Too many treasures, not enough space

Ellis County Historical Society president Wilbert Pfeifer Says someday, the museum might have space to display eight to 10 percent of its artifacts, but not yet.
“We have a lot of things that can be brought out to enhance what we do have already,” said Erin Hammer, curator of the Ellis County Historical Museum.

In the basement and sub-basement, Hammer shows items that are processed and stored in acid-free paper and plastic drawers. The No. 5 plastic is safe for storing artifacts and makes cataloging and finding the items much easier.

The attic is a different story, though. Racks of clothes are covered in plastic. The silk beaded dresses from the 1920s narrowly escaped damage from a leak in the roof.