Historical Society sets up display in mall

David Hayes (right) arranges yearbooks as Danny Walden looks on. They and other members of the Dyer County Historical Society created a display of photographs and artifacts in the former Readmore Book and Card store in the Dyersburg Mall. The exhibit is designed to help promote the Dyer County Museum, which is located in the old Dyersburg High School building on College Hill.

The Dyer County Historical Society created a display of old photographs, documents and other artifacts from days gone by. The display can be seen in the windows of the former Readmore Book and Card, adjacent to Peebles.

Historical Society President Danny Walden said the exhibit will "let the public that comes here to see a little bit of what we have on display in the museum downtown."

Sara Hayes, a member of the Dyer County Historical Society, sorts through newspaper articles describing the group's efforts through the years. The articles are part of a display in the former Readmore Book and Card store in the Dyersburg Mall. The exhibit is designed to help promote the Dyer County Museum, which is located in the old Dyersburg High School building on College Hill. [Click to enlarge]

The Dyer County History Museum is located in the old Dyersburg High School building on College Hill. The entrance is on the back side of the building, west of the YMCA entrance.

The museum was established about six years ago, but it's still an unknown treasure to many local residents. Walden and the historical society hope the mall exhibit will intrigue people and encourage them to visit the museum. The exhibit might also spur people to join the historical society, make a monetary donation or contribute more historical artifacts.

The current exhibit at the mall includes information about Menglewood, area schools, military personnel from Dyer County and a collection of intricate doll houses constructed by a Dyersburg resident. On display is an FFA jacket worn by Billy Stafford in 1949-50, when he served as a the state treasurer; photo composites for the Dyersburg High School Big Ten Champions from 1947, 1948 and 1953; a letter sweater; and information about Commander Lon Pate Koenig Jones of Newbern, who started out in the WAVES and eventually became a Defense Department systems analyst. A slide show is featured on a laptop computer.

The exhibit also features items made from the salvaged DHS gym flooring. The historical society is selling picture frames, letter openers and more.

Walden said the historical society plans to change the mall exhibit periodically.

Steve Guttery, Edward Burks, David and Sara Hayes, Kim Hill and Walden worked quickly to set up the display. But, their work stopped frequently as they answered questions from mall visitors.

"It's amazing, Danny, how many people have already stopped," Hayes told Walden. "And we've only been here 20 minutes."

Walden thanked Mall Manager Brooke Emery and the mall for allowing the historical society to use the space.

The Dyer County Historical Museum is open 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays. The Retired Senior Volunteer Program, which is adjacent to the museum, provides guided tours. For information about tours, call 286-7829.

The Dyer County Historical Society meets at 4:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month, usually in the Professional Development Center.