By Meghan E. Gattignolo Lenora Witzel, or Nora as she was known throughout her life, was a Clarksville native and local photographer who was a remarkable woman of her generation. She was born well before the turn of the century, so Nora witnessed miraculous changes in daily life. She would have seen the Customs House built…
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Inside the Holidays: St. Patrick’s Day
Written by Meghan E. Gattignolo You don’t have to be Irish to know about and enjoy St. Patrick’s Day. You don’t have to be religious either. Like a few holidays we have previously discussed in this blog, St. Patrick’s Day is a Catholic saint’s feast day. So, why do so many Americans party gratuitously on…
Brenda Vineyard Runyon: Community Leader Wore Many Hats
Written by Meghan E. Gattignolo March is Women’s History Month, and a great time to shine a light on some of the extraordinary women who have called Clarksville home. Brenda Vineyard Runyon is an excellent example of a woman who aspired to do it all – even at a time when most women were heavily…
The Hatpin: The Anti-Harassment Accessory You Didn’t Know You Needed
Written by Meghan E. Gattignolo The Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 3, 1907Public domain It’s getting dark on a cold February evening in 1910. A woman exits the cinema with her friend. Home is not far, but a walk alone at this hour could be uncomfortable. “I’ll walk with you,” the friend says. “I…
A Closer Look at Extracurriculars: Activities at Burt High School
Written by Meghan E. Gattignolo High school is a crucial time in the life of students, straddling the threshold of childhood and becoming an adult. Extracurriculars, therefore, are indispensable pieces of the high school experience. These activities – sports, debate, math club, newspaper, yearbook, etc. – give students a fun place to practice their passions,…
Glædelig Valentinsdag: Valentine’s Day in Denmark
Written by Meghan E. Gattignolo Love is in the air! February 14 is the feast day of St. Valentine in the Christian tradition, a martyr who allegedly performed secret marriages for soldiers and sent love notes from prison. The feast day was preceded by the Roman fertility festival Lupercalia, celebrated in mid-February during ancient times….
Maria D’Souza: Beauty from Death
“Snake, Rattle & Roll”Maria D’Souza Written by Meghan E. Gattignolo Wander through artist Maria D’Souza’s exhibit From Dreams and be transported into the wonderland of her vision. Maria is an internationally renowned artist whose unique pieces transcend traditional representations of art. So, where did Maria get the inspiration to turn death into art, and what…
Calling All Artisans! Become a Vendor at Seasons: The Museum Store
Written by Meghan E. Gattignolo A trip to the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center is never complete without a stop at Seasons: The Museum Store. Looking for a treasure to take home after a memorable visit is its own satisfying venture. Sometimes you can even find a piece by an artist whose exhibit you came to…
1898: A Turning Point in World Politics
Written by Meghan E. Gattignolo The Customs House Museum & Cultural Center’s original building – Clarksville’s first official federal post office and customs house – was built in 1898. We touched on the history of the building itself, often referred to as “the 1898 building” by Museum staff, in a previous blog article. Much is still standing from…
Find this Museum-Curated Exhibit at the Local Library
Written by Meghan E. Gattignolo Even if you are a regular library patron, you may not have noticed the small exhibit case upstairs near the Brown Harvey, Sr. Genealogy Room. This case is tended by the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center and features real pieces from the Museum’s permanent collection. Currently, the exhibit consists…