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September 3, 1999
Transportation Exhibit, MuseumAnnex plans opening on Sept. 11Smithsonian curatorto speak at eventBy SARA SYVERSON Journal Staff Writer NEW ULM -- The Brown County Historical Society will open its new Transportation Exhibit and Museum Annex on Saturday, Sept. 11. Paula Johnson, a New Ulm native, and curator of the History of Technology at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., will speak at the event. The exhibit opens at 10 a.m. with Johnson giving a 10-minute speech at 10:15 a.m. "The purpose for my coming to New Ulm is two-fold," said Johnson, "I want to help my father celebrate his 75th birthday; and the museum asked me several months ago to say a few words at the exhibit opening." The new exhibit's purpose is to tell the story of rivers, roads and rails in Brown County. There will be tours of the new facility from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Refreshments will be served to visitors. The transportation exhibit is located at 12 N. Broadway, next to the Brown County Historical Museum. "It's important for people to understand the past," said Johnson, "'Transportation' is an important story no matter where you are. It's important to know where you came from and the difficulties people had getting there. It's an exciting story all-in-all." Brown County Historical Society Executive Director Bob Burgess said, "We know Paula's family. We had a board member who saw her speak once and she's a good speaker. We were just delighted that she said 'yes.'" Johnson said one of her favorite places while growing up in New Ulm was at the museum in the basement of the old library. "It appealed to me and it sparked my imagination," said Johnson. Johnson attended Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter where she studied English and art. In 1976, she left the Midwest and moved to Washington, D.C. "I still think of Minnesota as my home," said Johnson, "I usually come back to Minnesota around Christmas time. I'm looking forward to seeing Minnesota with a little bit of green." The Brown County Historical Society Museum is one example of people in this area being conscious of their history, Johnson said. The new exhibit and annex will provide a meeting place and storage area for the transportation collection. Artifacts such as vintage gasoline pumps, a 1934 Dodge truck, and the original flag from the steamboat "Otter" will be included in the transportation exhibit housed in the Mathiowetz Transportation Gallery The building is an art deco style Shell station and Dodge Motor Company. It was built in 1938. Funds for the project came from the Intermodal Transportation Efficiency Act and a capital campaign. There were 300 donors who contributed to this project. The officiants at the dedication will be Jim Swanson, Transportation District Engineer and Doug Haeder, Assistant District Engineer -- State Aid Planning, Minnesota Department of Transportation.
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