Today we’d like to introduce you to Gina Arens
Hi Gina, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I work as a volunteer at the Mason Historical Society’s Alverta Green Museum. I help with a variety of activities including contributing to our newsletter, fund raisers, school group visits, and staffing the museum during open hours.
The Mason Historical Society was formed in 1979 by a group of residents interested in promoting and preserving the town’s history. In 1989 Alverta Green left her house to the historical society to use as a museum. Our September 2024 Newsletter has a full story on the Alverta Green Museum with photos and may be viewed on our website archives at Masonhistoricalsociety.org.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The Mason Historical Society initially struggled to find a place to call home for its collection of Mason memorabilia. At one point they had a small storefront in the building that housed the Peoples Building and Loan and the post office. With the Alverta Green bequest, the society found a permanent home but one that required a lot of sprucing up. Fortunately, a group of enthusiastic charter members banded together and diligently worked to complete the necessary maintenance to get the house in shape to host visitors. Still, in the early days, they continued to struggle with funding. Since that time the City of Mason has provided some funding and the ever-growing membership and fund raising efforts have helped the museum grow and prosper.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
The Alverta Green Museum’s success is comprised of a group of volunteers that come from a variety of backgrounds. We have individuals who come from financial backgrounds to management and marketing, with all having an interest and desire to keep Mason history alive. It is truly a team effort that keeps the museum wheels turning!
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Personally, I am a fan of the Texas Historical Connection who provide free Museum Services Webinars. They present a wide variety of subject matter and their hosts are very professional and thorough in their subject lectures. They have many webinars archived on their website. The link to their site is https://thc.texas.gov/preserve/preservation-programs/museum-services/museum-services-webinars.
Pricing:
- Admission is free/donations accepted
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.masonhistoricalsociety.org/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mason45040history
