It’s been a long time coming, but The Sainte Genevieve Museum Learning Center is now ready for the community to view its Generations Tree, a focal point of the museum where people can gather, and storytelling of tales passed on from generation to generation will begin.
The Generations Tree is filled with leaves with names of community members, past and present, for whom a leaf or even a branch have been purchased to support the museum. Stones along the base of the tree were purchased to represent businesses, the bedrock of our community.
“It has been a work in progress for several years,” said Jan Loida, a member of the museum advisory board and the force behind the tree. “We’ve changed directions on the display along the way and have had equipment breakdowns, as well. We’ve had countless people, plus our museum volunteers and workers all giving input. We needed a lot of artistic eyes on the project. The bottom line is we wanted this important exhibit to maintain the same high standards as the rest of the museum.”
Loida has been passionate about the Generations Tree since its inception.
“The Generations Tree is a donor program that represents much more than recognizing those who give,” she said. “Collectively, it represents the people, businesses and industries that built Ste. Genevieve and whose stories will live on for generations. I am excited to reach out to the community and offer our friends an opportunity to honor members of their families who have settled in Ste. Genevieve, and to remember businesses and organizations who have stood strong in the community to support family life here.”
Loida recognized just some of the many people and businesses who have contributed along the way.
“Business owners Chris Carron of Angstrom and Greg Hilbert with Mid America Barnwood were instrumental in getting the Generations Tree off the ground,” Loida explained. “From logistics to harvesting the wood for the leaves from Ste. Genevieve Mill, we are so appreciative of their guidance. John Oberle programmed a CNC machine for the mass cutting of leaves, but complications ensued, and we handed that portion of the project over to one of our board members, Bob Roth, who ended up cutting hundreds of leaves for us. Fred Darrough, our museum building manager carved the tree trunk and branches, and he and Wes Bradley from the museum sanded the leaves, added a clearcoat and brightened the lettering.”
When you look at the wall, you’ll see dates and names that make up the history of this town.
“There are several generations of leaves with familiar names representing families from the community: Bauman, Carron, Drury, Flieg, Grass, Guethle, Heil, Loida, Naeger, Roth, Schmelzle, Wolk Family and many more. The earliest leaf we have is in honor of Clyde Carron (1671) who left Clermont, France to come to America. His ancestors traveled through Canada to Kaskaskia, Illinois, and eventually settled in this area in the mid-1700s. The Wolk family has leaves going back to 1799; The Grass family from 1843; and the Bauman family from the early 1900s.”
Loida explained that through the purchase of leaves and stones, donors are saying they believe in the museum, and they want to keep history alive.
The first stone was bought by B & D Telecom, but dozens more have followed: Bauman Contracting; HSB Advisors, LLC; Wolk’s Insurance; Loida Supply Company; MRV Banks; Ste Genevieve Ready Mix; Ste Genevieve Building Stone; Koettings Foodway; Richardet Floor Covering; Donze Construction; Ritter Painting; Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital; Riverside Landscaping; General Passbook; Fliegs Equipment; Tlapek family; Henrietta Bartels (who has stones representing businesses in St. Mary that were thriving even before Ste. Genevieve); Ste. Genevieve Chamber; Bauman Oil Co; Bauman Oil Company; Bauman Excavating; Bauman Brothers; Bloomsdale Bank; Main Street Inn; Kertz Farms; First State Community Bank; Whitetail Properties; Brewer Graphics (who did the stone engraving for the museum); Herzog Construction; Loida Ag Service, LLC; The Family of Lee Lottes; Marzuco Electric; Mike Dempsey; Stan Winkler, Blacksmith; Angstrom; Mid America Barnwood; Orris/Sirros; and Earthworks.
Loida said leaves have been purchased to celebrate family legacies, weddings and births. The cost for a single six-inch leaf in walnut or poplar wood is $250; five or more leaves purchased at once are $150 each. A five-inch leaf is $225, or $125 each for five or more leaves purchased.
The Generations Tree will be an ongoing project.
“We’ve got plenty of wall space and the Generations Tree provides a tangible tribute to the individuals, families and businesses who shaped this town’s history,” said Loida. “It’s also a great way to support the museum and its mission of preserving the past for future generations while fostering opportunities to learn, discover, and inspire.”
To learn more about the Generations Tree call the museum at 573-883-3466 and Jan Loida will get back to you personally. The Ste. Genevieve Museum Learning Center is a 501(C) (3) organization located at 360 Market Street.