There are a lot of fascinating objects in the Webster County Museum that together show how daily life has progressed and changed over the generations.

The items to be seen include what is believed to be Iowa’s largest collection of Boy Scout memorabilia, furniture, old hospital equipment, and artifacts from the county’s railroad and mining industries.

The problem is, no one has seen the stuff in more than three years.

But that can change soon, and some help from local people can make that happen.

The museum collection is in the former Otho Elementary School. However, the old school building leaks like a sieve, causing water damage so significant that the volunteer leaders of the museum closed it to the public.

Those volunteer leaders have found a new home for the collection at 1506 31st Ave. N. That building itself is something of a historic item because it once was the factory where the famous Lazy Ike fishing lures were made.

Now the challenge is to get all the museum items – everything from wedding dresses to an organ – from Otho to the new place on the north side of Fort Dodge.

The museum leadership is seeking volunteers who have time and a desire to help. And if they have a van or a pickup truck, that will really help.

Everyone who pitches in will be helping to preserve the history of our community. It is an effort worth making.

And certainly we’ve all heard the old saying that many hands make light work. Well, that would apply to moving the museum collection. If a lot of volunteers each do a little bit, none of them will be stuck with hours of heavy labor.

Anyone willing to volunteer should call Phyllis Stewart at (515) 972-4804.

We encourage everyone to volunteer just a little bit of time to help preserve this collection of our local history.