Peterson Summer Sunday to feature Kirchner Machinery Museum 50th

Peterson Heritage members will host their second Summer Sunday opening Sunday, July 7, from 1-4 p.m. at Kirchner Park. The highlight of the day will be the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Kirchner Machinery Museum, which was erected in the summer of 1974.

The museum was originally erected for the purpose of housing the large restored collection of horse-drawn farm implements donated by George and Rosamond Reed of Peterson. The building was made possible by a donation from Jacob Kirchner of Fort Dodge and Peterson Heritage funds. Heritage members will be serving birthday cake and lemonade at the museum. Also on display in the park will be tractors from various eras of farming.

Another highlight of the day will be the opportunity to visit the archeological dig taking place at the Phillip Kirchner cabin, located on the Heywood/Booth farm site just outside of town.

Storm Laker Mark Anderson, archeologist at the Sanford Museum in Cherokee, is in charge of the dig. He will be on site to explain findings of his group and the importance of the dig in relation to Peterson’s early history.

Other attractions Sunday are the French Museum, the Park House, the Rock Forest schoolhouse and Jim’s History Barn.