Museum Musing

By Betsy Welty

Congratulations to all 2026 graduates .
Best of Luck in your new adventures. Proud of each of you.
Recently I saw an article in a 2012 Palmyra Spectator about a Country Band that started playing at Halls Hall.
A little bit of a back story to get back to the Band.
In 2011 Robert and Patty Hall bought 306 Main . There was an Arts League that had suggested to
start a Jam Sessions were musicians would set in a circle and take turns playing and people could
enjoy the music. This was started at 306, which had been Smith Brothers late 1800’s in 1954 to 60’s was Haydens Appliance and 1960 was a Palmyra Sewing Center. Now it is a room for Birthday Partys and special occasions for a small crowd.
October 20,2011 The Halls bought the Ben Franklin Building , 220 South Main. This building has a bit of a history. A.B . Dresher Stand, 1898. There was a Milliner , A dry good store , Federated Store , Akerson Dept. store ,in 1971 Ben Franklin to 2011. ( some dates may be a little off but
close to the time).
Sometime in 2000 Patty started a small catering business, Halls Chuckwagon. 220 South Main was an ideal place to make her catering business easier .
When the members of the jam sessions found out about the newly bought building, some people from the jam session wanted to come and help paint and fix things up for future jam sessions.
One of the members of the jam session was in a Band and suggested that they play at the Hall.
So, April 2012 Silver Wings Band was the first band who wanted to do Music Shows. There was a picture of the band in the 2012 Spectator of Kathy Beaslely, Allen Ebers, Toney Ebers, Danny Ebers, and Phillip Talbott. Also in the band are Phillip Fry and Troy Renner but not pictured. The first night there were 80 people who attended and had a good time .It wasn’t long that word got out. There was a new spot in Palmyra where bands could come and play soon Tom Johnson
Band, Ridge Runner Band, Silver Dollar Opry, Side of Country and More than Country got signed up. A show each Saturday of the Month. 1st Side of Country,2nd Silver Wings, 3rd Silver Dollar Opry , Ridge Runners on the 4th and if there is a 5th Saturday the More than Country Band plays.
People come from as far as Iowa, Illinois, and Mo. just to hear their favorite band.Halls Hall can hold 100 plus people. It has been used for weddings, business meeting, family reunions, and funeral dinners.
The Gardner House is open on Fridays 10 to 2
The 1858 Old Marion County Jail and Research Center is open on Wednesday’s 10 to 2.
Hope everyone has a great week.