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Children’s museum in IM draws more donations and volunteers

Richard Moya paints the ceilings at the Imagination Factory Children’s Museum at 217 W. Hughitt St. in Iron Mountain. Habitat for Humanity donated 80 gallons of paint toward the project and Campioni’s True Value tinted the paint for free. (Jeff Gurchinoff photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — Imagine walking into a castle with a drawbridge, dragon and tower for little prince and princesses to play make-believe.

That’s the plan for the entrance of the new Imagination Factory Children’s Museum at 217 W. Hughitt St. in Iron Mountain, in the former Iron Mountain Middle School.

“We are working with the word ‘imagine,'” said Jeff Gurchinoff, co-director of Our Place Community Center and Imagination Factory Children’s Museum.

Gurchinoff said the community-centered children’s museum is working with specific businesses on projects. “They are volunteering their time, their energy, their resources, so this Children’s Museum is going to be just as amazing as the community makes it,” he said.

Gurchinoff and Brandon Barkle have been leading construction on the project. Roger Nord recently donated time and expertise to remove concrete, opening the former middle school classrooms into the walk-throughs.

Roger Nord cuts holes through the concrete to open the former classrooms up into environment, industry and health walk-through areas at the Imagination Factory Children's Museum at 217 W. Hughitt St. in Iron Mountain. (Barb Reisner photo)

Habitat for Humanity donated 80 gallons of paint toward the project and Campioni’s True Value tinted the paint for free and donated painting supplies. Menominee Range Investments and Richard Moya donated the painting labor.

In all, more than 20 community partners either are sponsoring buildings, designing exhibits or purchasing a display for the museum exhibit rooms.

Currently, the crew intends to have environment-, industry- and health-themed rooms connected by large, open walk-throughs that will display between 25 to 30 interactive exhibits.

They also plan to construct a Tiny Town in the hallway along the wall through the center of the museum; the skywalk will become the Way To Grow Garden.

The Imagination Factory will have an Empowerment Room as well, a place where children, youth and adults can participate in creative activities that include drawing, painting, photography, video production, music and more.

Gurchinoff is actively seeking donations for the project. “We have been sourcing stuff that we have to buy, but I am also scouring the marketplace — those buy, sell, trade sites — and if I see something I think is going to fit, I say, ‘Hey, would you like to donate this to the children’s museum?'” he said.

The Community Center Room will be open for parents and family members to connect, where young children can read and leaders can meet.

“A multi-purpose room will be a community center as well as part of the museum that kids can play in. The Potawatomi tribe is bringing a wigwam — they are making a real, authentic wigwam that will serve as quiet reading areas for children,” said Christine McMahon, executive board and design committee member, plus head of the events committee.

“There will be a book shelf in each room and the kids can check out a book from the library,” Gurchinoff said. “We want to showcase reading.”

The Imagination Factory will have an appreciation event from 1 to 3 p.m. Nov. 24.

It plans to open its doors to the public with a community showcase event Sunday, Dec. 29. Participants will be able to enter and view some of the completed exhibits.

Construction at the museum will continue through the winter, with a grand opening event expected to take place in spring.

“The museum will be constantly changing and growing,” Gurchinoff said.

Theresa Proudfit can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 245, or tproudfit@ironmountaindailynews.com.

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