AMBOY — The Amboy Depot Museum Commission has been busy this spring and summer with different projects to the museum and the grounds.

After last year’s AHS Class Brick Project of trying to get all classes represented on the brick pad, the Depot Commission is happy to announce that the drive was very successful.  It was decided by the commission to build a new brick pad totally dedicated to the Class bricks and school-related bricks (principals, teachers, school events) down by the Palmer School off the sidewalk on the west side.

The Depot Commission would like to thank Pete Donna and his Dreamscapes team on donating to the Amboy Depot Museum, their labor for this project.  They would like to invite the town to come see the new brick pad and find your class.  If you do not see it, please get with classmates and see if you can gather up the $50 (small 4X4 brick) or $100 (large 8X8 brick) to place an order as the plan is to add more this fall to have the missing classes represented. The classes of 1957 and 1986 have been ordered for fall delivery.

Class who have not purchased bricks yet are: 1936, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1942, 1944, 1948, 1965, 1970, 1978, 1980, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 2002, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

By building a new class pad, it leaves much more room for the Memorial Brick Pad. The Depot Commission invites you to remember your loved ones, a business that was special to you, an event and your own family legacy. There are some drawings available or you can submit a drawing to go on one of the bigger bricks.

On July 20, the Depot Museum sponsored a free public outdoor movie, Walt Disney's Mary Poppins Returns. The Depot Commission wants to thank Eileen Piper and her Teen Turf helpers for supplying popcorn for sale. It turned out to be an absolutely beautiful evening to watch the movie out in Clint Conway Park near the Freight House.  They are looking at more outdoor activities in this amazing park.

In the museum, the gift store has been updated with novelty train toys, books and Amboy shirts and hats.  If you have not been in for a while, the Veteran display has been moved down to the first floor so more elderly people who cannot do stairs will be able to view. Just last week, Kathy Ketchum and her late husband, Rick, loaned their Depot Day Car Show T-shirt quilt, which was given to them for all the hard work Rick had done over the years. It is just beautiful and displayed on the wall next to the ascending stairway. Just in time for Depot Days.

At the June meeting, the Depot Commission elected the officers for the 2019-2020 year for the Depot Museum Commission Board. Chairman - Linda Glessner Disney, Vice-Chairman - Rachel Jones, Secretary - Peggy Shapiro Horstman and Treasurer - Amanda Walters. Besides the officers, the commission members are Don Stebbins, Ed Clayton and Leroy Dukes. The commission is looking for two more board members to complete the board. If any individual has an interest in helping this civic organization continue to care for the Amboy Depot Museum and properties please email amboydepotmuseum@gmail.com, contact one of the members listed above, call the museum, leave a message on the Facebook page or contact City Hall.

Newly-hired curator, Theresa Piller and rehired assistant, Mari Velasquez, are invaluable support and are at the museum every weekend to greet guests and care for the museum. The Depot Commission wants to thank the many locals who have offered to volunteer and welcome anyone who wants to help during the upcoming Depot Days as they want to have all the buildings open with volunteers stationed to answer any questions.

The Depot Commission is working on many fun and important ideas to keep updating the museum and grounds, participating in the City of Amboy activities and marketing campaigns to continue to bring funds into its non-profit historical ICRR Depot Museum to keep it for many years to come.

Of course, Depot Days will keep everyone busy with the many visitors and locals who are out and about. The Depot will be hosting Business after Business in November and then participating in the Christmas Walk, continuing with the annual Silent Wreath fundraising event.