Ex-Military Site To Open As Museum, Arts Center

Murals Painted By War Prisoners Make Union Co. Location Unique
Donna B. Stinnett, Features Editor
The Henderson Gleaner - January l, 2000

MORGANFIELD - Sometime in April, the former Officers Club at Camp Breckinridge will open as the Camp Breckinridge Museum and Arts Center.

The building, which contains important murals that were painted by German prisoners-of-war, Peter Heinz and Daniel Mayer, while they were housed at the camp during World War II, has been undergoing a restoration funded by state grant money in preparation for its opening as a museum.

The museum served as an Officers Club for the camp, which was training center for infantry soldiers during both War World II and the Korean War.

A board of directors has also been recently appointed for the museum and arts center that includes Vicki O'Nan, President; Rebecca Meacham, Secretary; Lawrence Strehle, Treasurer; and Vicki Rickets, Maribeth Logsdon, L.K. "Bouncer" Shields, Ruth Heffington and John Crosby.

Ms. O'Nan said that plans are beginning to come together for a dedication ceremony, which they hope may possibly be attended by one of the German artists' descendants. An art exhibit also is planned to coincide with the opening.

"It's not the same place", she said, detailing some of the changes that the building has undergone. The flooring has been restored. Lighting for the murals has been installed. Windows have been replaced with historically correct versions.

Exterior improvements have also been made, including paving, landscaping and fencing.

One side of the building will be used for exhibits of the Union County Historical Society, which includes quite a bit of World War II memorabilia, and the other will be for art exhibits.

The center room - the ballroom - where the murals are located, will accommodate 250 to 300 people and will be rented for meetings, programs, community events and private parties. A catering kitchen has been added to the center, she said.

Ms. O'Nan also said the board will also be applying for additional grant money to help develop more exhibits.

Eventually, the public will be invited to join the museum as "friends" as a way of generating additional financial support.

"We're just taking baby steps along the way," she said.

Already, the interest from those wanting to view the historic murals is there.

"We take people out there all the time," she said, including people who used to be stationed at Camp Breckinridge and a group from Germany that traveled to this area last summer.

There were some famous people stationed at the camp, including former Sen. Bob Dole and baseball barrier-breaker Jackie Robinson.

Ms. O'Nan said they're hoping that perhaps Dole and Robinson's widow, Rachel, might be available to attend the April opening and dedication.

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