2023 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The Merryville Museum has been very busy for the year of 2023! Your membership and donations afford us to give back to the community and to preserve history for future generations.
Here is a look at all that we have accomplished this year.
JANUARY
The museum started off the year welcoming cyclists from all over the states and abroad with the Warm Showers program. We provide shelter for over 100 cyclists a year.
Membership drive begins!
FEBRUARY
Members are busily planning our Pioneer Heritage Festival in March.
Sponsored a team for children playing in Dixie youth ball leagues.
MARCH
The Museum hosted our annual Pioneer Heritage Festival!
The parade started our festivities with over 40 entries.
Donated refreshments for a BETA Club member’s convention visit.
A gift basket was created and donated for a raffle to raise funds for the Merryville Recreational Baseball/Softball Leagues.
APRIL
Partnered with the town of Merryville and the Sheriffs Department for a FREE Easter event with an egg hunt, Easter Bunny photos, refreshments, and games.
Hosted 14 Adventure Cyclers & 4 Warm Shower Cyclers and provided meals and refreshments. Joe Williamson provided a history presentation about our town and area.
The town of Merryville received a grant to provide all new trash receptacles with the “Stop Littering” campaign. One was installed at the museum.
MAY
Provided a monetary donation, bathrooms, and concessions to cyclists on the “Circles On A Mission” fundraiser. All funds benefit the Methodist Children’s Home of SW Louisiana.
Community Service Awards were presented to hard working museum volunteers.
JUNE
The museum built a new privacy fence to secure and improve the look of the grounds.
JULY
In conjunction with the Beauregard Parish Library, the museum hosted a FREE event for the town of Merryville with Geebo The Clown.
Our annual School Supply Giveaway distributed over 70 bags of supplies to grades Pre-K to 5th grade.
Free snowcones from the town of Merryville were provided to beat the heat!
Provided lunch for over 30 members of the Merryville Band Camp.
AUGUST
The Tiger Island Fire was a trying time for our community. We came together and supported each other through the tragic experience.
The Museum opened our bathrooms, showers, and shelter in the cabin for all first responders.
SEPTEMBER
We hosted our annual BBQ fundraiser. We cooked extra and gave away 45 plates for our out of town firefighters, police officers, and senior citizens.
Donated concessions for the MHS Powderpuff game, money for yard signs for school organizations during Homecoming, and money to the Eaves House Fire Fundraiser.
OCTOBER
Hosted The American Heritage Girls and The Trail Life Boys.
Put on our 3rd Annual Scarecrow Contest. Cash prizes of $100-$25 were awarded. Created the Breast Cancer Awareness display.
Displayed Merryville treasures in a booth at the Beauregard Parish Fair.
The museum, town of Merryville, and the fire department passed out over 200 cups of candy for Halloween.
Hosted and fed 12 Adventure Cyclers from CA headed to FL. The museum prepared a "Louisiana style" seafood dinner, deserts, drinks, and a history presentation. The delicious seafood was generously donated by Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser and the "Feed Your Soul" program.
NOVEMBER
The museum donated to the Merryville High School Cheerleaders and the Merryville Book Club.
Donated supplies to the Cannon Cemetery Association for the Wreaths Across America ceremony. Museum members helped with decor at pavilion for the event.
DECEMBER
The Museum and it’s members adopted 8 senior citizens through Beauregard Council on Aging. We gave items on their wish list, hams, stockings and popcorn tins.
Hosted our annual Christmas ‘Round The Cabin event. This is a FREE event with games, food and craft vendors, snow machines, live music, pictures with Santa and lots of other special guests. A lighted parade followed with cash prizes for the winning floats. We honored our first responders, donated money, and presented a first responder flag to The Merryville Fire Department.
The Museum was the distribution center for Toys For Tots - benefiting families in Merryville and Singer. We passed out bags to over 50 families.