Aragon Historical Society planning for fall events

When the City of Aragon celebrates all things local during the upcoming BBQ event in September, the Aragon Historical Society will also be on hand for one of their big events of the fall as well.

Arnold Wheeler came to the Aragon City Council meeting last Thursday, August 15, to talk about the Aragon Historical Society’s plans for fall, which include the annual Aragon School Reunion being held on Saturday, September 21 in conjunction with the city’s big event.

Wheeler said the upcoming reunion is a chance for many who remember the school and the time they spent their fondly to gather again and meet up with alumni, but also share their tales with the AHS. They’ve got an ongoing project of interviews of local residents sharing oral histories Wheeler has posted to Youtube and are playing in the museum located near the corner of New Prospect Road and Highway 101 just next door to the park.

That’s not the only plans for this fall, Wheeler reported.

He also noted the AHS has been collecting donations for a project to honor the victims of the 1974 school bus wreck that saw seven die and 73 injured after the bus was struck by a train while it was crossing the tracks in Aragon. The old Aragon School later closed, and burned in 1999.

Now the AHS wants to keep the memory of those victims alive, and collected $2,800 toward the construction of a monument honoring those who died and were injured.

He said the organization hasn’t firmed up a date of when they plan to have a ceremony to unveil the monument, but are expecting it to be held sometime in October.

The AHS did take a hit during the pandemic like many local organizations when membership and donations dwindled, but are bouncing back. They are encouraging those who have a love of local history to visit the museum, and to joint he Aragon Historical Society. Membership is $20 a year for individuals, $30 for a joint family membership and is only $15 for students.

Wheeler also made a request of the city: take over the light bill for the museum building. The city owns the building and property where it sits near Pittman Park, but the AHS pays the light bill.

He noted the city would only have to take on around a $100 cost per month for the bill if they agreed.

No vote was taken on the issue during the city’s regular session for August.

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