In 1836, Marseilles Manufacturing Co. started with five directors.

By June 11, 1867, Mr. A. Adams, the president, and his sons had manufacturing interests in the west. The company invented the hinge joints for reaper sickle bars. One of the sons, John Adams, invented and made a windmill.

The company also improved and perfected corn shellers.

This weekend the Seattle Sutton Marseilles Museum, 151 Washington St., hosted a corn sheller demonstration, which was attended by about 60 people.

Marseilles resident Don Lawrence demonstrated how a hand-cranked corn sheller worked by feeding about one and a half bushels of dried corn cobs into the vintage 1873 machine. His two “helpers” were there to make sure there was enough corn and do a little demonstrating themselves.

”It was a lot of fun,” 7-year-old Ben Kuiper said. “If they asked me to shell some more corn, I would do it again.”

Ben’s older 9-year-old brother, Lewis, helped with the demonstration but he said his specialty was the museum’s train.

“I’m allowed to run the train and I really like it a lot,” Lewis said. “I switch cars and check to make sure it doesn’t derail. I can even fix it when something goes wrong.”

Lawrence said the corn shelled by the machine was used to feed cattle and chickens. For human consumption, corn (and flour) were sent to grist mills.

How the museum got the
corn sheller (and other items)

It all began in Sutton’s living room.

“People would stop by and donate so many great items,” Sutton said. “My living room was pretty well-stocked with historic things. The corn sheller was dropped off by John Dierzen.”

Depot Director Patty Jo Smith agreed, saying many, if not most, items people view today got their start in Sutton’s living room.

“I stop by her house and pick up things people have donated,” Smith said. “People also stop by the museum with wonderful pieces of Marseilles history. We’ve just received two old books and some zinc plates that were used in older printing presses.”

Rosemary Martin, volunteer director, is in charge of the museum’s 20 volunteers.

“We’re very lucky to have so many people who want to be involved with the museum,” Martin said. “Some of them are in their 90s and they’re amazing. We also have people who help out with transportation and other needs we have.

“Because of Seattle’s vision of holding events here, we’ve had 1,019 visitors in just one year,” Martin added. “Besides learning about Marseilles history, one of the reasons people enjoy our museum is because each volunteer has their own area of expertise or they may have experience in giving tours.”

Other unique features include regular exhibit rotations so visitors can view different eras, all without leaving Marseilles. And all it takes is a phone call to arrange group and private tours.

Museum plans for the future

Sutton and Smith are working on completing a grant application from The Institute of Museum and Library Services, the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums.

Smith said they learned about the grant a month a a half ago, but there’s a six-week deadline to apply.

“So, we’re really busy with paperwork, but I think we’ll make the deadline. We’ll find out next spring or summer if we get it.

“If we get the grant, we plan to begin by inspiring seventh- and eight-graders to learn the value of history in their community. One year, we’ll concentrate on early businesses and manufacturing companies in Marseilles. Next year, it’ll be about Nabisco’s history here. The kids will be given assignments each year to work on. They’ll create a presentation based on their written assignments.”

Sutton said working with Marseilles Elementary School’s teachers and staff has been a good experience.

“We have quite a few historians in town who might be able to go to the school and talk with teachers and kids about history and answer any questions they may have. That’s something quite a few teachers are excited about. Jeff Owens (MES principal) has been very cooperative and wonderful to work with. Timothy Misener, seventh- and eighth-grade teacher, has been very helpful and easy to work with, too.

“We believe that the more our children learn, the more they will appreciate our history and the community they live in,” Sutton continued. “And that’s a benefit to all of us.”

For more information on the Seattle Sutton Marseilles Museum, visit ssmmi.org. To learn about monthly events, call 815-795-4600. If you have Marseilles items for loan or donation, call 815-462-5552 or 815-795-7976.

Museum seeks to honor veterans

On Veterans Day on Sunday, Nov. 11, Korean veterans will be honored from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Seattle Sutton Marseilles Museum. Korean War veterans from Marseilles who wish to be honored are asked to call 815-795-5552 or 815-795-7976.