Vol. I No. 3

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Don Marler

EDITORIAL
Don C. Marler
This is the third issue of the Hineston Chronicles and it too features a museum. I offer no apology for this since museums are perhaps the best visual way to preserve the history of a community. These museums all started as private ventures, which speaks to the need for preservation of our history. If there are other such private enterprises in the area we would be happy to feature them in future issues.
The museum featured this quarter is the Dyess Museum developed by Mr. Elbert Dyess at Gardner, Louisiana over several decades. The public was welcomed to visit it free of charge and over the decades that he developed and maintained many people took advantage of that pleasant opportunity.
As the years went by he sought an institution that would adopt the museum and assure its continuity. None wanted all of it, but many wanted parts. After years of unsuccessful attempts he approached the Museum of West Louisiana in Leesville and they enthusiastically agreed to take it. Members of the board of that museum visited the Dyess Museum and agreed immediately to accept it. They set about building a separate building to house it. The Dyess Building, as it is named, was completed and the replica of the old China Grove Church that was part of his museum complex was moved on to the grounds of the Museum of West Louisiana at Leesville.
Mr. Dyess lived to see it all installed and he attended the dedication. The formal dedication ceremony was held in the church replica, which now hosts weddings, etc. Uncle Elbert, as he was known to relatives and non-relatives alike, was enormously pleased and proud of the way the contents of the museum were presented. He and all involved were grateful for the support the Museum of West Louisiana and the Leesville community showed in accepting and installing the Dyess Museum.
Please visit the entire Museum of West Louisiana complex; it is free. Let the staff know how much you appreciate their acceptance of the Dyess Museum. This museum has public support and the people who love the Hineston area deserve public support of their own museum. They have demonstrated their desire for their own publicly supported museum.
The Dyess Museum – Leesville, La.







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