SPRINGFIELD — Hunter Holloway is steeped in history and tradition even though he is only 20 years old. He has been a life member of the Historic Effingham Society since he was 4.
“I need to give a big thanks to my grandfather, Eddie Browning, for that,” Holloway said during Sunday’s 25th anniversary celebration for the Effingham Museum. “He’s one of the founders of the Historic Effingham Society. He introduced me to history and the backbone of the county.”
Browning played a major role in setting up many of the buildings at the museum’s Living History Site, including its first one — the Seckinger-Bridgers House, a circa 1900 farmhouse that was moved in 2004.
“I helped him as best I could with it,” Holloway said. “I’d fetch him a hammer and stuff like that.”
The rust and dust of the museum’s artifacts are in Holloway’s blood.
“I think it’s a shame more young people aren’t interested in history,” he said. “Some of them get into it during the Old Effingham Days Festival but they don’t stick with it.”
Holloway said many Effingham County residents don’t realize what a treasure trove of history the museum and living history site are.
“Some folks don’t even know it’s here,” he said. “They are missing a big part of the county.”
The museum and living history site, operated by the Historic Effingham Society, which formed in 1986, are located in the former county jail at 1002 North Pine St. near the old courthouse.
In addition to the Seckinger-Bridgers house, the site features a smokehouse, syrup boiler shed, carpenter shop, Blandford Train Depot, the old Rincon Post Office, a Bethel School replica and many others.
“One of the favorite exhibits is an old moonshine still,” Holloway said.
Excluding holidays, the Effingham Museum is open 9 a.m.-noon each Monday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday-Friday.
Other times are available by appointment. Call 912-754-2170 for more information.
