We are back in business now at the Lawrence County Historical Society. The museum has been beautifully decorated for Christmas by members of the society. The Webers decorated the stairway and steps and it looks lovely when you come in the front door.

Sunday, Nov. 2, was the opening of the museum and it was very successful. Jean Butler gave an outstanding speech on the Ohio River and the Biblical story of Job. Jeanne Kinley supplied the music and she did a wonderful job. We are using an electric piano during the Christmas season and Jeanne really entertained us with her music. Refreshments of punch and cookies were served.

Today, Marlene Ferguson will perform on the piano. Jill Dean and her violin group will entertain us Sunday, Nov. 16. Each Sunday, we will have special performances and it is also wonderful to attend and hear this great talent.

Have you seen the Queen Victoria portrait that was donated to the museum? It is hanging in the Nannie Kelly Wright room that has been relocated to the first floor so all can come and see.

The portrait of Queen Victoria is one of five were printed from the original in England. There are also articles that belonged to Nannie that we have in this room. We invite you to stop in and see all the beautiful decorations in rhe whole museum.

When we celebrated our 20th birthday of the museum, Margaret Rehmes made and donated to the society a beautiful afghan for some lucky person to win. That lucky person was Margie Worley who works at Rock Hill Middle School. Congratulations!

The church walk will be 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. This is always a special event. It will include music by the Ohio University Southern Activity Band.

We will be closed on Thanksgiving Day but will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 12-14. The annual meeting for all society members will be the afternoon of Dec. 13. Please help us choose the society board for 2009.

We would like to add the military room was decorated by Linda and Larry Freeman, Janet Jarvis and Jan Preston. We will add an important addition to this room in the near future. Watch for the announcement.

Historical fact: Hanging Rock, 1846

Hanging Rock, 17 miles below the county seat on the Ohio River, contains one church, four stores, a forge, a rolling mill and a foundry— where excellent bar iron is made— and about 150 inhabitants.

The village is named for the noted cliff of sandstone, about 400 feet in height, called the Hanging Rock, the upper portion of which projects over, like the cornice of a house.

Information taken from the Ohio Historical Review.