Historic guns donated to CTOM; Halloween events planned
Oct. 19—Events are afoot at the Chisholm Trail Outdoor Museum including next month's return of the museum's annual Pioneer Days on Nov. 12-13.
Between now and then, however, museum officials are excited about a recent donation to the Big Bear Native American History Museum and three upcoming Halloween events.
Andy Irwin, a member of the Cleburne Police Department's Citizens on Patrol and his wife, Meridith Irwin, were on hand Wednesday at the Big Bear Museum along with Texas Historical Commission Archeology Steward Jimmy Smith to present a late 1800s shotgun and late 1800s modified Springfield to CTOM On site Director Carrie Reynolds and Johnson County Heritage Foundation Director David Murdoch.
"They're donating these historic relics to the museum, both the guns have been in the family at least two generations," Reynolds said. "We're going to have [museum volunteer Randolph Garner] look at them again. He's already looked at them and knew what they were but he's going to try to get a more approximate date on them."
Murdoch offered his opinion on the guns.
"That one could've been a stagecoach gun cause it's sawed off," Murdoch said.
Both guns belonged to Meridith Irwin's father who passed away six years ago.
"We found them underneath his bed," Andy Irwin said.
Irwin said he wasn't sure what to do with the guns until recently.
"Well, I got to know Carrie because we patrol out here pretty often," Irwin said. "Up until now we've just kept both of them in our gun safe so this frees up more room in our safe. I don't really know much about either gun but I saw some of the other guns displayed in the museum and we figured we might as well donate them so others can see them and get some enjoyment out of them. We haven't cleaned them or anything, just in the original condition from when we found them."
The guns will be cleaned and more research done after which they will be placed in display cases along with descriptive plaques, Reynolds said.
"This is a great donation that ties in with the history and mission of the Big Bear Museum," Murdoch said.
The Big Bear Museum celebrates Native American as well as local history. Other outdoor museum sites include Johnson County's original courthouse, a one-room school house, stagecoach station and more.
Halloween chills and thrills
Trunk or Treat is scheduled for 4-8 p.m. Oct. 30 at the CTOM. Residents and business owners are encouraged to enter their vehicle trunk to possibly be voted the spookiest trunk on the Chisholm Trail.
Admission is free though there is a $15 charge for electricity for those needing it for their trunk displays.
The night also includes a classic car show.
From 9 p.m. to midnight that same night, the Haunted Ghost Hunt commences.
"Five professional ghost hunters who have been featured on Discovery and Discovery Plus will on hand to tour sites on the grounds where ghosts and ghostly activity have been reported," Reynolds said.
Tickets, $50, may be purchased from eventbrite.com.
Gloomy ghosts, haunted hayrides and the headless horseman also figure into the night. Participants are encouraged to bring flashlights and bottled water as well as their own equipment should they also be ghost hunters.
For information on the above events, call 254-998-0261 or visit chisholmtrailoutdoormuseum.com.
The Chisholm Trail Outdoor Museum is at 101 Chisholm Trail Drive in Cleburne.
