MUSEUM OF COLLINSVILLE HISTORY
Museum Hours
Wednesday 1:00 - 3:30 pm
Thursday 1:00 - 3:30 pm
Friday 1:00 - 3:30 pm
Saturday 10:30 am - 1:00 pm
Wednesday 1:00 - 3:30 pm
Thursday 1:00 - 3:30 pm
Friday 1:00 - 3:30 pm
Saturday 10:30 am - 1:00 pm
COLLINSVILLE COMMUNITY CENTER LOCATION
THE MUSEUM OF COLLINSVILLE HISTORY was established in 2006 as a preservation project of Collinsville Historical Association. The Town of Collinsville, Jimmy Carter mayor, offered a suite of rooms at the Collinsville Community Center that could be renovated and function as a place to preserve items relating to Collinsville history.
Three rooms, originally shower and locker rooms for the National Guard, were selected for our location. CHA re-wired, added dry wall, installed new lighting, heat and air. This was made possible by individual donations of money and labor and by the support of the Town who allowed us to operate over-head free.
The first items to be displayed in the museum were two Peoples Telephone Company switchboardsdated 1908 and 1940.
For the next eight years items were added from Collinsville schools, churches, banks, businesses, community clubs, post office, missionaries, artists and craftsmen, newspapers, many documents, pictures and personal collections. And our spacious museum needed more room to grow! We were boasting 100 donors and more than 1000 items!
CHA again approached the Town who voted to release a second suite of three rooms in the community center. Renovations again supported by donations of work and funds and by summer of 2014 we were excited to open the new addition.
The new annex was dedicated to displaying military items, a printing press, spinning wheel, loom, cobbler’s bench and items from early Collinsville merchants and professionals.
The museum opened Thursdays from 1 to 4.
MAIN STREET LOCATION
In June 2015 we were gifted the vacated Main Street Liberty Bank building! It is difficult to express how much this gift enabled the museum to grow and expand! In the four years since the bank donation, we have moved downtown (a goal since the beginning), more than tripled the display area, added office, computer and work areas, doubled the items donated for display and created a space for groups to gather for viewing!
The museum is organized in sections, areas and rooms dedicated to various subjects. There is a bank and post office room, school room, church and music room, military, research, pioneer and heritage room. The entrance area features temporary displays, merchant and business displays, the town clock and bell, folk art and Cricket history. A room is dedicated to the history of the railroad…important since Collinsville grew around the completion of the railroad.
We welcome your donations. Any items including pictures, letters and documents pertaining to the history of Collinsville may be donated or loaned for display. Our missions is to assimilate, preserve and educate the public of the rich history of this area.
2025 MUSEUM UPDATE:
Our museum continues to grow! With both collections and activities!
2018, we recognized the 100 year ending of WWI with special exhibits supplied by John Gladden, Rebecca Clayton and Jimmy Carter. John Gladden generously made his research available on all DeKalb County WWI veterans for museum visitors as well as a welcoming sign for the museum front.
The Jimmy Dixon collection of area death notices, obituaries and family genealogies was donated to our research room. Our established surname file continued to be updated and improved.
2018 marks the date of the CHA's receipt of the donation of the Van Buren Lodge building. Riley Smith headsour effort to clean and restore the building for future museum display space.
In 2019, Collinsville resident and museum volunteer, Deb Redditt, became employed through a Government program to work for 19 ¾ hours per week enabling us to add Saturday to our open days!This year the restored town clock was moved to the museum to be displayed along with the clock bell.
In May, 2019, with the help of Riley Smith and friend we acquired 20 display cabinets from Murfreesboro College Museum.
When the 100 year celebration of Collinsville High School football rolled around, the museum was headquarters for the assimilation of data and history.
Wednesday, June 3, 2020, the museum reopened under strict guidelines after enduring the outbreak of Covid-19. We were really ready to get back to normal activities. The museum featured a display of Collinsville Study Club memorabilia recognizing the Club's 92 years of existence. This group of Collinsville women is responsible for many community improvements, scholarships, and educational opportunities for individuals by putting their volunteer spirit to work!
In 2021, CHA recorded a membership of 180 members!
By 2022 the museum had a shiny new face! Beginning with a new $56,856.49 roof and adding new flooring, paint and much cleaning we were ready for new displays and activities! The museum received The Bill Dobbs extensive short wave radio collection. Dating to the 1960s, it includes transmitting and receiving equipment, records and logs of usage, certificates and even the chair he sat in!
Kathy and Jerry McCown, long-time computer assistants, set up computers for viewing revolving Collinsville pictures. Kathy also completed three scrapbooks highlighting CHA activities since our 2003 beginnings.
Feb., 2023 we held Open House at the museum in recognition of Black History Month. We welcomed Leadership DeKalb and Collinsville Elementary Students for field trips and tours.
In 2024 and 2025 we acquired several wonderful collections of Collinsville artifacts…Wayne Templeton's Viet Nam uniform complete with shirt, tie and boots; Dr. H.P McWhorter's library of medical volumes; Andrew C. Small's portrait, certificates and diplomas, all archival framed and protectively shipped from Gwendolyn Johnson, his daughter in South Carolina; Munsey Box's scouting memorabilia, and
Cook's Barber Shop barber pole donated by Roger Dutton.
A large collection of military items have been amassed from WWI, WWII, Korea, Viet Nam and National Guard…some rare and valuable. A flag display flanks an FFA exhibit featuring an oak classroom table from CHS used in 1950s and other items donated by Bobby Elrod.
Currently the museum catalogues 3014 donated items and 187 loaned items for a total of 3,201 items.
CHA Board meetings are held monthly at the museum as well as occasional community meetings.
THE MUSEUM OF COLLINSVILLE HISTORY was established in 2006 as a preservation project of Collinsville Historical Association. The Town of Collinsville, Jimmy Carter mayor, offered a suite of rooms at the Collinsville Community Center that could be renovated and function as a place to preserve items relating to Collinsville history.
Three rooms, originally shower and locker rooms for the National Guard, were selected for our location. CHA re-wired, added dry wall, installed new lighting, heat and air. This was made possible by individual donations of money and labor and by the support of the Town who allowed us to operate over-head free.
The first items to be displayed in the museum were two Peoples Telephone Company switchboardsdated 1908 and 1940.
For the next eight years items were added from Collinsville schools, churches, banks, businesses, community clubs, post office, missionaries, artists and craftsmen, newspapers, many documents, pictures and personal collections. And our spacious museum needed more room to grow! We were boasting 100 donors and more than 1000 items!
CHA again approached the Town who voted to release a second suite of three rooms in the community center. Renovations again supported by donations of work and funds and by summer of 2014 we were excited to open the new addition.
The new annex was dedicated to displaying military items, a printing press, spinning wheel, loom, cobbler’s bench and items from early Collinsville merchants and professionals.
The museum opened Thursdays from 1 to 4.
MAIN STREET LOCATION
In June 2015 we were gifted the vacated Main Street Liberty Bank building! It is difficult to express how much this gift enabled the museum to grow and expand! In the four years since the bank donation, we have moved downtown (a goal since the beginning), more than tripled the display area, added office, computer and work areas, doubled the items donated for display and created a space for groups to gather for viewing!
The museum is organized in sections, areas and rooms dedicated to various subjects. There is a bank and post office room, school room, church and music room, military, research, pioneer and heritage room. The entrance area features temporary displays, merchant and business displays, the town clock and bell, folk art and Cricket history. A room is dedicated to the history of the railroad…important since Collinsville grew around the completion of the railroad.
We welcome your donations. Any items including pictures, letters and documents pertaining to the history of Collinsville may be donated or loaned for display. Our missions is to assimilate, preserve and educate the public of the rich history of this area.
2025 MUSEUM UPDATE:
Our museum continues to grow! With both collections and activities!
2018, we recognized the 100 year ending of WWI with special exhibits supplied by John Gladden, Rebecca Clayton and Jimmy Carter. John Gladden generously made his research available on all DeKalb County WWI veterans for museum visitors as well as a welcoming sign for the museum front.
The Jimmy Dixon collection of area death notices, obituaries and family genealogies was donated to our research room. Our established surname file continued to be updated and improved.
2018 marks the date of the CHA's receipt of the donation of the Van Buren Lodge building. Riley Smith headsour effort to clean and restore the building for future museum display space.
In 2019, Collinsville resident and museum volunteer, Deb Redditt, became employed through a Government program to work for 19 ¾ hours per week enabling us to add Saturday to our open days!This year the restored town clock was moved to the museum to be displayed along with the clock bell.
In May, 2019, with the help of Riley Smith and friend we acquired 20 display cabinets from Murfreesboro College Museum.
When the 100 year celebration of Collinsville High School football rolled around, the museum was headquarters for the assimilation of data and history.
Wednesday, June 3, 2020, the museum reopened under strict guidelines after enduring the outbreak of Covid-19. We were really ready to get back to normal activities. The museum featured a display of Collinsville Study Club memorabilia recognizing the Club's 92 years of existence. This group of Collinsville women is responsible for many community improvements, scholarships, and educational opportunities for individuals by putting their volunteer spirit to work!
In 2021, CHA recorded a membership of 180 members!
By 2022 the museum had a shiny new face! Beginning with a new $56,856.49 roof and adding new flooring, paint and much cleaning we were ready for new displays and activities! The museum received The Bill Dobbs extensive short wave radio collection. Dating to the 1960s, it includes transmitting and receiving equipment, records and logs of usage, certificates and even the chair he sat in!
Kathy and Jerry McCown, long-time computer assistants, set up computers for viewing revolving Collinsville pictures. Kathy also completed three scrapbooks highlighting CHA activities since our 2003 beginnings.
Feb., 2023 we held Open House at the museum in recognition of Black History Month. We welcomed Leadership DeKalb and Collinsville Elementary Students for field trips and tours.
In 2024 and 2025 we acquired several wonderful collections of Collinsville artifacts…Wayne Templeton's Viet Nam uniform complete with shirt, tie and boots; Dr. H.P McWhorter's library of medical volumes; Andrew C. Small's portrait, certificates and diplomas, all archival framed and protectively shipped from Gwendolyn Johnson, his daughter in South Carolina; Munsey Box's scouting memorabilia, and
Cook's Barber Shop barber pole donated by Roger Dutton.
A large collection of military items have been amassed from WWI, WWII, Korea, Viet Nam and National Guard…some rare and valuable. A flag display flanks an FFA exhibit featuring an oak classroom table from CHS used in 1950s and other items donated by Bobby Elrod.
Currently the museum catalogues 3014 donated items and 187 loaned items for a total of 3,201 items.
CHA Board meetings are held monthly at the museum as well as occasional community meetings.