The May 2015 meeting of the Madison County Genealogical Society was a trip to the Old Six Mile Museum on Saturday, May 9, at 1:00 pm.

The following is the Treasurer's report for the month of April:

• Total Assets as of April 1, 2015 - $19,207.05
• General Fund - Beg. Balance $6,884.43 - Income $140.45 - Expenses $781.09 - End Balance $6,243.79
• Publications Fund - Beg. Balance $12,322.62 - Income $45.00 - Expenses $0.00 - End Balance $12,367.62
• Total Assets as of April 30, 2015 - $18,611.41

Do you have a family member that is interested in (or even obsessed with) genealogy? A membership in the Madison County Genealogical Society would be a very thoughtful gift. A gift card will be sent to the recipient of any gift membership.

The following memberships are available:
Individual/Family Annual Membership $20.00
Patron Annual Membership $30.00
Life Membership $250.00

Contact our Secretary, Petie Hunter, at [email protected], about a gift membership.

The May 2015 meeting of the Madison County Genealogical Society was a "field trip" meeting. On the rainy afternoon of Saturday, May 9, 2015, ten members or friends of MCGS met at the Old Six Mile Museum at 3729 Maryville Road, Granite City, Illinois. Yours truly was a little bit late, having gotten lost (even using a GPS unit) - it appears the street numbers may not be consecutive.

The museum is located in the Emmert-Zippel House which dates from about 1837. The items on display in the museum are numerous and varied. There are handmade quilts, handmade toys, including a dollhouse completely furnished with handmade furniture, historic photographs and newspapers, military uniforms, 1830s furniture, including a beautiful rectangular grand piano. (Ed: I didn't know such a piano even existed.) There are also examples of everyday household items from earlier times: early electric toasters whose looks belie their use, kitchen utensils, food packages, etc.

Like many such establishments that are privately owned, the Old Six Mile Museum has fallen on hard times. Most of its books have been given to libraries to ensure their protection. The building itself is much in need of repairs. One can see that once this was a grand home and it is very disheartening to see how much it has deteriorated. It appears that those people with an interest in preserving the history of this locale may be letting part of it slip away.

Several of those in attendance had visited the museum many years ago and they commented that the museum was today only a shadow of its former self.

This visit was interesting but but sobering.