The Helper Western Mining & Railroad Museum has undergone a name change they will now be known as Helper’s Mining & Railroad Museum. Castle Country Radio was able to speak over the telephone with Museum Assistant, Jason Huntzinger to discuss all the details of the name change.

“Last week the Museum Board unanimously voted to alter the name to Helper’s Mining & Railroad Museum, so we’re dropping the Western and we’re going with Helper’s Mining & Railroad Museum which give more sense of pride and ownership. You know we’ve been getting donations since 1964 for this museum so it really is a community museum so we wanted to reflect that more. Last night at the City Council Meeting they had to approve the name change and they did,” explained Huntzinger. The Museum Board will begin reflecting the name change on their marketing items beginning now.

The first place you will notice the name change is on some posters for an upcoming event taking place at the museum. “Yea, May 22 we’re going to have an event which will be outside the Rio and inside the Rio. We’re going to have Charlie Wray who put the exhibit together come do a presentation at 5:00 pm. We’re going to start with food at 4:00 pm and also there will be beer and wine out there. We have a band that totally fits the theme called the Rail Jumpers and they’re going to do a couple of sets inside the Rio which has a great new sound system and lights. That will go from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm,” said Huntzinger. There will also be entertainment scheduled to take place near the beer and wine area for guests to enjoy too.

“We have another aspect that I think is really interesting and kind of a great part of Helper’s history is down the street at Vintage Motor Company, there is a sign that is embedded into the wall, it’s an amazing piece of history from the depression era. It talks about how the hobos, it was an emergency station for them. They could stay there and get two meals and one night’s rest,” explained Huntzinger. The sign kind of lays out the rules that the hobos had to follow during that time. Museum Officials will be giving tours of the sign during the May 22 event. If you are unable to attend the event for a tour you can call the museum at a later time to schedule a tour.

As far as COVID protocols the museum would still like guests to wear a mask. “Please just bring your mask still and we’ll go from there but everyone please have a mask so when you are inside the Rio we’ll be as safe as possible,” stated Huntzinger. For more information about the May 22 Bluegrass Rambler event please contact the museum at (435) 472-3009.