Before I get into details about a couple of interesting new exhibits at the Webster Museum this month, I want to let you all know about a special event honoring veterans, being held Sunday Nov. 19.
It’s called Vietnam, A Time to Listen, A Chat with Ron Gentle. At 2 p.m. Sunday, the museum will welcome US Air Force veteran and Webster resident Ron Gentle, who will share some of his experiences from his time serving in the Vietnam War, a pivotal time in American history. When you’re there, you’ll see Ron’s uniform, along with two others from World War II in a display case right off the main lobby.
Just around the corner from that case is a fascinating new exhibit honoring Webster resident Gary Morgan, who passed away recently leaving many friends, family members and memories.
Gary had collected many of his memories in several binders which he filled with stories about his life and what Webster was like back when he was growing up during World War II. Among them are the time when he and his friends used to ride their bikes down to the old canning factory to interact with the German POWs who had been transported there to provide labor. And the time when a huge four-engine plane buzzed the town repeatedly, flying so low that “you could see the guns sticking out and the airmen inside.” Later he would learn that the pilot was Lt. Alan Hermance, a young Webster man who was just saying goodbye before heading overseas. (Hermance never came home from the war; he went down in the very same B-17 that he flew over the town.)
The museum folks hope that Gary’s friends will visit and take time to read his memories, of going to school, of building cars with his father and his real passion, race car driving.
Alongside the binders are a collection of replicas of Webster buildings and houses that his sister Morgan Retzel had made. They’re incredibly detailed and interesting.
Another new exhibit explores the history of Sawyer’s Hall, which provided a wide variety of entertainment to Webster residents from 1909-1952.
Finally, remember to visit the Museum during Webster’s Winter Wonderland, and vote for your favorite mini Christmas tree during the museum’s annual Festival of Trees. It begins Saturday Dec. 2 and voting runs through Dec. 31. More details to come about this!
The Webster Museum is located at 18 Lapham Park in the Village of Webster, and is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 2 to 4:30. For more information, visit the website, and like them on Facebook.
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(posted 11/16/2023)
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