Merrilee Lee, director of the Hoard Historical Museum, Fort Atkinson, has announced that the organization is the recipient of a children’s play space, decorated to resemble a gingerbread house.
The recent addition to the museum’s holiday attractions will be used to augment existing programming, held at the museum annually each December, including the annual contest during which participants build smaller replicas of gingerbread houses made from eatable materials, Lee noted.
According to information released but the museum, the basic elements of the gingerbread house were designed and constructed by Fort Atkinson resident Phil Niemeyer.
With the basic elements in place, Trudianne Thom, also a resident of Fort Atkinson, provided the decorative work which transformed the structure into a gingerbread house, Lee added.
Among play elements designed into the structure is a mail slot, and decorative work includes “chimney and trim work around the door and windows,” Lee noted within the release.
Since its debut, children have expressed awe and excitement about the play-sized gingerbread house, Lee wrote.
She added that both Niemeyer and Thom serve as volunteers at the museum and donated their time to create the new holiday piece.
Those hoping to visit the new play structure may do so during the museum’s regular hours of operation, Tuesdays through Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through the remainder of 2023.
Visits to the gingerbread house are free and open to the public.
Holiday hours at the museum
Additional information notes that the museum will be closed for the holidays from Friday, Dec. 22, through Tuesday, Dec. 26.
The museum will be open Wednesday, Dec. 27 through Friday, Dec. 29.
It will again close beginning Saturday, Dec. 30, and remain closed through “late January,” 2024, the release stated.
The museum will open to those interested in making an appointment, beginning Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024.
The museum will close during the aforementioned dates to allow for cleaning and maintenance to be performed within the building, Lee stated.
The Hoard Historical and National Dairy Shrine museums are located at 401 Whitewater Ave.
For more information, contact the museum by phone: 920-397-9914, or email: info@hoardmuseum.org, and visit its website: www.hoardmuseum.org.
Fort Atkinson residents Trudianne and Gary Thom express their enthusiasm about a newly built and donated holiday-themed children’s playhouse found at the Hoard Historical Museum. The structure was built and donated by Fort Atkinson resident Phil Niemeyer, not pictured, and decorated, with the artist donating her time, by Trudianne Thom. Chris Spangler photo for Fort Atkinson Online.
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What a wonderful addition to the museum.