By BRADEN NOON
Bice-Ferguson Museum Director
April is just a couple of days away and that means that it is museum season once again. The museum’s hours will remain the same in 2017: Fridays 4-8 pm and Saturdays and Sundays 12-4 pm. We also have a great array of programs planned for the upcoming year.
In April the museum will host an award-winning cartoonist, storyteller, and historian from Williamstown, WV, Mr. J.D. Williamson. Come enjoy an afternoon with award-winning PBS Educational Entertainer and Family Performer J.D.Williamson at the Bice-Ferguson Memorial museum April 1st at 1:00 p.m.
J.D. is a WV storyteller, cartoonist and historian who will perform his program “WV Heroes: True and Tall”. J.D.’s stories, singing, drawing and interactive programs include fun audience participation.
Johnny Appleseed, Mad Anne Bailey, John Henry and many more will be featured in his own original tales. Plus J.D. will draw caricatures for the children drawn afterwards as WV History Heroes.
J.D. has previously performed several times at WV Independence Hall in Wheeling WV, TAMARACK, The Greenbrier Resort and many other special events over the years. He performs also at school assemblies and library summer reading programs.
He graduated from Berea College with his Art Degree and earned his college tuition through the school work program, eventually working as a commercial artist at the school and a freelance cartoonist in the community. He began his business right out of school working in his studio and traveling to present his educational programs and entertainment.
J.D. wrote and performed his own original historical stories and art for WOUB Athens, Ohio University. The DVD program was custom made for the South Eastern Regional School System Libraries. So bring the kids and grandkids and enjoy a day of learning and fun about WV’s heroes.
In May, the museum will hold a luncheon beginning at 1:00 pm on May 20th for Gold Star and Blue Star Families with special guest speakers Mr. Kip Price, a local veterans advocate and historian, and Mr. Asa Davison, a WWII veteran. Then in June we will host our annual celebration of West Virginia’s birthday with a special guest speaker sometime during the month – specifics to-be-announced.
Stop by and see our new displays and retail items as the museum returns to business on April 1!
