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Logan Museum honors donors

By Laura Chapman, The Southern

Thursday, May 15, 2008 10:09 PM CDT

MURPHYSBORO - In 1987, when Mike Jones was a sixth grade teacher and Kay Bozarth was the superintendent's wife, the two started talking about starting a museum to commemorate Gen. John A. Logan, the Civil War hero, politician and Murphysboro native.

Bozarth's mother's maiden name was Logan, and although she isn't of direct lineage to the one-time vice-presidential candidate, she always had an interest in the general's life.

So Jones asked her to form a committee in hopes of one day establishing a museum. The committee formed with nine members and no funding, and a board of directors now oversees the Gen. John A. Logan Museum.

"We've come a long way," said Bozarth, who still serves on the museum's board of directors.

On Thursday night, the museum's board celebrated a fundraising effort to pay for a recent renovation to the museum, which now covers a larger area than simply Logan's birthplace.

"It's just a wonderful feeling to have this happen," Bozarth said.

The board kicked off "Preserving the Legacy," a three-year long fundraising effort, last summer to pay for an addition to the museum's main building and other renovations. By the end of three years, the board hopes to raise $250,000.

So far, in the year since efforts started, $150,000 has been raised, said Barbara Dallas, co-chair of the fundraising committee.

The museum decided to go ahead with making the restorations before all of the money was raised, Dallas said, because the board knew Southern Illinoisans and Civil War enthusiasts would support the museum.

"I have faith in my community," she said. "I have faith in Southern Illinois."

In addition to being a way of preserving history, Dallas said, the museum can also boost tourism in the area.

Debbie Moore of the Carbondale Convention and Tourism Bureau said there continues to be a large following and interest in Civil War history, which makes the museum so important.

The museum not only teaches visitors about Logan, it also provides information about what life was like in the United States during the Civil War, Moore said.

Jones, the museum's director, said it was important for the campaign to thank the contributors thus far, and having a reception during Logan Week seemed like the right idea.

As for the fundraising progress so far, Jones said: "I'm very pleased with it."

laura.chapman@thesouthern.com

351-5816

living logan

Logan's legacy continues with this weekend's Logan Days celebration.

Trivia Night: 7 to 10 p.m. Friday at the Logan Museum

Wreath laying: 10 a.m. Saturday at the Middle School

Black Jack Logan Vintage Baseball Tournament: Noon Saturday at Longfellow Park

Miners Redemption Day: Noon Saturday at Longfellow Park

Grand Ball: 6:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Murphysboro Event Center