Courtesy Martha Gentry, Executive Director, Fillmore Historical Museum

Last Saturday, July 25, 2021, 45 members, volunteers, officers, and past officers of the Fillmore Historical Museum met in the Fillmore Depot to celebrate the reopening of the Museum with a lunch and tour of the 1887 Depot, 1905 Hinckley House, and 1919 Bunkhouse. The 1968 caboose, the garage containing the 1930 Model A and the Bardsdale Post Office were also open for visits.

Museum volunteers have spent the last year during the Covid-19 closing to update, renew and replace many of the Museum displays. Lights have been added to most of the display cases, photos scanned and identified, artifacts have been rearranged. Many of the items which have been on display have been carefully packed away and replaced by new donations or newly discovered items. Our collection of musical instruments and sound reproduction devices has been brought to the forefront in a new display case. Recordings have been digitized and now can be heard by following QR codes on your cellphone camera.

Museum staff has added stories of local community members whose families have been in the area from its early days. These stories and photos are now displayed in the “Pioneer Room” on the second floor of the Bunkhouse.

We are also pleased to announce that the local firemen’s group, who many years ago purchased, restored and lovingly maintained Fillmore’s antique American LaFrance fire engine will be donating it to the Museum. Now the work begins as we must build a building for it onsite. There will be much more about this in the coming months.

We, on the Board of Directors, are excited about the future of the Museum and hope that you in the communities of Fillmore, Bardsdale, Piru, and Sespe will visit and support your local Museum.

The Museum has been in operation for nearly 50 years, collecting memorabilia, photos, and stories and making these available to families and friends, school children and tourists.

On behalf of all the current and past directors and volunteers at the Museum we thank you for your support both financial and in donations of family artifacts, photos and stories. We look forward to your visit. The Museum is located at 340 Main St. Stop by for a visit to see what is new or just stop by for a chat to tell us your story. We are open Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., closing between 12 noon and 1 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can also visit us on Facebook and on our website, FillmoreHistoricalMuseum.org. You can also give us a call at 805 524 0948.