Carol Sundstrom of the Jake Menghini Museum in Norway with Golden K chairperson Kathy Jo Anderson. (Joanne Lindholm photo)

KINGSFORD — Aristotle said, “To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake, it is necessary to stand out in the cold.”

The local weather has found many of us standing out in the cold recently with Jack Frost nipping at our noses. Monday was no exception, as Golden K members were blown into the building by the cold north wind.

Chairperson Kathy Jo Anderson welcomed everyone. Alyce Derwinski took her seat at the piano and played “Baby Face,” “Bye Bye Blackbird,” and “Five Foot Two,” as members sang the familiar songs. Larry Bourdeau’s birthday was acknowledged in song.

The Pot of Gold lucky winner was Dorleen Uhazie. Gary Proudfit read the Happy Dollar messages that talked about a wonderful Martin Luther King Jr. program that was presented in the community, members thankful to be living in God’s country and grateful for a warm home and lots of blankets.

Thoughts for the day were quotes by Dr. Martin Luther King, “I have a dream where my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” And “Hate is a burden too great to bear, I have decided to love.”

Anderson introduced the guest speaker, Carol Sundstrom, who presented a program on the Jake Menghini Historical Museum in Norway. Her husband, Martin Straka, accompanied her and provided information as well.

From an early age, Jake Menghini began preserving the history of Norway. At the time of his passing he had accumulated more than 7,000 items, which he gave to the city of Norway to use in a museum.

The museum started in a log cabin from the 1800s. The campus now features six buildings; the Odill home, furnished as it may have been in the 1880s; the main building, which depicts the city of Norway in the 1880s; a farm implement building, the Brisson-Ottoson Sawmill; an outhouse, and Jake’s original museum.

The main building was completed in 2006, as they had outgrown the cabin.

The museum is owned by the city of Norway but is self-supporting. Board members are able to maintain the buildings through admission fees, donations, memberships and fundraisers.

Board members and volunteers strive to keep the museum vibrant and have hosted many events to encourage people to visit.

Some of the happenings at the museum are an annual strawberry and ice cream social with a band concert, lectures, plays, Christmas displays, quilt and art shows, elementary school children tours and more.

The museum is open from May to September and the week of the Leif Erikson festival.

Admission fee is $5 for adults and free for children 18 and younger.

The museum is at 105 Odill Drive in Norway.

Sundstrom invites everyone to tour the museum and learn about the history of the area. There is also an archive room for folks from the local area to research family lore.

Golden K meets at 10 a.m. Mondays at the First Presbyterian Church in Kingsford. Next week’s program will be presented on the Imagination Factory by Barb Reisner. All are welcome.