An Update from the President & CEO |
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Good day everyone,
Nostalgia - a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations.
The Elliott Museum and the House of Refuge Museum are ideal locations for you to take a nearby nostalgia trip! 2020 has been a year that has left many of us scratching our heads and wondering what happened. When we are living in fear or under undue pressure, we tend to forget that there were once happier times on the planet when simple pleasures were embraced like a long-lost friend.
My dear, sweet mother was a small girl during the Great Depression. Though she was plagued by Alzheimer’s late in her long life, she could recall and vividly recant her memories of life during the Depression. I remember her stories well, but there were a couple of themes that were oft-repeated that I believe play well today.
“We made our own fun. Neighboring families gathered weekly for a potluck dinner of whatever could be mustered. We always made homemade ice cream, and I can’t recall that I have ever had better ice cream since. Someone would play the piano, quite well I might add, someone would dance, someone would sing, and before long everyone joined according to their own ability, or courage, in the absence of ability.”
This story was told on a very regular basis as dementia laid siege, but always with warm eyes and a beautiful smile. I’m smiling as I write these words. I guess I must be having a nostalgic experience.
"Nostalgia is a file that removes the rough edges from the good old days."
– Doug Larson
Many years ago, an American farm family was tickled pink to be able to afford this modern Davis Swinging Churn to make butter to have with their meals and sell in their local community. The sheer genius of the invention and the ease of use would be a blessing to anyone lucky enough to have one…the first time they used it. I suspect the novelty wore off as quickly since the process for each batch required more than an hour.
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I’m also guessing that Mom didn’t have the opportunity to chat on her cell phone to her sister while she swung the device. You can count on the fact that all of the kids in the family found some other place to keep busy when they saw the milk being poured into the contraption. Despite the short-lived thrill of this modern convenience to its original owners, we can all enjoy being reminded that we should be thrilled when we buy a pound of butter at our local Publix.
Only a practiced mind can extract the good memories from periods of trial and tribulation. Very few of us will raise a glass at midnight on January 31 and say, “2020 was the best year of my life.” By year-end, I genuinely hope that all of us will be able to recall a story or two that celebrates the generosity and resilience of the human spirit under trying circumstances. Perhaps we should challenge ourselves and each other to “be the story” of kindness and character that made 2020 a memorable year.
Nostalgia is like a grammar lesson: you find the present tense, and the past perfect! – Owens Lee Pomeroy
To deny that there is a tall measure of tension in the world today is nonsensical. To argue that the past was perfect is ludicrous. To miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in the heartwarming nostalgia of “days gone by” is unforgivable. We want our fellow local residents to feel a bit better during the punishing days of 2020. So much so, that we are inviting you to visit our museums free of charge every Monday in August! We are calling them “Mental Health Mondays.” With 50,000 square feet of space at the Elliott Museum, you can distance yourself so far you will need a flare gun if you become separated from your party! Come and see us soon because we want you to touch your hearts and uplift your spirits. It really was that simple…in the good old days.
Be patient and thoughtful,
Rob Steele
HSMC President & CEO
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Our video series continues a House of Refuge segment |
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During the COVID-19 shutdown, we launched our new YouTube channel, which featured a variety of videos on the history of Mr. Sterling Elliott along with a few highlights from our antique car collection.
Now it's time to put the focus on our other museum — the House of Refuge. In this first video, Keeper of the House Michael Phillips gives you a brief history on the House of Refuge. Tune in here. |
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The magnificent frigate bird is a familiar visitor at the House of Refuge Museum. Despite their webbed feet, frigates rarely land on the water, because - unlike other seabirds - they lack waterproof feathers. Instead, they spend most of their lives flying effortlessly over the ocean. Next time you’re at the museum, look up, and you may see some of these remarkable birds. |
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Come to our Open House to enjoy our
Bulldog Breed British Bikes Exhibit!
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Please join members of
The Reverence Motorcycle Association
and the general public
for an open house event at the
Elliott Museum
Wednesday, August 12 from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Snacks and Cash Bar will be served.
Enjoy a tour of the newly updated exhibits
throughout the Museum featuring the
Bulldog Breed British Bikes Exhibit
Please RSVP to Debbie Banta at
or call 772-225-1961.
Complimentary admission for Reverence members and one guest.
General admission - $5 per person.
We will be adhering to the specific venue and CDC Guidelines.
If you can't make this Open House, you have until September 13 to see this impressive private collection of 22 classic British motorcycles. The bikes span the 1930s to the 1970s and represent famous makers such as Triumph, Norton and BSA along with rare makes that include Matchless, Royal Enfield and Velocette. The exhibit includes timeless collectibles including the Triumph Bonneville and Norton Commando and also will showcase the world class Café racers from famed English manufacturers.
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While enjoying live music and refreshments, you'll also be able to take in the work of two local artists. Mark Stall will be the featured fine art photographer along with Chad Periman and his recycled, repurposed mixed media assemblage art. |
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Free admission for teachers all this month |
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Thanks to a partnership with the Jensen Beach Chamber of Commerce, we are offering complimentary* general admission for any currently employed teacher and one guest to the Elliott Museum, valid now through August 31, 2020. It's our way of saying THANK YOU for all you do! (*Must show school district ID. Excludes special events, programs, lectures and any other discounts or coupons; valid during regular museum hours only.)
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Clean and shiny or dressed to kill? We have something for you. There's no entrance fee to visit our Emporium Museum Shoppe so if you're looking for a gift for someone else or even yourself we invite you to stop by between 10 a.m.-5 p.m. |
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New opportunities with Hi Mindfulness Forums |
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Deena Rahill, creator of Crystal Bowl Sound Vibrational Healing, is now offering a wide range of formats.
Cultivate the wellness, focus, and productivity of your team
If your organization would like to support its employees by balancing their well-being, now is the time to explore a virtual sound healing! Sound helps to establish the pathway to a place of stillness, creating balance for the mind and the body, as well as revitalizing health. This vibrational flow of energy will help your team to reduce stress, increase clarity, elevate energy and sharpen their focus.
In-person experience
Would your family or a group of your friends or colleagues enjoy being together in the same room for a sound vibrational session? Schedule a private in-person session for the group located at the Elliott Museum theater for four to 10 people.
Common Community TV Channel
Are you an organization or a community with a common TV channel who would like to offer a virtual sound vibrational experience for your residents in the comfort of their own homes?
Deena will personalize your experience exclusively for your groups, entire workplace, or your community so that they can all tune in together. Call to schedule your session at 786-488-7782.
Live Streaming Session, Tuesday, August 11 from 2-3 p.m.
Live from the Elliott Museum's theater, Deena will continue to offer a live, online Virtual Crystal Bowl Vibrational Healing once a month. Experience an hour of the pure bliss of sound vibration. Research has shown that a clear intention coupled with an elevated emotion changes your state of being. To participate, go to her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/deena.rahill. For more details, please see this flyer.
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For concise information on what's happening with the Arts Scene on the Treasure Coast, subscribe to Willi Miller's ARTS BLAST! at willimiller.com.
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The Historical Society of Martin County
A Treasure on the Treasure Coast since 1961!
Two Museums on Hutchinson Island in Stuart, FL 34996
Elliott Museum | 825 NE Ocean Blvd.
Hours: 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. every day | 772-225-1961
House of Refuge • 301 SE MacArthur Blvd.
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 1-4 p.m. on Sunday | 772-225-1875
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