JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
Located in Jasper near Marion County High School and Jasper City Park, Jasper Regional History Museum is a facility that houses artifacts tied to pasts of both Jasper and Marion County.
Established in 2004 by members of the Jasper community, several of who today continue to serve as the facility’s Board of Directors, Jasper’s local museum displays a large collection of artifacts of local history that goes back centuries. Artifacts range from military uniforms and civil war weaponry, to cash registers and a medicine cabinet utilized by Jasper Drug in the early 1900s when it was originally called Havron’s Drug Store. Museum Vice President Mary Haley Adams explained the museum also houses a large collection of memorabilia dedicated to Marion County High School, all of which showcases photos and uniforms tied to decades of the school’s rooted history.
“You’ll see a lot of memorabilia from the high school here,” said Adams. “Much of it was from the prior institute, which was from the first school that was here.”
In addition to the items on display, an entire exhibit dedicated to quilt making within Marion County is featured within the facility. Items in the exhibit range from a quilt machine and cotton spinning wheel, to a handmade quilt featuring Jasper’s most historic landmarks made by Barbara Holloway. Holloway was among one of the founding members of the museum, and was a well renowned resident of the community who harbored vast knowledge of all Marion County’s deeply rooted history.
“She was a spunky and bright personality,” said Adams. “But she was also very, very knowledgeable in the history of Jasper and Marion County.”
Jasper Regional’s newest project regards providing reprinted copies of works written by local historian and author Noni Webb, who passed away in March 2024. Prior to her passing, Webb gave permission to Jasper Regional to reprint and sell her works within the museum grounds, with all funds earned going directly towards funding the museum and ensuring her knowledge of Marion County history will continue to live on.
“Her most popular book is about ‘Hales Bar’,” said Adams. “She wrote a lot of books about the dam being built, how it worked, and the people who worked there.”
Currently, Adams, alongside museum president Beth Jordan, are looking ahead to rearrange all artifacts within the facility, placing them into new sections throughout the building. Purchasing new display cases will also be looked into for many of the artifacts in the museum, ensuring each is left properly encased and preserved.
“That’s a real big goal for us,” said Adams. “We want to organize things and make it to where when you come in here, you can see everything that’s on display.”
Jasper Regional is located at on 715 Philips Ave., and is open to the public every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and closes during the winter. Tours can be arranged over the phone at 423-488-0771, even during the winter months, allowing for residents and visitors to have the opportunity to explore and experience the museum’s vast wares within Jasper.