The new exhibit at the Sherman County Historical Museum has been dusted off and presented to the public. The Sherman County Journal: Paper, Ink & Presses was pulled out of storage in November and 20 volunteers logged in more than 600 hours to clean and preserve the Linotype machine, type cabinets, presses, folding machine, lead caster, lead cutter, tools, Graphotype plate maker and Addressograph. As a safety and preservation measure, Metro Rigging Company of Portland moved the collection twice, out of storage for cleaning, then into the museum.

For four months, volunteers engaged in planning, research, writing, design and construction of the exhibit and educational fact cards. The museums exhibit team leader, Myrna Melzer, who was on a temporary leave of absence during the project, commends the Journal exhibit team for what she considers a professional and high-quality exhibit.

The finishing touches, the credit and donor panels, are now in place, and visitors will enjoy the quotes-by-locals panels overhead, she said.

 Exhibit fund donors include Emily Apple, Shirley and Art Decker, Nancy and John Fields, Mark Fields, Jessica Franco, Jane and Bill Frees, Milton Fridley, Kendal Hansen, Carrie and Chris Kaseberg, Sherry and Larry Kaseberg, Elizabeth and Gene Koch, Shirley McCullough, Thelma Sather, Clarice and Latrelle Smoot, Rory Wilson and the Sherman County Cultural Coalition.

 The Journal exhibit team took great care in the preservation and research of the historic collection, removing ink, oil and decades of grime. Volunteers who worked on the project were Kathleen Ahearn, Nancy Allen, Emily Apple, Dorothy Benson, Mary Lou Dennis, Austin Doolin, Eric Doolin, Mike Doolin, Terri Earl, John Fields, Mark Fields, Nancy Fields, Tracy Fields, Trevor Fields, Dale Frey, Vicki Frey, Terry Fuhrer, April Gaffney, Jim Gaffney, Merva Haley, Randy Hilderbrand, Mark Karlichek, Chris Kaseberg, Larry Kaseberg, Sherry Kaseberg, Kenton Mathewson, Jean McKinney, Myrna Melzer, Keith Mobley, Verne Mobley, Patricia R. Moore, Johnathan Rolfe, Lowell Smith, McLaren Stinchfield, Jack Thompson, Amber Tilton, Chloe Van Gilder, Sheri Van Gilder and Katie Wooderson.

 The Sherman County Cultural Coalition provided a $500 grant for cleaning supplies. Conservators, museum professionals and newspaper publishers provided technical assistance.

 Melzer reports that re-installation of the Sherman County Fair exhibit is underway.

 The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 200 Dewey St., Moro. For more information, got to www.shermanmuseum.org, search Fcebook for Sherman County Historical Museum or call 541-565-3232.