Hours for the Blakesburg Community Museum during the Corn Carnival are Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Abernathy House will be open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
On the porch of the Abernathy House will be a BOOKS & BLING table where visitors can purchase New-2-U children’s books and costume jewelry. The new Blakesburg Interpretive Panel, which informs visitors of some of Blakesburg’s early history, is also on the Porch before it finds its permanent home by the Museum later this fall. Finished on the porch??--go inside and visit the historic 1892 Abernathy House, including the newly restored formal Parlor. An exhibit of Corn Carnival memorabilia, including ten Blakesburg Excelsior newspapers from 1938-1948 featuring front-page stories about early Corn Carnival celebrations is also in the House. Included in the exhibit will be the 1954 Excelsior featuring the Blakesburg centennial celebration.
At the Museum, come learn about some history unique to Blakesburg: stories of vigilante justice, the life of a “little person” circus performer, a growing display of Blakesburg’s former School memorabilia, and so much more! And--the traditional WITWIT contest (What In The World Is This) is located in the Museum—take a look at the mystery antique on display and guess what it is!! Go from one contest to the next and leave your guess in the “Count the Corn Kernels” contest. And as you leave, don’t forget to have your picture taken with Miss Gally Crow, the Historic Hills Scenic Byway scarecrow that greets all of our museum visitors.
The BHPS raffle fundraiser is also underway! Tickets available now at the Blakesburg Museum (Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.) or from one of the many volunteers selling this year. Tickets will be sold up until the 8:00 p.m. drawing Saturday night at a cost of $1/ticket or $10/book of 11. NEED NOT BE PRESENT TO WIN. SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL of our raffle sponsors: Citizens Mutual Telephone Cooperative for $500 grand prize, Leffler Dirtworks for 18 Ton 1” rock delivered within 35 mile radius of Blakesburg, artist Larry Zach for two framed prints: Dream Bucks I and Dream Bucks II, H&R Block, Ottumwa for $250, Susan Lay for a home-made quilt, Chariton Valley Electric Coop for a smart thermostat, Falvey Lumber for a $100 gift certificate, and Casey’s General Store for gas/pizza cards.
For more information on the Corn Carnival, visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/p/Blakesburg-Corn-Carnival-100068183241912/