pumping the bellows of the organ
A delegation of seven from Laurens, Herault, France visited Laurens as part of the Summer Celebration this year. Laurens, Iowa and Laurens, France became sister cities in 2008. On Saturday morning, July 18 the French group toured the museum.The tour began in the lobby where the group was told the history of the building. Our museum is a Carnegie Library. Andrew Carnegie funded 1600 libraries in the United States, but only one in France. The library in France was at Reims. It was replaced with the help of Carnegie when it was destroyed after World War I.
The group from France played the museum's organ, listened to the gramaphone and treadled the sewing machine. They looked at old pictures of Laurens, examined a handkerchief brought back from France after World War I, and declined a bite of our 100 year old canned cherries. It was a pleasure to host them.
Over 170 visitors toured the museum as part of the Laurens Summer Celebration. Thanks to all who came!
