Page 60 - Visit Fayette | 2017 - 2018 Visotors Guide

Visit E.A. Arnim Archives/Museum in Flatonia

The E. A. Arnim Archives & from foreign wars fill smaller
Museum is dedicated to preserv- exhibit rooms. The museum en-
ing the history of the Flatonia courages students to visit its li-
area, including its people and its brary for research and to see ac-
culture, making its collections tual war footage from its DVD
available to the public for both collection to fully understand
research and entertainment. the significance of past wars.
E. A. Arnim, Sr. and partner The barn contains a wide
Jonathan Lane opened the array of farm implements and
Arnim & Lane Mercantile Store a collection of vehicles ranging
on Flatonia’s North Main Street from a genuine covered wagon
in 1886, when the town was to a 1926 Chevy truck used to
still in its infancy. Arnim’s eldest deliver farm produce in the area
son, Judge E. A. “Sam” Arnim, over a period of several decades.
Jr. spent a lifetime amassing an The inside of the Arnim Museum in Flatonia. In addition to a display of
extensive collection of objects “labor saving” laundry mecha-
of local historic significance. the old Arnim & Lane store, to has not stopped growing yet. nisms spanning a century or
In 1988, the Judge’s widow, house the museum. The collec- The ground floor of the more, a complete farm kitchen
Ann, had the idea of estab- tion soon expanded through a Museum’s main building features everything a hardwork-
lishing a museum in Flatonia generous outpouring of addi- showcases goods and furnishings ing farm wife needed from
in his memory. The Flatonia tional donations from numer- for home and office, advertis- crocks and butter churns to a
State Bank offered its building, ous other families with deep ing memorabilia, an extensive wood burning cook stove.
located across the street from roots in Flatonia history and photographic collection, antique The museum is the re-
children’s toys, clothing and pository of the most extensive
more – all of which reflect the collection of photographs of
development of Flatonia from the Flatonia area in existence.
E. A. Arnim its founding in 1873. High- While many photographs
Archives & Museum lights of this collection include are displayed throughout the
several outstanding examples of
exhibits, the museum collection
fretwork (scrap wood master- holds more than a thousand
fully crafted into ornamental additional photos of people,
objects such as clocks and places, and events, illustrat-
birdcages), mementos from the ing the history of Flatonia and
Flatonia Fair (1914 - 1936) and its surrounding communities
a horn settee which was manu- from the 1880s to the present.
factured at the Flatonia Horned We encourage families to
Furniture Company and bring their historical or cultural
exhibited at the Dallas Fair in photos in so we can identify the
1891 – placing first in its class. scene, subjects, events, etc., and
The Veterans Museum oc- to allow us to make copies to
Two buildings house a unique collection that will cupies the second floor of the place in the archives for the ben-
main building and was opened
take you on a journey back through Flatonia’s in October of 2007 as a tribute efit of future historians. We are
pleased to offer, for a fee, high
cultural and historical past to its founding in 1873. to the men and women from the quality prints of photographs
Flatonia area who have served and documents that are a per-
Hours: Thursday and Friday 1 – 4 p.m. in the Armed Forces, and as a
Saturday 10 a.m. to noon and 1 – 3 p.m. manent part of the E. A. Arnim
Available for special tours by appointment. reminder of the sacrifices they Archives & Museum collection.
have made for our country. A Students who visit its library
361-865-3455 or arnimmuseum@att.net “Wall of Honor” displays more for research and to see actual
101 E. North Main St., Flatonia, Texas than 300 photographs of indi- war footage from its DVD col-
vidual veterans. Uniforms worn lection fully understand the
www.arnimmuseum.org by local servicemen and women significance of past wars.
and memorabilia brought back

60 Visit Fayette | Fall/Winter 2017