Community museum taking shape in Everly

Everly's new community museum has amassed a small treasure-trove of unique items in less than a month.

"We've already had a number of people calling us," said Connie Goeken, Everly Historical Museum Committee member. "I think we'll be able to get a great assortment of artifacts."

The committee issued its first community-wide call for Everly-centric items earlier this month. So far, various Cattlefeeder memorabilia and things from former businesses have topped the list.

Two of the early treasures have been a girls' basketball uniform from the 1920s and a Cattlefeeder cheerleader outfit. Goeken also said multiple people have offered their collection of girls' state basketball tournament programs from when the Cattlefeeders were perennial visitors to Des Moines.

"We'll have a lot to pick from," said Goeken. "Usually those paper items don't hold up so well, and it's great that we still have so many."

The museum had a sturdy foundation of artifacts from the get-go. A number of items were donated from the Everly school building when it closed last year, including all sports and activity trophies earned during the school's history as well as typical schoolroom equipment. Goeken noted there is still a need for items related to other planned exhibits focusing on Everly veterans and military service, past businesses, Cattlefeeder sports and general Everly community history.

Items from the former Moneta school are also needed. The museum is hoped to open sometime in 2021, as the COVID-19 pandemic put progress on ice during the past few months.

"We had hoped to have it open this year, but the committee just didn't feel comfortable meeting and asking people to come in," said Goeken. "Now, we're just getting back on track with everything."

The museum, located in the building directly south of the Everly Public Library, is ready for exhibits to get staged. Goeken said the building only needed a few aesthetic touchups. It's being leased from Evertek, which offered the space to the museum steering committee when a facility was needed to house the old trophies and memorabilia when the Everly school closed.

"Other than new paint and few other things, this building is in fantastic shape," said Goeken.

Anyone willing to donate or loan artifacts to the museum should contact Goeken or another steering committee member: VerDon Schmidt, Bud Meyer, Mark Scharnberg, Cindy Fliss, Bev Rinehart, Theresa Steuben, Mike Monnahan, Cheri Hoye or Marilyn Meyer. You can also contact the Everly Heritage Museum through its Facebook page, by email at [email protected] or by phone at (712) 834-2156.

"We are sure there are 'savers' out there who have items stashed away in attics and basements that would be great additions to our exhibits," Goeken said. "We would like to have the chance to give those things a new home and a way to share them with the public."

All donations will be officially catalogued and accessioned into the museum's inventory.

"We want to make sure donors know that their items will be well cared for and properly recognized," said Goeken. "We're telling stories that mean a lot to our residents, and we appreciate their trust in putting cherished items into our care."