newly placed sod to make sure the new grass “takes.” This will be the last week of active watering of the new sod.
Adam continued working on the summer 2025 member newsletter.
Aubrey is purchasing supplies to fix the benches at the Old Mill Campgrounds.
Aubrey is researching for a concept design and quote for Swedish kurbit decorations in the museum gift shop. The plan is to pay for these artistic updates with a grant application.
Aubrey worked on a letter of intent for a grant application to the Greenway Foundation.
Lenora is working on a short presentation about the Svensk Hyllningsfest project and the Historic Speaker Series to be given to the Humanities Kansas board meeting when they gather in Lindborg on June 13. She will also be giving a longer public presentation about Hyllningsfest later in June as a part of the Humanities Kansas Grant.
Aubrey set up an upcoming museum tour for the Kansas Geographic Alliance.
Aubrey set up to present a budget allocation request at an upcoming Lindsborg City Council meeting.
Lenora continued working through a donation of historic photographs.
Tyler continued working on research for the Svensk Hyllningsfest project as well as entering database info from the above photo donation.
Lenora met for coffee at Sunflower Terrace on Tuesday to gather local oral history.
Lenora has continued working on an indexing project under contract with ArkivDigital.
Need a great gift for the genealogist or history enthusiast in your life? NEW in the museum gift shop, you can now purchase a gift certificate good for a free registration to one of the museum’s Online Swedish Genealogy Workshops anytime in 2025 ($50) or a 2025 Pursuing YOUR Past presentation ($10). Your gift recipient will receive a one-time-use code by email or mail good to pay for the registration fee for one of these popular sessions!